Getting Creative

Corduroy's Best Halloween Ever

Written by: Don Freeman

Illustrated by: Lisa McCue

Grosset & Dunlap, 2001

32 pages

Picture Book

It is Halloween and Corduroy along with his friends are so excited. They are planning and getting ready for a Halloween party.  The most exciting part is dressing up in Halloween costumes.  All of Corduroy's friends share what their costumes are going to be for the party. Corduroy doesn't know what he wants to dress up as yet but he doesn't want to wear the same costume as his friends.  What will Corduroy dress up as for the Halloween party?

The illustrations in this book are fun and vibrant water color pictures that cover each page.

I chose English as my content area and Kindergarten as my grade. I would incorporate this book into my lesson on sharing and friendship. In the book Corduroy gives his friend the costume he originally had because his friend's costume was ruined. This book helps to demonstrate that friendship and sharing are more important than material items.

New Adventures Await

Old House, New House

Written by: Phillis Gershator

Illustrated by: Katherine Potter

Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 2009

29 pages

Picture Book

A young girl visits a little old house in the country for the summer.  They are living a simple life with no running water and eating food from the land.  She makes friends with some animals and neighbors down the road.  Soon the seasons change and the young girl begs to stay but the family must leave. They go on a long road trip across country but where will they stop? 
Will the young girl make new friends at her new home?

The illustrations in this book are very bright and vibrant chalk pastels that fill up each page.

I chose Social Studies as my content area and Kindergarten as my grade.  I would incorporate this book into my lesson on how everyday life has both changed and remained the same.  I would have the children draw a picture of their life and compare it to the young girl's life in the country.