Picture Book LInky Party

I'm always up for a good party and I have to say that I think Linky Parties are the best kind... except they don't have cake.  Jeannie at Kindergarten Lifestyle is hosting one that has invited  teacher bloggers to share their favourite picture book for sharing with the kids.  It has been a long time since I was officially teaching the "Kindergarten" age group (here we call it Prep) but with the number of kids my sister keeps producing it seems that someone is always around that age.  You are never too old for picture books in my opinion anyway.

One of my favourites is:

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. 

By Judith Viorst

Poor Alexander is having one of those days.  He woke up with gum in his hair and he didn't get a treat in his cereal and the hits just keep on coming.  Actually come to think of it, he's a bit of a whinger.  Alexander takes us along with him to see his Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day.  He decides (a number of times) to move to Timbuktu.  By the end of the day, his Mum explains that sometimes we just have bad days.  I love it, because it reminds me that not everyday is going to be fabulous.  I also love the repetition as Alexander continues to lament the terribleness and horribleness of his day.  Alexander is a kid and he has kid kind of problems; the teacher does not like his drawing, he has to sit in the middle in the car, his big brother is teasing him etc. 

It is a great story just to share, but it can also stimulate some great discussion among our students.  We can ask focus questions like; How would you feel if you were Alexander? What would you do differently to Alexander? How could you change the circumstance? Why do you think Alexander was having a bad day? Have you ever had a bad day like that?  There are plenty of opportunities to talk about conflict resolution, organisation, communication and even feelings.  It is a great book.

Being an Aussie Teacher I am feeling the need to plug some of the great picture books from Aussie Authors.  Stay Tuned... that will be another post. 

Happy Reading
:)M