Author+of+the+Month-+Who+and+How....

Okay, since I started this wiki, I'll go ahead and add an author that I think should be used in the Author of the Month Wiki, and how I would use it in my classroom: Don't forget to add your name at the end!!!!!


 * Author: Leo Lionni- Oh, how I love all of Leo Lionni's books. His style is very unique and my students can easily spot his work.
 * Books: Some of the books I would include in my selections would be: Frederick, Inch by Inch, Swimmy, The Alphabet Tree, etc.
 * Activity/ Extension: In my classroom, I focused on Lionni's unique art style (tear art) and had my students create their own Frederick and they each made a poem about Spring; just like Frederick did in the story. His stories are so diverse that you can find any of his stories to go along with any concept you're teaching.
 * Here's a great website that has activities, a video of Lionni showing the kids how he made Frederick, and a list of all of his books (mchristian)

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 * Author: Bill Martin Jr. - My author is appropriate for pre-kindergarten to second graders. His books are often illustrated by Eric Carle, who's use of color and style instantly grab the attenion of young readers.
 * Books: //Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?//, //Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?// and, //Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?//
 * Activity/Extension: In our activity, we will write and illustrate our very own class big-book, based on the //Brown Bear// model. I will let the children brainstorm different animals to use in our story. They will illustrate the pages of our big book by each drawing a picture of one animal. I will use the format, "(animal), (animal), What do you see? I see a (animal) looking at me." With their assistance, I will write the text on each page and compile the book. Once it is bound, we will keep a copy in our "book nook" for the students to read at their leisure.
 * Website: [] Has an excellent list of Bill Martin Jr.'s work. (adavis)


 * Author: Marcus Pfister - I have to admit the Rainbow Fish is one of my favorite children's books. The approximate appropriate age range is from kindergarten to second grade. His books are very colorful I love the illustrations and there is also a moral to the story which is always a plus. Some of the topics covered in his books include, conflict resolution, sharing, learning to accept people from other countries, and environmental responsibility..
 * Books: //Rainbow Fish Series (//there is a total of five books)//, Milo and the Magic Stones, Milo and the Mysterious Island, Penguin Pete, Shaggy, How Leo Learned to Be King,// and //The S//leepy Owl. For a more complete list go to Marcus Pfister's website.
 * Activity/Extension: Students could create their own book using the same technique as Pfister, watercolor and foil. Milo and the Magic Stones could tie into ecology and environmental responsibility. The animals in his stories live in different environments this could tie into science, students could draw animals that could be found in the same environment.
 * Website: http://www.marcuspfister.ch/index.htm This is Marcus Pfister's official website and it has a biography, a list of books, and how he does his illustrating. (cburgess)


 * **Author:** Eric Carle.
 * **Books:**//The Very Hungry Caterpillar//. He collaborated on Bill Martin Jr.'s book, //Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?//. Some of his other books include //1, 2, 3 to the Zoo//, //Pancakes, Pancakes!//, and //Do You Want to Be My Friend?//.
 * **Activity/Extension:** Eric Carle illustrated his books using a collage art style. Most of his books were about nature, and he wanted to attract and keep the attention of small children. So, he made colorful art designs using nature and his collage art style. As a classroom activity, students could make a collage of nature and what attracts them to nature. They could make a collage about trees or ants or butterflies or any other animal or insect that they enjoy. They can make their collage by glueing together magazine clippings of nature, animals, or insects or they could color or paint a drawing of an animal or insect and then cut it up into small pieces. They then could glue the pieces back together again but in a somewhat messed up order to make it look like a collage.
 * Website: [] Eric Carle's own website. (sbartlett)


 * **Author:** Avril Webster
 * Books:** Off We Go to the Grocery Store, Off We Go to the Dentist, Off We Go for a Haircut
 * Activity/Extension:** I worked with students who have Multiple Disabilties of the severe nature. Often times my students are unable to read and the reading that place in my classroom generally consist of me and/or my para educators reading tot he students. I personally do not have these books but I love the idea of talking about general everyday functions of life in these books. While academics is important to a degree with my students, my primary concern fot them is to try and prepare them to live as much of an independent life as possbile for them later in life. (meconner)


 * **Author:** Karen Hesse
 * **Books**: //Out of the Dust//
 * **Activity/Extension:** Karen Hesse's //Out of the Dust// is extremely original and inspiring because it is an entire book written as a continuation of poems. While some lines may rhyme here and there, it is mostly free verse. The main character Billie Jo is also yearning to find beauty in the midst of the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. For that, she turns to music. It might be fun to have students create their own poetry, in addition to a piece of music to accompany it. No complicated or fancy instruments needed, just simple make-shift devices will do. Just let the kids' creativity shine through.
 * Website: []
 * (kburch)


 * Author: Tomie DePaola
 * Books: Straga Nona, Nursery Rhymes, Stone Soup
 * Activity/Extension: Working from the book Stone Soup, with so many characters this would be a fun one to have the students act out the story. Give them costumes and play pretend food, and watch them go! Its a great activity to focus on communication and creativity.
 * Website:[]
 * hcallais