tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:28:44 +0000picture bookssocial studiessciencehistorical thinkingsocial issuesnovelspleasure readingcross-curricularartgeographical thinkingbiographiesanimalslanguage artsactivismphotographic booksidentitygraphic novelspoetryonline resourcesmathcreativity and creative thinkingguest bloggercommunityinternet resourcesindigenous peoplesCanadascientific thinkingwarprofessional materialsIndiaecologyhumourFirst Nations peoplesNellie McClung Elementary Schoolsocial justicebiologywordless bookstechnologyTara Booksauthentic voicejourneygame and recreational booksread aloudsvisual literacySTEMTop 10 on the 10th eventhealthimmigrantsperspectiveplantspop-up booksfoodinsectsjournal entryschool libraryaudio-booksbook appsinstructional technologiesgift booksiPad appsthinking skillstravellegacyresearchSTEAMdesign thinkingdiversityholidayskitspattern booksEnglish as a second languagePinterestcritical thinkingfilmsshort storiesteaching in ChinaSYNC Audiobooksalphabet bookscuriosityeducational appsexperimentsexplorersinfographicsmaps and mappingmind mapsreading aloudsportsInternational Day of PeaceWorld Refugee DayWorld Water Dayearly childhood educationearly readersempathyenvironmental issuesopitcal illusionswritingGoodreadsInternational Literacy DayNational Aboriginal DayRed Hand DayWorld Environment Dayastronomyclassroom spaceconceptual thinkingcontroversydramafractured fairy talesgrade 3horrorinteractive fictionleadershipmaker movementmediaBanned Book WeekCalgary Science SchoolGoodreads-Microhistories for JuvenilesInternational Day of Indigenous PeopleInternational Day of the Girl ChildLitsyMicrohistories for JuvenilesMonkeyShines Childrens BookstoreNational Pollinator WeekPink Shirt DayRemembrance DayWorld Toilet Daycensorshipcodingcollaborationcooperationcraftsflexible spacegeologygraphic organizersinclusive educationphysicssocial mediasocial-emotional learningsongsRecommendations for inspirational classroom resourceshttp://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)Blogger497125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-3941419258098720206Tue, 18 Jun 2019 17:44:00 +00002019-06-18T11:44:27.930-06:00environmental issuesinsectsNational Pollinator Weekpicture booksscienceWho knew? June 17th to 23rd is National Pollinator Week. This is the first time I've come across this week of commemoration and by coincidence, it fit in with a few new books I had selected to blog about, focused on bees. Here are some suggestions for elementary grades:   Bee: a peek-through picture book by Britta Teckentrup This one is for young bees with a gently rhyming text and http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2019/06/national-pollinator-week.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-5254239242276607957Mon, 27 May 2019 12:00:00 +00002019-05-27T06:00:12.676-06:00grade 3Indiapicture bookssocial studiesTara Bookswordless booksLooking at the book, An Indian Beach: by Day and Night created by Joelle Jolievet, I realized that I hadn't gushed about a favorite publisher of mine, Tara Books, for quite sometime. An oversight, to be sure. The books that I love most from Tara Books are handmade (from the paper, to the images being screenprinted, to being bound by hand) and/or often illustrated in unique and interestinghttp://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2019/05/tara-books.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-6829216317239645750Mon, 29 Apr 2019 12:00:00 +00002019-04-29T06:00:00.765-06:00game and recreational booksgift booksI love books like The Great Journey by Agathe Demois and Vincent Godeau. It's super fun with lots to look at as we follow a tiny bird on a long journey across various landscapes and see hidden, unexpected and surprising images along the way. I especially love the special effect of the green line drawings that are embedded in the bold red line drawings which the reader can only see when they use http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2019/04/unexpected-surprises-in-great-journey.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-6161901161348847773Mon, 22 Apr 2019 12:00:00 +00002019-04-22T06:00:01.471-06:00audio-booksSYNC Audiobooks I always know summer is almost here when I get a notification from Sync about their upcoming season of free YA audiobooks. So, starting this Thursday, April 25th you can starting downloading a terrific list of YA reads that you can listen to at home, in the garden, on the bus, in the car, on a plane, while exercising...well, you get the idea. In Sync's own words:  SYNC is a free summerhttp://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2019/04/summer-is-on-way.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-8843404851541579574Mon, 15 Apr 2019 12:00:00 +00002019-04-15T06:00:17.750-06:00biographiesguest bloggerpicture booksscientific thinkingSTEMtechnology Paula Hollohan is my guest blogger today raving about a recent addition to the Doucette Library's collection  that has great classroom potential, connecting to STEM, science and language arts. Thanks, Paula. Hedy Lamarr’s Double life: HollywoodLegend and Brilliant Inventor written by Laurie Wallmark and illustrated by Katy Wu Now here is the kind of book I would love to see in K-5 http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2019/04/guest-blogger-inspiring-story.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-7648679414417008446Mon, 08 Apr 2019 12:00:00 +00002019-04-08T09:40:51.547-06:00critical thinkingdramahistorical thinkingmediasocial issuesthinking skills I find the story about Orson Welles’ 1938 radio production of the War of the Worlds and its impact on many Americans who had tuned into their favourite radio program, utterly fascinating. On October 30th, 1938 (Halloween Eve or Mischief Night) the American public were about to get punked big time.  The story goes, that Orson Welles and the players of the Mercury Theater had adapted the http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2019/04/i-find-story-about-orson-welles-1938.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-3145488763443748304Fri, 29 Mar 2019 12:00:00 +00002019-04-01T09:04:46.540-06:00picture booksPinterestsocial-emotional learning This is sort of a Public Service Announcement, letting those of you who frequent the Pinterest page for the Doucette Library, that I’ve added one more. The latest addition is for Social and Emotional Learning, K-3.  Both Paula (co-worker) and I have been fielding a few more questions and requests for picture books that touch on these topics.  We’ve also noticed a few more lists ofhttp://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2019/03/new-pinterest-board.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-5069710619824745710Mon, 25 Mar 2019 12:00:00 +00002019-03-25T06:00:09.512-06:00animalsgame and recreational booksgift booksplantspleasure readingpop-up booksscience A couple of nonfiction books that recently caught my eye are from the publisher 360 degrees. What I liked their approach to lift-the-flap books for older kids.  In Focus: Close-ups, Cutaways, Cross Sections, 10 Illustrators created by Libby Walden is a general information book that covers a range of topics from both the natural and human-made worlds in a unique way.  Each http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2019/03/spinning-flipping-and-popping-to-learn.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-6491133696347125679Mon, 18 Mar 2019 12:00:00 +00002019-03-18T06:00:03.941-06:00picture bookspleasure readingread alouds I’ve just been working my way through a cart of new books to be added to the Doucette Library’s collection and really enjoyed, Little Blue Chair by Cary Fagan, illustrated by Madeline Kloepper. It’s a wonderful example of a circular story that leaves the reader feeling content that everything has a time and place and things will end up as they should. So, there’s a little boy named http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2019/03/what-goes-around-comes-around.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-3499192888660115350Mon, 11 Mar 2019 12:00:00 +00002019-03-11T06:00:02.974-06:00animalsscienceSTEMtechnology Unstoppable: True Stories of Amazing Bionic Animals by Nancy Furstinger is the perfect book for middle grade STEM classes. It combines true stories of animals of varying species with mobility issues with stories of technology and science that provide second chances for these same animals.   Typically, the reader is given a quick synopsis of how the animal came to have their http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2019/03/animals-technology-perfect-stem.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-8421814015970420283Mon, 04 Mar 2019 13:00:00 +00002019-03-04T06:00:02.114-07:00codingguest bloggermathpicture booksscienceSTEM Today's blog is written by my colleague, Paula Hollohan, the Doucette Library's Instructional Technologies and Information Specialist.  She's just refreshed herself by browsing through some of the Doucette Library's recent additions. Her focus is on books with a strong connection to STEM topics. By Paula Hollohan Even though I work full time in a library, it seems the minutes I get http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2019/03/guest-blogger-coding-ed-tech-and-making.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-8755684232634668046Sun, 10 Feb 2019 13:00:00 +00002019-02-11T09:42:30.933-07:00activismartbiographiesIndialanguage artspicture bookspleasure readingsciencesocial issuesTop 10 on the 10th event#nf10for10 is an online celebration of nonfiction picture books. Whether you'd like to contribute or just pop into see what others are featuring, I strongly recommend doing so. Click on this link to follow along at Enjoy and Embrace Learning blog or twitter with the #nf10for10 hashtag. Every year I find out about new and sometimes older picture book titles that teachers, librarians, http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2019/02/nonfiction-10-for-10.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-1373028803391053925Mon, 21 Jan 2019 13:00:00 +00002019-01-21T06:00:15.443-07:00early childhood educationpicture bookspleasure readingreading aloud Dear Early Childhood Educators-to-be, Today is your lucky day because you get to have a class that will focus on The Wonderful World of Children’s Literature. As a children’s literature enthusiast, it’s always difficult for me to only feature a few books. The motto I live by is – The More, The Better. But sometimes it’s just not realistic.  So I’m going to do my very best to http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2019/01/dear-early-childhood-educators-to-be.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-2827574323263040372Mon, 10 Dec 2018 18:30:00 +00002018-12-12T12:37:29.797-07:00early readersgift booksgraphic novelsnovelspicture booksscience It’s that time of year again, Folks.  Paula and I have compiled a list of recommendations to make book  buying a breeze, this holiday season.  So, whether you’re looking for winter wonderland tales, festive fantasies, rabble rousing reads, mirthful myths, nasty narratives or creative crafts we’ve got something for everyone. Just like the list from past years, all the books http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2018/12/tammys-paulas-annual-gift-book-bonanza.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-1319194899737409163Mon, 26 Nov 2018 13:00:00 +00002018-11-26T06:00:06.829-07:00language artspicture bookspleasure readingpoetryread alouds It’s beginning to snow again here in Calgary and it was the perfect time to pick up Before Morning by Joyce Sidman this morning.  Who doesn’t love a snow day? Besides being a story written as an invocation, it is a story that reminds us of the beauty of a gentle snowfall.  It’s all too easy to grouse about the shoveling, driving conditions and overall inconveniences that snow http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2018/11/snow-day-wish.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-6967711490875427074Sun, 11 Nov 2018 18:00:00 +00002018-11-11T11:00:03.199-07:00activismCanadaexperimentsgeographical thinkinghistorical thinkingRemembrance Daysciencesocial studieswar Today is November 11th, 2018 one hundred years-to-the-day that World War I ended with the signing of the armistice. The Vimy Oaks: a Journey to Peace by Linda Granfield tells the true story of a young Canadian soldier, Leslie Miller, who fought in France during World War I.  Based on his field journals, Granfield extracts snippets of text that describe his observations and http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2018/11/100-years-ago-today.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-1187487565822384775Mon, 05 Nov 2018 13:00:00 +00002018-11-05T06:00:01.913-07:00creativity and creative thinkingcritical thinkingcuriositypicture bookspoetrythinking skills Recently, I offered a workshop about children’s literature with a focus on divergent thinking. We looked at how children’s literature can encourage readers to be divergent thinkers as well as model divergent thinking. This can be embodied by the characters in the book or the book itself might be designed in some creative way or tell a story with some element of originality. I did base somehttp://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2018/11/divergent-thinking.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-5908009662084802005Mon, 29 Oct 2018 12:00:00 +00002018-10-29T06:00:05.898-06:00graphic novelsholidayshorrornovelspicture bookspleasure readingshort stories Halloween is nigh upon us and in keeping with the season, today’s post lists creepy stories. Nothing like getting scared for fun and nothing better than closing a book to get away from all that creepiness. Not like in real life.  Sleep well, Everyone. Elementary The Girl in Red by Roberto Innocenti Half-minute horrors by Susan Rich (super-short, short stories) Wolves in the http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-creep-factor.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-7541412205036188226Mon, 22 Oct 2018 12:00:00 +00002018-10-22T06:00:07.157-06:00Canadacommunitygeographical thinkinghistorical thinkingpicture bookssocial studies Town is by the Sea by Canadian author, Joanne Schwartz and illustrated by Sdyney Smith, is perfect. It perfectly captures a time and place with its simple, evocative writing. The illustrations also perfectly convey a sense of tranquility in this small community at this time. The story tells of, what feels to me, to be an average day in the life of a boy living in a 1950s small http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2018/10/perfection.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-627805147790668967Mon, 15 Oct 2018 12:00:00 +00002018-10-15T06:00:10.108-06:00animalsbiologyconceptual thinkingecologyenvironmental issuespicture bookssciencescientific thinking  If Sharks Disappeared by Lily Williams presents a simplified explanation of a complex process, trophic cascade, which tells us why sharks are critical for maintaining balanced, healthy oceans. This is an excellent book for demonstrating how creatures in an ecosystem are interconnected and when one component is missing the impact can have devastating consequences. Over the last couple http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2018/10/cause-and-effect-from-sharks-to-us.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-6897995869080661396Mon, 08 Oct 2018 12:00:00 +00002018-10-08T06:00:09.713-06:00conceptual thinkingcross-curricularenvironmental issuespicture bookswordless books I’ve been extremely busy the last few weeks teaching various library workshops.  One of my favorite ones is for Interdisciplinary Learning. This workshop lets me introduce student-teachers to some really fantastic resources from the Doucette Library’s collection. Showcasing resources is only part of what the workshop is about, though. We talk a lot about concepts and conceptual thinkinghttp://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2018/10/ive-been-extremely-busy-last-few-weeks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-4204349269950575786Mon, 10 Sep 2018 12:00:00 +00002018-09-10T06:00:01.992-06:00graphic novelshumournovelspicture bookspleasure reading With a new school just starting there are lots of lists that talk about first day jitters and some of the worries children having when starting school. My list is looking at the jitter that relates to making new friends especially when you’re the new kid on the block. I’ve found books that span the grade range 1 to 12, in various formats (novel-in-verse, graphic novels, picture books), and http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2018/09/making-friends.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-8795289645092327609Mon, 20 Aug 2018 12:00:00 +00002018-08-20T06:00:11.435-06:00animalscross-curricularFirst Nations peoplesindigenous peoplespicture booksscience We’re on the cusp of starting a new school year which for me feels more like the ‘new year’ than the one we start on January 1st.  A new school year also connects very strongly with seasonal change; Fall is not far off.  We can often see the early signs that cooling temperatures and less light bring to the natural world.  Trees and other plants change colour, drop leaves and http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2018/08/seasonal-changes-and-moon.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-7803059708962562519Fri, 10 Aug 2018 14:30:00 +00002018-08-10T08:56:09.942-06:00picture booksTop 10 on the 10th event Well, I’m back from holidays and what better way to get back into the swing of things but by highlighting some of my favorite picture books. For the last several years, I’ve participated in the Top 10 on 10 event where bloggers and other types of children’s literature aficionados  recommend their favorites picture books.  It can be a nail biting experience as you try to figure http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2018/08/top-10-on-10-picture-book-fiction.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7806429505537538100.post-6834613580086752059Mon, 18 Jun 2018 12:00:00 +00002018-06-18T06:00:03.298-06:00geologyhistorical thinkingsciencescientific thinking Volcanoes have been making the news lately with the Big Island of Hawaii and Guatemala reeling from the devastation caused by recent eruptions and a skeleton found underneath a large rock in Pompeii that had been jarred loose when Mount Vesuvius let loose in 79 A.D. Geology rocks! (Pun intended.) Because erupting volcanoes can be such a dramatic and, sometimes, traumatic event, it can http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2018/06/at-mercy-of-mother-nature.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tammy Flanders)0