Synopses & Reviews
Judy Freeman has developed a comprehensive handbook with thoroughly annotated lists of the 2006's best children's books, lesson plans, teacher's guides, stories, songs, and Internet resources.
The Winners! Handbook starts with an extensive booklist of Judy's 100 best books of 2006, including many of the big award winners. (If you own Judy's Books Kids Will Sit Still For 3, it follows the same format. Indeed, you can consider the new Winners! Handbook the first update to that book.) Each entry includes a meaty and thoughtful annotation, a germ (a series of practical, do-able, useful, pithy ideas for reading, writing, and illustrating prompts and other activities across the curriculum); a useful list of exemplary related titles; and subject designations for each title to ascertain where the book might fit thematically into your curricular plan or program. There's also a title, author, and subject index for easy access.
You find scores of useful and fun ideas, activities, lessons, and ways you can incorporate literature into every aspect of your day and your life. From story hour to school curriculum tie-ins, the many connections include strategies for comprehension, critical thinking skills, research, and problem-solving; songs, games, crafts, songs, plenty of great across-the-curriculum poetry, creative drama and Reader's Theater, storytelling, booktalking, and book discussion. Most of the books included are fabulous read-alouds, read-alones, and natural choices for Guided Reading, Literature Circles, or Book Clubs.
Review
"Although produced as a companion to Judy Freeman's Winners workshop, the book does stand alone….The Winners! goes even further and provides practical curriculum ties to help you make even better informed decisions. When you can plan a standards-based, fun lesson based on that literature, you know your day is a success. The Winners! is a practical guide to achieving a librarian's every day goals." - Christian Library Journal
Review
"This book is based on the author's workshop for teachers, librarians, and others, which has been presented for 20 years. Detailing what Freeman considers to be the best children's books of the year, the list covers pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, includes 104 titles for the year 2006, and combines her favorites with significant, controversial, and award-winning books. Titles are arranged in alphabetical order in sections on easy fiction/picture books, fiction books, nonfiction and biography, and poetry, wordplay, and folklore. The annotations include ratings, a description, ideas for using the book with activities, related titles, and subject designations. Freeman incorporates a list of books she chose not to review and titles for grades seven and up that didn't fit. In addition, sections on evaluating children's books and supplemental activities are provided. Many websites for children and adults are listed at the end, and both author/title and subject indexes are included." - Reference & Research Book News
Synopsis
Judy Freeman has developed a comprehensive handbook with thoroughly annotated lists of the 2006's best children's books, lesson plans, teacher's guides, stories, songs, and Internet resources.