MARY'S TOOTH

It looks like my 3 (nearly 4) year-old students, who attend a bilingual public school here in Madrid, know the names of the parts of the body, mentioned in the famous song Head Shoulders Knees and Toes,  almost perfectly.

They also enjoy any activity related to this subject.

So, Mary's Tooth was exactly what I needed to close this cycle of lessons.

The book is about a little girl, probably the age of my children, who, one day, is eating a snack on the playground of her school.

At this point, (1st page) I heard: " No, no. ¡No se come en el patio! ¡Solo en el comedor!" (She can't eat in the playground! Only in the dining hall!)

I must admit that it was hilarious!

Well, turning pages, we find out that one of her teeth falls out and she carefully wraps it to take it home and safely place it under her pillow.

But, unfortunately, once she is back home, she can't find the tooth!!! 

If you play this moment up just a little, you'll notice a couple of reactions: some of the listener will sympathize with Mary showing a worried little face, while some others will try to find the tooth among the several school objects Mary's frantically throwing out of her schoolbag. 

Anyway, at some point the Tooth Fairy manages to fix the situation by passing the responsability to 'Ratoncito Perez' (a famous mouse who is the Spanish version of the Tooth Fairy), who manages to lead the story towards a happy ending.

Now, my students weren't totally satisfied with the present that Mary finds the next day. Therefore I took the opportunity to ask them what they were expecting and let them draw their answers.

This book, like The Moon is Cold and At The Fair, belongs to the First Steps collection, published by Algar Editorial.

Exactly like those previous one has got a little cartoon on the top left corner. This time it shows the Ratoncito Perez taking out a present.

Enjoy it!

THE MOON IS COLD by Enrich Lluch

Let's keep talking about garments! Winter is almost finished but a nice scarf and a woollen cap are necessary, for example during sudden snow storms like the one that's on Madrid right now…

Actually would it be possible that our moon, over there, were cold?

The Moon Is Cold sweetly answers the question.  Sarah is probably 5 and she likes the Moon very much. So much, to worry about her when a sudden storm starts pouring rain all over the town.

The Moon's expression is not particularly happy under the rain, so the little girl decides to help her new friend and runs towards her wardrobe to look for a raincoat to lend to the satellite in order to avoid its putting out.

Cute book with cute pictures that your youngsters will absolutely love. Especially because it gives a soul to an inanimate thing… a sort of diversion children usually enjoy quite a lot. Actually, yesterday, I had the opportunity to listen to a 3 year-old boy asking ' why didn't the statue speak?'.

Inside the book there are several weather and clothes' items to teach and, at the end of the story, you might ask your listeners to try to draw the moon wearing a raincoat (!!!).

As in At The Fair, you will also find a little cartoon on the top left corner that shows the moon peacefully turning around herself. 

So… Enjoy it!

AT THE FAIR by Enric Lluch

This cute illustrated book talks about a small young man, Alex, who is at the fair with his parents.

He is 4 or 5 and can't resist the temptation of having everything he comes across in this amusing colorful place. So, when he sees the balloons, of course he wants one. And when he sees the toffee-apples kart, he can't resist having one.

His parents are nice and they buy him both things, but the problems start when he sees the ice-cream stand. 

He hasn't got any empty hand, but he demands for his strawberry ice-cream as any 4 year-old child would do. He hasn't realized that to hold the cone he will lose something else. 

Well, I suppose you can imagine the development of the story.

And don't have any doubts: your students will enjoy it! Especially because they will recognize themselves in the protagonist, but also for the topic and the appetising items that appear in the story.

You can emphasize the part where Alex becomes very naughty about the ice-cream, and ask your students if they sometimes behave that way too. You'll be amazed by their honesty!!!

Anyway, they will also learn a good lesson!

This book is edited by Algar Editorial and belongs to the collection 'First Steps' that presents positive messages about kids' environment throughout easy texts and full-page pictures, but not only that!  There's a little cartoon that appears on the top left corner of the left pages that will entertain your children once more.

Enjoy it!

ALSO SEE: WITCH HAZEL

WITCH HAZEL by Enric Lluch

Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel is a little bored of poisoning apples in the Snow White tale and decides to visit Witch Bosslady to be relocated.

She is definitively a peculiar witch. She lands with her broom in the airport and uses the bus. She loves squid sandwiches, pays for the apples she's going to fill with a ton of poison and doesn't like arguments. She suffers chilblains and is very greedy.

Bossy Witch relocates her in Hansel and Gretel's story because the witch in charge is ill. Witch Hazel has to read the book to know what to do and finally she flies towards the chocolate house. 

For a little while everything happens according to the story we all know. Hansel is being kept prisoner in a cage and Gretel is going to light the oven. 

Due to the heat coming from the oven, the house starts to melt and… that's it! Witch Hazel manages to completely mess up Hansel and Gretel's tale because… she read only half the book!!!

Not a scary witch at all, is she? 

Edited by Algar Editorial, this incredibly illustrated book is part of a collection of ten titles called The Chest Full of Monsters where you'll find, besides Witch Hazel, all those creepy creatures, who usually scare our young readers, presented in a humorous way and unusual situations.  

For a more interactive experience The Witch, The Vampire, The Bogeyman and the Zombie are available for iPad too. You'll be able to choose among five languages, English, German, French, Spanish and Catalan, and also, to record your voice while reading it: it could be an alternative solution to teach pronunciation.

The publishing house gives us the opportunity to try The Zombie for free.

Don't miss it!

Some Witchy Printables