Readers' Theater - Kristen Remenar

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Readers' Theater

A collection of 15 posts

I'm New Here by Anne Sibley O'Brien

Start your new year off with compassion

This is a post I’ve shared before but I think it’s more important than ever to make your classroom a place of acceptance and compassion from day one. It’s September, the start of a new school year. I have no apples for you teachers, but I do

Groundhog's Dilemma is here!

Groundhog's Dilemma is here!

It’s self-indulgent, but I can’t resist; my December pick is my new picture book that just hit the shelves, Groundhog’s Dilemma! It’s gorgeously illustrated by award-winning author/illustrator Matt Faulkner (with whom I’m about to celebrate five years of wedded bliss.) Half of Groundhog’s

The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish

The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish

I’ve been hooked on Pout-Pout Fish since the beginning (fellow Michigander Debbie Diesen is a long-time friend), and the newest book, The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish, is as wonderful as the original. Mr. Fish feels caught up in the “tizzy-busy” rush of the holidays. (Dan Hanna does a

I'm New Here

It’s September, the start of a new school year. I have no apples for you teachers, but I do have the perfect back-to-school picture book to teach empathy and point of view: I’m New Here by Anne Sibley O’Brien. Maria, Jin, and Fatimah are new to their

The winner is: You Are (Not) Small!

Craft and Structure

The winner is: You Are (Not) Small!

Happy Book Award Season! Many of us look forward to the annual announcement of the Caldecott and Newbery Medal Awards from the American Library Association, but the one that made me hoot and holler loudest this year was the announcement of the winner of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for

A Piece of Cake

A Piece of Cake

Every December I see lists of the best books of the year, and every year there’s at least one gem that I can’t believe isn’t getting more love. My choice this year for the “Don’t Miss This Picture Book” award is A Piece of Cake by

Ling & Ting & Grace & Me!

Ling & Ting & Grace & Me!

If you heard a loud, squeeing sound on November 11, that was me. I’m thrilled because the newest book in an early chapter book series I adore was just released: Ling & Ting: Twice as Silly by Grace Lin. I’m twice as excited about this book, because I

Moo!

It’s the beginning of a new school year and we want all our students to start off feeling successful. If you have kids that are beginning or struggling readers, here is a book that almost everyone will be able to read confidently: Moo! written by David LaRochelle and illustrated

Bananas for Early Readers!

Bananas for Early Readers!

Happy April, everyone! A teacher-friend asked me for super-simple books for readers who are wrestling with her lowest-leveled texts. I shared BANANA! by Ed Vere and the kids went ape. The facial expressions on the two monkeys are so engaging, and the text is limited to two words: “banana” and

Banana!

Want a book that every kid in your class can read with expression and enjoyment? Try Ed Vere’s nearly wordless picture book, Banana! I love using wordless and nearly wordless books with young readers. (If you want the myriad of reasons why wordless books are great for building narrative

Doggone Feet is Doggone Fun!

Craft and Structure

Doggone Feet is Doggone Fun!

There are many perks to being a children’s librarian (no overdue fines has saved me a bundle over the years) but one of the best parts of my job is getting to know supah-cool authors and illustrators like Leslie Helakoski. Leslie is a Michigan treasure I’ve had the

It's time to Bawk & Roll!

It's time to Bawk & Roll!

Elvis Poultry and his back-up chicks are back, so hop on this tour bus and get ready to Bawk & Roll! Tammi Sauer and Dan Santat made this follow-up book just as irresistible as their first tail-shaker, Chicken Dance. Marge and Lola are now officially back-up dancers for the King

Duck! Rabbit!

Those of you who know me know I have a huge author-crush on Amy Krouse Rosenthal. I think her books are brilliant, and Duck! Rabbit! by AKR (as I like to call her) and Tom Lichtenheld gets me every time. Is this character a duck? A rabbit? Neither, or both?

One Dark Night

It’s October, and you want to read a not-too-scary book to get in the Halloween mood. But what if Halloween isn’t something you celebrate? At our public library, we have many patrons who don’t want a story with witches and ghosts. So, what can we read to

MINE!

When I first saw MINE! written by Shutta Crum and illustrated by Patrice Barton, I thought it’d be fun to use with my little ones in storytime. After all, it’s about two toddlers (and the cutest, drooly puppy) learning how to share a pile of toys. So, it’