Friday, July 23, 2010

Got Picture Books?

Welcome to the first annual Got Books? Event!  Here at The Book Maven's Haven I am highlighting the importance of picture books by giving away three hardcover picture books.  Traditionally, picture books have been used primarily in elementary school classrooms.  As I moved from the kindergarten classroom to my current position as a fourth/fifth grade teacher, I knew that I didn't want to leave  picture books behind.   There would be opportunities to use picture books in powerful ways across my teaching day.   Vacca & Vacca state in Content Area Reading:Literacy and Learning Across the Curriculum that a picture book "has the potential to act as a magnifying glass that enlarges and enhances the reader's personal interactions with a subject" ( 2005, p. 161).  So true!  They are a quick and convenient way to help older students activate their prior knowledge.  There is a new focus on picture books that deliver difficult content in simple language.  Contemporary picture books explore issues such as homelessness, war, drugs, death, violence, racism, and divorce. Using picture books as mentor texts for student writing is another way I have found to use them, as they contain vivid language and a variety of text structures.  The beauty of using picture books in the upper grades (and I believe in  middle and high school too) is that they can be read aloud in a few minutes and provide students with information connected to the concept or skill being introduced.  They can be used for increasing fluency and expanding students' vocabularies.  Picture books can be used to help differentiate instruction and make learning more fun and interactive for students of all ages.  Really the possibilities are endless! Picture books are an integral instructional tool whether you are teaching kindergarten or high school English!  Don't leave them on your shelf collecting dust!

So you may be thinking...wow..I really need to add some more picture books to my collection, whether it be a home library or classroom library.  Well here is your chance!  To enter my book give away, simply register here for an opportunity to win one of these three hardcover picture books.  
Library LionBob and OttoThe Eraserheads

                                                                                    
You can earn up to three additional entries by:

1.  Leave a comment on one of my blog posts. 
2.  Follow The Book Maven's Haven on Google Friend Connect.
3.  'Like' The Book Maven's Haven on Facebook OR 'Follow' me (@literacydocent) on Twitter.

The Got Books? Event runs from 12:00 a.m. July 23rd through 11:59 p.m. July 24th (EST).  Don't forget to check out all of the other amazing blogs participating in this weekend's event here!

25 comments:

  1. Thanks for the giveaway! My kiddo's LOVE books and it would be great to win them some!

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  2. Yay, your first giveaway - awesome! :)

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  3. I love reading picture books with my nephews! They get so excited!
    Thanks!

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  4. Hi!! Great blog - I am a "Got Books?" participant, too!! I stay home now with my kids, but I taught 2nd and 5th grade before!!

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  5. This is a fantastic way to promote picture books and reading to a huge audience. I am so excited to be able to be a part of it!

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  6. Susan, I am amazed with your blog! And free book give-aways...I'm hooked:-)

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  7. My high school guys love picture books--especially if I say something like, "I probably wouldn't read this one to the younger kids--the concepts and the language are pretty sophisticated." Gets them every time!

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  8. We just got Eraserheads from the library, haven't read it yet, but looking forward to it. You have a great blog and I enjoy following!

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  9. Found you via Got Books? You have a great site and I'm now a new follower.

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  10. Great contest! Please enter me.
    Laura
    laura.leahj @ gmail.com

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  11. Great Giveaway!! Please enter me

    vidishamun@gmail.com

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  12. Hi there,

    I'm a follower and I'm on Twitter! Plus I left a comment on another post!

    Thanks!
    clderwee at gmail dot com

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  13. Wow, this is a great giveaway!!

    +1 I commented on another blog post!

    +1 I follow on Google Friend Connect.

    +1 I like you on Facebook, and I follow on Twitter. :) I also tweeted about your webiste.

    Thanks for the amazing giveaway!

    xprettyxnxpunkx AT gmail DOT com

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  14. Great job on the post and such cute book choices! Thanks for helping to spread the bookish love...happy reading!

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  15. Couldn't agree with you more about the learning possibilities for all ages. I'm a homeschool mom and very glad to have found your blog.

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  16. I adore picture books. And they're not just for little kids. I made my teen daughter read one today. Please enter me in your contest.

    Pat Zietlow Miller

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  17. I could not agree more about the importance of picture books in learning. It is not a genre reserved only for the very young! I often use picture books with adults during courses, meetings, workshops, and other professional learning I lead. A picture book can set the stage or reaffirm a topic of discussion. It can quickly summarize a point or help synthesize many points. It can also bring adults back to a "comfort zone," a warm and fuzzy place from childhood when being read to was a treasured time. Some books I have used with adults include Zoom, Courage, Seven Blind Mice, Mrs. spitzer's Garden, The Dot, and Knuffle Bunny. Picture books are powerful pieces of literature that MUST become part of every educator's toolkit!

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  18. I love this blog. It has the such rich information about the latest childrens books.
    Diana Pettis

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  19. What great picture books! I would love to have a new one to share with my nephews!

    I'm a follower

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  20. Thanks for the awesome Got Books? giveaway! :-)

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  21. Thanks for this great giveaway! I love picture books and thankfully so do my daughters! These would be great to add to our collection. I'm a follower!

    -Breanna
    breanna20f(at)gmail(dot)com

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  22. I love reading picture books to my daughter! Thank you so much for a chance in this awesome giveaway!
    mainlandmama at gmail dot com

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  23. Please enter me in this giveaway - Thanks!

    seizethebookblog(at)gmail(dot)com

    And I am a follower!

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  24. What a great post! It's amazing to me the impact picture books can have on children, event from a very early age. I don't think most people understands how hard it is to write a great picture book, but when you do there is always so much to discuss even as you get older.

    Thank you so much the incredible post, giveaway and for participating in Got Books?!

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  25. This looks like a great giveaway for smaller readers. Thank you for hosting!

    gfc follower (pams00)

    twitter follower (pams00)

    commented on review: the perfect pet

    Pam S
    pams00@aol.com

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