Current Book Review

TPT Question #4: Can I Put a Specific Study Guide on Sale?

Absolutely, but for a limited time. Tell me your name, the name of the study guide, and the date you need it. I’ll set up a special notice like “Miss Amy’s 20% off Student Sale” and I’ll put that guide on sale for three days PRIOR to when you need it with a direct link for you and your students to make downloading easy. Send your request to info@thedustyjacket.com. For a complete list of products, visit www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/the-dusty-jacket

Study Guide: By the Great Horn Spoon! by Sid Fleischman

A great ELA supplement to Sid Fleischman’s epic gold rush adventure about a spunky 12-year-old boy and his loyal butler who set off to California to strike it rich. Wonderful themes of kindness, compassion, courage, honor, and friendship. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Study-Guide-By-the-Great-Horn-Spoon-by-Sid-Fleischman-12249210

30 Picture Books to Welcome the Seasons Series: Fall

Corn mazes, changing leaves, apple cider, colder days, and pumpkins everywhere can only mean one thing. Fall is here! From books that celebrate the changing of the seasons to stories that help children deal with anxiety that comes with experiencing something new, these picture books help celebrate the beauty and majesty that happens during this time of year.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/30-Picture-Books-to-Welcome-the-Seasons-Series-Fall-12232827

Coming soon! FREE Stellaluna study guide!

Coming soon is a FREE study guide for Janell Cannon’s classic picture book about a young bat who gets separated from her mother and finds some unlikely friends who remind her that although they are different, they still feel very much alike. A great way to introduce your young reader to successful reading habits and guided learning. Don’t miss out by following us at www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/The-Dusty-Jacket

TPT Question #3: Why are my free study guides only 10 pages?

TPT puts a 10-page limit on any product listed as free, which is why my free study guides are only for books that are very short or are beginning readers. Although I try to pack as much information as I can into them, my full-sized guides are where learners can dig deeper into story content while being introduced to various grammar, history, social studies, or math concepts. For a complete catalog of my free and priced items, visit www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/the-dusty-jacket

FREE Study Guide! Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant

This FREE guide is a great supplement to Cynthia Rylant’s classic story about a boy and his beloved dog. Ideal for early readers with plenty of activities including story questions, sequencing events, fill in the missing letter, actions and consequences, adjectives, match-up, sorting, and more! Download: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Study-Guide-Henry-and-Mudge-by-Cynthia-Rylant-12188974

TPT Question #2: Do I Accept Study Guide Suggestions?

Of course! Although I have a personal list of guides that I’m creating, if there’s a book that you’re planning to use in your classroom that you don’t see offered, I would love to consider adding it to my store. Email your suggestions to info@thedustyjacket.com. Thank you for helping me make my store better AND for the chance to help you save time on lesson prep! www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/the-dusty-jacket

Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater (J Fiction)

Mr. Popper’s Penguins

Richard and Florence Atwater (J Fiction)

Mr. Popper is a painter who’s never left his little town of Stillwater. He loves his wife, has two wonderful children, and a nice little house that has been painted and papered more times than Mrs. Popper can count. But Mr. Popper dreams of being an explorer and traveling to see those cute penguins that he’s read so much about. His dream of adventure comes one step closer to reality when the famous Admiral Drake sends him a penguin straight from the South Pole. Little did Mr. Popper realize how one little penguin would begin an unforgettable journey that even Admiral Drake would envy.

Winner of the 1939 Newbery Honor Book award, Mr. Popper’s Penguins was devotedly finished by Florence Atwater after her husband Richard was too ill to finish his enchanting story about love, loyalty, selflessness, and family. A funny and quirky story about a man filled with regret who suddenly finds himself the caretaker of a colony of penguins. Even the fastidious Mrs. Popper can’t help but fall in love with this goofy and curious lot who quickly capture the imagination and adoration of their little town and the country.

It’s quite extraordinary to see how much life imitates art when you realize how, like Florence, Mrs. Popper steps up to see her husband’s dream realized. Although Florence Atwater might not have had to deal with the financial burden of a rookery of penguins, she did finish what her husband started and did so in spectacular fashion as the Atwater’s book continues to be a beloved children’s classic over eight decades after it was published.

Mr. Popper’s Penguins is more than just a story about penguins. It’s a beautiful ode to anyone who’s experienced true love. Mrs. Popper sacrifices her home, her life, and the family’s financial stability to support a husband she loves. In turn, Mr. Popper has to make a very difficult decision regarding his beloved penguins—keep them by accepting a lucrative Hollywood contract or release them back to the arctic and never see them again. Author Bob Goff wrote, “Selfless love is always costly; fear can’t afford it, pride doesn’t understand it and friends never forget it.” You can be sure that twelve little penguins won’t soon forget it either.

Rating: 5/5

Want to share Mr. Popper with your homeschooler or classroom? Download our study guide: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Study-Guide-Mr-Poppers-Penguins-by-Richard-and-Florence-Atwater-12118927

30 Picture Books to Help Prepare When…It’s Time to Go to Bed!

Sometimes going to bed is the WORST! Whether you don’t WANT to go to sleep because there’s still so much more to do OR you CAN’T sleep because spooky things hide in the dark, conquering fears and helping kids establish good bedtime routines are important. Combat and conquer wiggles, anxiety, or fear with these entertaining picture books to make sure you’re prepared when it’s time to go to bed. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/30-Picture-Books-to-Help-Prepare-WhenIts-Time-to-Go-to-Bed-12158275