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Two questions today.. 1. What is your favorite book for elementary aged children? In L’s classroom the teacher invites parents to come in on their child’s birthday to read a book to the class. And then you donate the book to the classroom in the child’s name to leave behind for the classroom. So I need some recommendations on what book to bring! L is really into the “Black Lagoon” series so maybe one of those? Any other ideas? He’s in 1st grade by the way. 2. Do you thrift shop? What is the best thing you have found? Every once in a while I get into a big thrifting kick (like I am now) and can’t get enough of it. I have never found anything super amazing, but I still hold out hope that this will eventually happen. Now it’s your turn! Can’t wait to hear everyone’s thoughts on these!
I’m not sure which my son’s class most enjoyed, but I do know about a year or so ago my daughter’s class did the Kissing Hand. That was a sweet book, and she is a girl, but she loooooooooved that book.
Have you read the skippy Jon jones books? They are hilarious. It is a Siamese cat who thinks he is a chihuahua. They crack me up.
Oh and Maximilian the Great, if i remember correctly, the author Lisa Funari- Willever came to our school to sign books, because that year we purchased a bunch of her books. My kids Love them. Theres a Kid Under my Bed too
Ohhhhhh those are great!!!!! I have to listen to the audio so I get the quirky songs he sings down right.
OOps I meant that to be under the skippy jon jones comment sorry
1. The Rainbow Fish was always my favorite when I was little, with that being said I’m in a my late 20’s and I have NO CLUE what kiddos are into these days since I don’t have any yet. 🙂 Maybe just let him pick the book, I bet he would be WAY proud of himself for picking a cool book for the class. Also, that idea is super neat!
2. I get into a thrift kick from time to time, but I mainly stick to Marshall’s and TJMaxx… which totally count, right? I seriously go to my local Marshall’s every week to look for those little red tagged items on what-nots and beauty items. I just wish I had the will power to wait it out for clothes and shoes to be marked down, but I don’t!
1st graders love anything by Mo Willems. Knuffle Bunny is probably the most popular one, but I really like Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs. If L likes the black lagoon books he might like Miss Nelson is Missing too.
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I don’t have any kids of my own, but whenever possible, I try to get my nieces into the books I liked when I was a kid. Shel Silverstein, Richard Scarry, Mr.Men/Little Miss, Rotten Ralph, Goosebumps. The Napping House was one of my favorite books of all time when I was a kid.
I LOVE thrifting!! The Goodwills in AZ have 50% off all color tags every other Saturday and I usually hit those up, though the last few (and the next one, this coming Saturday) I’ve missed. Though my best find wasn’t there.. REI has these huge member sales they call garage sales, where they sell returns/other items they can’t sell for new. I snagged a GoPro Hero4 Silver for $25. The return tag said it didn’t take pictures, but once I popped an SD card in it, it worked fine. They had a bunch of fitbits there too. And then I learned that whatever they don’t sell at the garage sales gets donated to thrift stores if there’s no room to store it all.
I have had some pretty great luck at thrift stores – I used to work part time at goodwill as a second job. Probably my best score was a vintage Betsey Johnson dress for $5.99. Oh, and I found a vintage Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress for $7.99!
1. As a kid I loved Stephen Kellogg books. He came to our school and autographed books for us when I was L’s age, and maybe that made them all the more magical to me? I’m not sure. But they’re so well illustrated and the stories are cute.
2. I’m not really a thrifter, but I did once tag along with my bestie who is. And I found glasses that matched my dish set perfectly! And for like 5 dollars for 8 of them. I think I avoid Thrift Stores because I might turn into a hoarder.
LOL when I first read your comment I read Stephen King and I was like WOW he autographed books for elementary kids. I really need to read closer when I’m skimming the comments. LOL
Ha! That would have been a very different assembly!
My kids loved all of the Dr.Seuss books, and I love thrift stores, I like the furniture, I got a desk for 40 an painted it, now it’s my vanity, a vanity stool for 10, I redid the cushion and painted it for my daughter’s vanity. I found a Hollister jacket for my daughter for 5.99 at one store and at the Hollister store it cost 179.00. My daughter and I love thrift store’s, it’s like going on a treasure hunt.
My mom and I go to thrift shops all the time. Usually there’s nothing up here in Melbourne but down in South Florida it’s a gold mine
I found a real lilly scarf here once…
and in south florida a brand new with tags baby outfit…. for $2
I like mo williams too. There are so many cute kids books out now.
I’ve gotten amazing things thrifting. My fav buy ever was several months ago I got a massive display table with shelves made of wood and glass that probably weighs several hundred pounds that was from nordstroms originally for literally 20 cents! I use it as a center island/display table in my walk in closet. I’ve gotten all kinds of designer NWT clothes and new vintage stuff too. There are some really good stores in the metro Detroit area.
Ns school does the same thing. Last year for K I read the day the crayons quit and he wanted that again this year but I said no. So this year we did two books Midnight Pizza Party and then one of the Pete the Cat books. I can’t remember which one but he loves all of the Pete books and then there are songs to go with them so that is fun.
I like to thrift too but i just don’t have tons of time right now. I do scour the local FB sale pages for goodies and have gotten some great finds that way. I still haven’t made it out to look for unicorns yet but my mom is coming next week so maybe I can do that with her.
My favorite book when I was a kid was The Giving Tree. People nowadays say it’s a bad book and teaches selfish behavior, but it always struck me that the lesson was that it’s not so much about the gift as the love behind it. The boy doesn’t realize this until the end of the book when he’s very old but the tree knows it all along.
I don’t really enjoy shopping or hunting down bargains. I think that’s why I like subscription boxes so much! They find things FOR me lol! Has anyone heard any updates on the LLB fiasco? I am pretty disappointed that I haven’t heard anything. It makes me sad to think that box is run by nasty people.
I remember doing something similar with my older child. I’m not familiar with the “Black Lagoon” series. I think anything that can be read during the time allotted and is enjoyable for first graders will be a hit.
I check the thrift stores when I am around them. It’s hit or miss.
My favorite children’s book is a Sesame Street (Grover), The Monster at the End of This Book. But it’s probably a little young for 1st grade.
I like to thrift off and on. Probably the best find was a vintage Lanvin necklace that was in a bag of mixed jewelry for $2. I didn’t care for it though so I put it up on ebay and it sold for $400! Talk about feeling like a treasure hunter!
I just got my niece who is 7 “the Book with no pictures” and she thought it was one of the best books ever! Totally ridiculous and just so much fun to read even for me!
1. My favorite is “The Magic Fish” by Freya Littledale. I use it in my 11th and 12th grade classes when we talk about fairy tales and cultural stories, but it’s super fun to read (sort of a spin on the genie in a lamp thing). It has some fun rhyme, the pictures are cool — all in all, good stuff.
2. I don’t, as a rule, do the thrift store thing, however, I’ve had some great finds over the years. Recently, we were fostering a 12-month old girl and got a bunch of musical leapfrog toys for $2 each. A couple years ago, I needed a Hawaiian shirt for Luau day and I grabbed the first one that fit – spent $4, because I thought it was awesome. Turned out to be a limited edition Disneyland 50th anniversary thing. I keep meaning to post it on ebay… LOL
1. I am a children’s librarian and we get this question ALL the time! I definitely agree with all the Mo Willems love out there, but my favorite read alouds are:
Pout-Pout Fish
Dragons Love Tacos
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
Is Everyone Ready for Fun?
Iggy Peck, Architect
2. I primarily shop at thrift stores. I wear a lot of dresses and almost all of them were purchased at a Savers store. You just can’t beat a $10 Banana Republic dress! I have also purchased puppets to use in Storytime, Wii controllers, and even a Schylling toddler speedster for $20!
Oooh there are so many great kids books for that age. I am pre-school teacher and here are a few of my faves that could work for that age :
Mo Wilems- aside from the Knuffle Bunny books
the Pigeon series and Elephant and Piggie series are also really cute (Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus, We Are In A Book! etc)
Mix it Up and Press Here By Herve Tullet- these books are so creative and fun, if not for the first grade reading day I highly recommend getting these for your boys to enjoy. Both WB and L can both enjoy!
A Beautiful Oops
The Book With No Pictures
I Dont Want to be a Frog
Stick and Stone
David Series (No David, David Goes to School, Ect) by David Shannon
If You Give A Mouse A Cookies Series
Caps for Sale ( this was a favorite of mine as a child)
Nate the Great is a fun series for ages 6-9 but prb. too long to read in one sitting
Oh man I could go on and on but I ll spare you. Have fun!
LOVE thrift stores..my husband and I go every weekend! We both buy all of our clothes there, with the exception of undergarments & shoes. Love getting name brand clothes without the name brand price tag! I also love looking for unique storage items that I use in my craft space. I usually look for items I can use for myself. I also have an obsession with all white serving dishes..I have found so many great and unique pieces many with stamps on the bottom from Willams-Sonoma, Pier One, Crate & Barrel…etc..My husband likes to look for items he can sale online. It’s like going on a treasure hunt every weekend and we absolutely love it…
I love everything by Robert Munsch, the stories are all pretty silly but kids seem to love them. And I love reading them. (My favourites are Paper Bag Princess and Mud Puddle.)
I am a horrible thrift shopper. My two sisters-in-law are fantastic. They’ve both found AMAZING furniture and one of them has a fantastic wardrobe made at least 80% from thrift store purchases. I never find anything!