Flat Stanley Show-and-Tell Flat Stanley! (by Jeff Brown)

3/5 = Liked It

Little Fox says, "I liked it."

Momma: What would you take to show and tell?
Fox: I don't know...
Momma: A toy, a book...the cat?!
Fox: I'd take the kitty.  Or if we had a new kitten, I'd take a kitten.
Momma: What did Arthur take to show and tell?
Fox: Flat Stanley.  His brother.
Momma: Why did Arthur take Flat Stanley to show and tell?  It wasn't because he was flat...What special thing could Flat Stanley do?
Fox:...wiggle his ears!

How Full Is Your Bucket For Kids (by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer)

3/5 = Liked It

Momma: What did you do today that filled your bucket?
AJ: I don't know...My bucket was kind of empty because I didn't get to play with Priscilla.
Momma: Is there something else that might help fill your bucket?  Doesn't playing with your cousin fill your bucket?
AJ: Little bit.
Momma: How about you, Fox?  Does playing with AJ help fill your bucket?
Fox: Yes.  I have a lot of things.
Momma: Well, did either of you do anything that filled someone else's bucket today?
Fox: Oh, listening!  I listened to [my gym teacher] today.  Listening fills buckets.
Momma: That's right!  You know what you did that filled my bucket today?  You gave me hugs and kisses.  I'm sure AJ gave his momma and daddy hugs and kisses and I bet that helped fill their buckets today!  Do hugs and kisses fill your bucket?
AJ/Fox: Yes.
Momma: Maybe we can think of a way to fill Daddy's bucket when he gets home.  Do you have any ideas of what you can do to fill his bucket?  What does he like?  What would make him happy?
Fox: We can walk on the trail.
Momma: Yes!  I bet he would love that.  How about you, AJ?  What will you do to fill your daddy's bucket today?  How about giving him hugs and kisses?
AJ: Yes.  I do that all the time.
Momma: You know what else fills my bucket?  I love when Fox cuddles with me and reads to me.
Fox: Do you want me to read to you later?
Momma: Yes!  I would love that.  But we could wait until Daddy gets home because I know that will help fill his bucket, too.

Kindergarten Rules! by Catherine Hapka

3/5 = Liked It

Fox's six-year-old cousin AJ was our guest critic.  We love reading books with our family and friends!

Momma: What is your favorite rule at school?
Fox: No running.
AJ: No pushing.  Because if someone pushes you, you might get knocked out and you might hit your head and you might have to go to the doctor before you pass out!
Momma: That's right.  We don't want kids to get hurt.  Rules are important because they help keep us safe.
Fox: Also, there are rules to keep people with knives out of the school.
Momma: That's right.  There are even rules for grown-ups!  They have rules that tell parents where and how to come in the school so the teachers and staff always knows who is there.  Rules are great because they keep us safe; and when we're safe, we can fun!

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress (by Christine Baldacchino)

2/5 = OK

Momma: What did Morris Micklewhite like to wear?
Fox: A dress.
Momma: How did his classmates feel about that?
Fox: Funny.  It was funny to them.  They wouldn't let him on the spaceship they made.  And they didn't let him sit by them.
Momma:  Why?
Fox: Because they didn't like that he was wearing a dress.  They didn't like that he was a boy wearing a dress.
Momma: How do you think Morris felt about that?
Fox: Sad.
Momma: Do you think his classmates were behaving well?
Fox: No.  But the next time the boys were [nice] to him.
Momma: That's right.
Fox: But the girl wasn't nice.
Momma: She wanted the dress.
Fox: She said, "Boys don't wear dresses!"  And he said the right thing.  He said she could have it when he was done with it.
Momma: This is a good book because it tells you that you should be kind to people even if they're different than you are.
Fox: And he was.