Dance, Quack, One, Beach

Read for Luck: why children, parents, teachers, and writers all love these books. You can see the green four-leaf clover rating system on the left-hand column. Just scroll down a bit.

1. FOR CHILDREN
The Jellybeans and the Big Dance
by Laura Numeroff and Nate Evans
Ill. by Lynn Munsinger
Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2008
699 Words; Level 2.9
Summary: When four young girls meet in dance class, it takes time for them to find a way to pull together as one, but Emily helps them realize that, just like a bag of jellybeans, they can be different and still go well together. 
Read for Luck: My daughter is turning four very soon and she LOVES this book. She likes to remember the character's names and name them on every page. She also loves to dance. Parents will like the friendship page. And who can't love a name like Miss Tingly-Weezer?
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2. FOR PARENTS
Mr. Putney's Quacking Dog
by Jon Agee
Michael Di Capua Books * Scholastic, 2010
Summary: Mr. Putney has all sorts of unusual friends. An overweight orangutan. An octopus with cold feet. An elephant that's very hard to see. Can you guess what their names are?
Read for Luck: Wordplay at its finest. My son kept wanting to peek at the "answers" on the next page. By the third or fourth read, you can have them memorized. Lots of fun. Author of seven other wordplay books.
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3. FOR TEACHERS
One Is a Snail, Ten is a Crab
by April Pulley Sayre and Jeff Sayre
Ill. by Randy Cecil
Candlewick Press, 2003
Summary: A fun and clever way to count by feet. I hope you like to count!
Read for Luck: Teaching math concepts can be made super fun and super hands-on with this book. Definitely use with K-1 (and even 2nd at beginning of year for review). My children said it should be in the KIDS pile and not the TEACHER pile! April Pulley Sayre is one of my favorites!
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4. FOR WRITERS
Flotsam
by David Wiesner
Clarion Books, 2006
No words.
Summary: A boy finds a treasure on a beach and is invited into a magical world.
Read for Luck: Try writing the words to accompany this tale. Do it in different voices and from different points of view. I know we'll never do it justice. That's why there are no words. But could still be a fun writing exercise, anyway. Teachers can also use for writing prompts to tell a new story or even to practice summary.
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