Getting Psyched for New Books

This week I have all my classes up and running on their first projects. 5th graders have been introduced to Keith Haring, 4th graders are reviewed on warm and cool colors for seascapes, and my little ones have a variety of their own little projects so life is busy busy again.

However, we have a three day weekend! Yay! I would think I could take a break to rest up and fight these allergies that have been ailing me for the past two weeks, but I just can't seem to stop researching ideas....

This morning I've found inspiration in children's story books. I cannot wait for them to arrive so I can share them with my students. (Also I'm a sucker for the scent of a 'fresh' book -- the newly printed ink and texture of smooth pages is almost as good as a new box of crayons)
I'm ordering from Scholastic and Amazon (depending on the best price) the following:

Lines that Wiggle by Candace Whitman

(The cover is my absolute favorite. Can hardly wait to get my hands on this one!)

Hundertwasser for Kids by Barbara Stieff

(Architecture and landscape inspiration)

Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton

(Great inspiration for a K-2 winter project)

Beetle Bop by Denise Fleming

(Designs and patterns for insect drawings)

If You Were a Penguin by Florence Minor

(Another winter project idea!)

White Rabbit's Color Book by Alan Baker

(An alternative for Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh)

Most of these books I plan to read to K - 2nds. However, the Hundertwasser is probably a better fit for 4th or 5th graders.

Another book that I recently came upon is Not A Box by Antoinette Portis. This is a book I would just recommend for PreK or K students. There aren't many words to this book, but the illustrations are what make it a delight to me personally.