Helping You Become a Successful and Confident Classroom Teacher

Welcome!

I'm Dorit Sasson, freelance writer, ESL teacher, and creator of the New Teacher Resource Center, your online new teacher support site dedicated to helping you develop strategies for taking control in the classroom.

Here you'll find a wealth of information on lesson planning, classroom management, learning styles and teaching methods, and many other issues new teachers face. Take time to look around, and please leave a comment.

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May 12

Usborne Books Monthly Specials and Grandparents!

Book Reviews, Usborne BooksNo Comments


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Grandparents!
Author: Fournier le Ray, Anne-Laure

• Ages: 4 - 6
• Size of book: 7 x 6.25 inches
• Pages: 40

Wow! There are so many good Internet specials at Usborne Books for the next two weeks. This book Grandparents! is just one of the monthly specials you’ll find. Check out the great books reviews as well…

“This humorous little book is a primer on the matter-of-fact and the less obvious matters pertaining to having grandparents.” - San Diego Union-Tribune

“This picture book takes a gently humorous approach to grandparents, presenting their assets, drawbacks, various names, and appearances. Several cartoon drawings on each page feature various sets of children interacting with their relatives in warm scenes of sharing family history, hugs, snacks, etc.” - School Library Journal

“…an amusing, and surprisingly informative, little picture book that will appeal to young children and grandparents alike.” - About.com

To order your copy, click on the Internet-only specials at my website at Usborne Books. Click here for the website. If you have any questions or need any book recommendations, email me.

May 07

A Book Review - A Squirrel’s Tale from Usborne Books

Book ReviewsNo Comments


101577

Reviewed by Dorit Sasson, Picture Book Reviewer for the New Teacher Resource Center

Ages: 3 years and up
Size of book: 6 1/8 x 14 5/8 inches
Pages: 20

Written by English author, Richard Fowler, this 2003-04 Real Life Award winning book has been in print since 1983 and it is clear to see why. It is already my personal favorite! The book comes with a little “squirrel” that slides through prepared slots - one on each page. The squirrel runs from place to place in search of his nuts. He goes through a bird’s nest, trees, molehills, and even a wood chopper’s cabin. On each page, the cardboard squirrel goes through a new adventure.

Kids have fun over and over again, sticking poor Mr. Squirrel in different places in the woods as he tries to find his nuts. We all know how relieving it is when we finally find our precious things and still, kids will enjoy putting poor Mr. Squirrel through agony once more as they help Mr. Squirrel try to find his nuts.

This book is designed to orient youngsters like my four year old son, toward reading and the story-building process. This emergent reading skill is crucial for later skills such as sequencing and problem solving. I especially love the part when squirrel asks mole if mole has seen his nuts and mole says, “Calm down Squirrel. The trouble with you is that you’re always making mountains out of molehills! Have a cup of tea!” Very cute!

Another lovely feature of this book of A Squirrel’s Tale are the instructions on the back that explain what to do if you “lose your squirrel”. A few of my friends already scanned the squirrel into their computer before it had a chance to get lost. When the squirrel “ran away,” they were able to print another squirrel out and paste it onto cardboard.

A great read your child, preschooler or young student will enjoy over and over again. Guaranteed! Also makes a great gift. To peek inside this book, make an order, view another title in the series, or put this classic on your wish list, simply visit my website at Usborne Books here, and click on “Top 50 Best Sellers” on the left hand side bar of the home page. Click on the title “A Squirrel’s Tale” on the first page.

Happy Reading and Browsing!