Patricia Mullins

Hattie is a hen living on a farm who is very observant in comparision to all of the other farm animals. She sees a nose at first peaking through the bushes and page by page she sees more and more of this lurking animal. Finally, the fox comes leaping out from the bushes but Hattie knows better and scares the fox away by yelling Moo! in order to scare him. She successfully saves herself and her friends who finally believe her. This book includes alot of repetition and would be fun to act out show more for young children as it includes various farm animals that can be incoporated. It also is a good way to explain the difference between lying about something, and telling the truth and not having someone believe you. show less

This is a very cute story that students would love. It would be an excellent book to read if you have a few extra minutes one day during class. It is a cumulative story so students who are beginning readers can follow along with all of the repeated words. Also, there are lots of rhyming words in it as well. The story is about a little girl whose family is buying her all sorts of crazy new clothes when she really just wants some simple jeans. Many students can probably relate to this funny show more tell and I really think they would enjoy reading it. show less

Shoes from Grandpa is a story about a girl named Jessie, who amasses an entire new wardrobe after her grandpa notices her shoes are too small. The entire family pitches in to get Jessie everything from skirts to blouses and jackets to scarves and socks, but all she really wants is a pair of jeans.

Cute book! It had a fun, bouncy rhythm that would be fun to read aloud, and I loved that it challenged the gender stereotypes of girls in frilly pink clothes!

Classroom Extensions:
1. Have kids make show more paper buddies (instead of paper "dolls") and outfits, and use these to talk about weather appropriate clothing.
2. Use the story to preface a classroom clothing drive. show less

I love cumulative tales :)

A cumulative tale is one of those fun stories that builds on itself, one element at a time, just like "The House that Jack Built".

In this case, every member of the family runs to get a girl another article of clothing to "Go with the shoes from grandpa", until eventually she asks them nicely if they can just get her a pair of jeans instead.

The only trouble I have with this book (and it's minor, really), is that it's written with British English in mind. Which means show more that to my American voice, some of the rhymes (laugh and scarf; blouse and bows) just don't work, and it messes up the flow.

If it weren't for that quibble, I wouldn't have a problem at all. The book rocks. show less