Jessica Stockham- Matching Books Blog

Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly  is the perfect addition to any science curriculum!  This book is about a little red-haired girl, named Velma Gratch. Velma has always lived in the shadows of her two older sisters. All Velma wants is to be recognized for something more than just her sisters accomplishments. She is just entering the first grade and finds out that she will be going on a field trip to a butterfly conservatory! This is something her sisters have never done! Velma decides to learn everything she can about butterflies.  While at the conservatory, a beautiful little monarch butterfly takes a liking to Velma, and decides to perch itself on her finger for days! Velma will now be remembered as the Gratch sister with the way cool butterfly! The author, Alan Madison, creates a magical story which keeps readers guessing what will happen next. The reader will not just be entertained, they may accidentally learn some really cool facts about butterflies. T...

This is one volcanic eruption you'll never forget!  Life is about to get super scary... Imagine, you are a slave. You live in a Roman town, called Pompeii, in 79 CE. It's not so bad being a slave in Pompeii. Your owners treat you well and you live in a thriving city. But what's up with the dead fish floating in the river and the gas smell coming from the ground? You better say your prayers, because when Mount Vesuvius blows up, no one will be spared! You can find out all about the horrible fate of the people of Pompeii and what remains of the Roman town today in You Wouldn't Want to Live in Pompeii , by John Malam. Some victims were even preserved for eternity! This is a great book to share in any social studies classroom when learning about historical events. The illustrations are fun and there is a lot of facts packed into this little book. Each page in itself, could lead to lots of discussion. While it's a lot to take in, I think it will be a neat ...

The Bee Book By Charlotte Milner This illustrated non-fiction picture book takes you on an amazing journey through the world of bees.  Bees are incredibly industrious, brilliant at building, super social, and most importantly, along with other insects, they are responsible for a third of every mouthful of food you eat! The Bee Book is perfect to teach children age 5 and up all about our fuzzy little friends, how much they matter, why they are declining, and what we can do to help.  The Bee Book is absolutely packed full of information about the often misunderstood fuzzy little creatures. Did  you know that one teaspoon of honey is the lifetime's work of 12 honey bees? Or that 1 in 3 mouthfuls of food that you eat has been made thanks to pollinators such as bees? Do you know what a 'waggle dance' is? Or why it is better to think of the queen bee as a 'super mom' than a queen? You can find answers to all of these questions and so much more in this book...

Max, you wild thing! This Caldecott Medal winner is by Maurice Sendak and is a whimsical fantasy about a young boy whose imagination transports him far away from problems at home to a land where almost anything can happen. Max is looking for a little fun, so he dresses up in a comical wolf suit. His mother calls him "wild thing" and sends him to be without supper in his rom. His room then turns into a magical forest full of wild things. The wild things make Max their King! Teachers reading aloud this book can talk with their students about this natural clash of feelings, asking if anyone has had two feelings at the same time, or if feelings ever change. What were those feelings? What helped change one feeling into another? In the story, what helped Max move from anger to calm? How did the monsters feel when Max told them he was leaving? How did they handle their feelings? Does it remind readers of the way Max behaved earlier in the story with his mother? How do you think ...

All the jungle's got beat, but Gerald the Giraffe has four left feet!! Giraffes Can't Dance is by Giles Andrede and Guy Parker-Rees. At the beginning of the story, the reader is introduced to Gerald, a tall giraffe who has a long neck, thin legs, and crooked knees. One day, Gerald decides to go to the Jungle Dance, an annual dance festival. Unfortunately, when Gerald steps onto the dance floor, the other animals start laughing at him before he even starts dancing. Gerald feels embarrassed and sad, but is soon comforted by a cricket, who tells him to “dance to his own music.” After talking to the cricket, Gerald gains some confidence and is finally able to dance. The story ends with the other animals seeing Gerald’s newfound dancing skills and acting impressed. Reading this book aloud to your students us sure to spark their interest. book has a silly, rhyming text, with a rhythm your students will love! This a book is a fun way to introduce poetry to your students.