I was one of those kids whose nose was always in a book. My mom would read to me at night and some of my earliest memories involved a book. Beatrix Potter, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Ann Martin, Lucy Montgomery were a few of my favorite authors growing up. During the summer, I would go to work with my grandfather in his dental lab. My "payment" was going by the bookstore and picking out a book. He bought me my first copy of Anne of Green Gables which has to be my all time favorite book. I hope to give that copy to my daughters to read one day. I also have another edition he and my grandmother gave me for a Christmas present that I cherish.
Picking a book for this hop wasn't as hard as I originally thought it would be. While I wasn't familiar with this author growing up, I can certainly relate to his story. Tomie dePaola has quickly become one of my favorite authors to use in my classroom. His story The Art Lesson reminded me so much of my family that I felt it would be a perfect story to share.
While I'm not so artsy in the respect of painting or drawing (I'm not too bad, but I have others in my family who are much more talented than I!) I grew up with art all around me. My mom, before she went back to school to teach, was a volunteer art teacher at my elementary school for many years. My great-grandmother was a sculptor and painter (I have one of her paintings hanging in my house!) My grandmother has many paintings in her home that she painted. My brothers are awesome artists, one is a tattoo artist and the other paints and does some recycled art. Me? I just doodle. Nothing in comparison!!
The character Tommy in The Art Lesson is actually Tomie dePaola himself, it gives the reader a glimpse into how Tomie the illustrator was formed and molded into the artist he is today. The encouragement he received from his family and friends helped him to continue his dream of becoming an artist. I love that he knew as a small child that he wanted to become an artist when he grew up.
The resource that goes along with this story includes a writing brainstorm/publishing organizer with the prompt "When I Grow Up, I Want to be a...", analyzing Tommy's character, making connections to the story, an opinion piece, "Fair, or Not Fair", and a story elements graphic organizer. Click the picture below to take you to your free copy!
Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win a copy of The Art Lesson by Tomie dePaola!
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Also, are you a Virginia teacher? There are several SOL support pages based on grade level to join on Facebook if you are interested! These pages are a place for Virginia teachers to share ideas, resources, links, and ask questions of each other specifically related to teaching VA SOLs.
Teachers K-2 SOL Support page
Teachers 3-5 SOL Support page
Teachers 6-8 Support page
Teachers VAAP / SPED Support page
My favorite book was Hop on Pop.
ReplyDeleteEmily
My daughters love that one, too!
DeleteMy favorite book as a child was Where the Wild Things Are!
ReplyDeleteA classic! :)
DeleteThe Art Lesson will always be one of my favorites! It was the first Tomie dePaola book I ever read!
ReplyDeleteTiffany
KTeacherTiff
<3
DeleteOh how I love Anne of Green Gables, too! I read the whole series actually. I'm pretty sure I cried for each one. #sissypants I also love Tomie dePaola - I'm a big fan of his memoir chapter book series. Another book I loved as a child, I have to admit, I know longer remember the name of. but I can remember the illustrations, black and colored silhouettes - a kids swallowed a bunch of strange things and the doctor had to keep removing them from his belly. Weird memory, I know, but hey! that's how I roll.
ReplyDelete~Heather
The Meek Moose
I never did get through the entire series, I'm ashamed to say... Did always try to watch the mini-series on PBS... got that for Christmas one year on VHS... Anne and Gilbert...sigh...
DeleteDating myself, but my favorite books as a child were the Nancy Drew mysteries.
ReplyDeleteNope, not at all! I loved Nancy Drew as well! I would check off each one that I'd read :)
DeleteI loved Little Women!
ReplyDeleteA favorite of mine, too!
DeleteI loved One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish! (Still do!) :)
ReplyDeleteBetty
Of course! Can't go wrong with Seuss!
DeleteI loved The Singing Ringing Tree.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I love Tomie dePaola. He is such a testament to following your passion! Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I love Tomie dePaola. He is such a testament to following your passion! Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite book was definitely The Paper Bag Princess.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite book as a child is probably still my all-time favorite…The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. It's such a beautiful, touching story!
ReplyDeleteI loved "Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates".
ReplyDeletechief9937@Yahoo.com
As a child, I love the Laura Ingells Wilder collection and Boxcar Children.
ReplyDeleteI love the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I read them over and over! I still like to read them!
ReplyDeleteI loved The Boxcar Children!
ReplyDeleteI also loved the Boxcar children! I have a vivid memory of playing in our backyard with some friends as we pretended the swing set was the boxcar and any sort of leaf, branch, etc. was food to be forraged. I always wanted to be Violet, and I think we always made my sister be Benny since she was the youngest.
ReplyDeleteThe Ramona series books
ReplyDeleteI would probably say any Beverly Cleary books especially the Ramona Quinby ones.
ReplyDeleteI would probably say any Beverly Cleary books especially the Ramona Quinby ones.
ReplyDeleteI loved Laura Ingles Wilder when I was growing up.
ReplyDeleteCourtney
Polka Dot Lesson Plans
I loved Amelia Bedelia books!
ReplyDeleteSo neat to read about your art background! I loved reading my dad's Nancy Drew and Bobbsey Twins books that he had as a kid.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Sarah
mrshankinsonsclass@gmail.com
Learning is for Superstars
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Hard to pick a favorite;but probably the Little House series
ReplyDeleteOh, it's hard to pick a favorite. I've always loved a good mystery, though, so I'll go with the Nancy Drew series.
ReplyDeleteI loved this Swedish series about triplets; Flick, Ricka, and Dicka. I also loved a book about a little girl and her bear.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite book is Thank You, Mr. Falker! Thanks for the giveaway :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite books were Beautiful Joe, Black Beauty, & Smoky the Cowhorse. Can you tell I was a tomboy who loved animals?
ReplyDeleteMy favorite book as a kid was Ten Apples On Top!
ReplyDeleteI loved Corduroy.
ReplyDeleteBeverly Clearly books
ReplyDeleteMy favorites were Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Encyclopedia Brown, and Little House on the Prairie.
ReplyDeleteAnything by Dr. Seuss were my earliest faves!
ReplyDeleteI have not read The Art Lesson book but it sure looks like a great book. Can't wait to give it a read and use it in my class!
ReplyDelete