"Personal Space Camp" & Fabulous Stumbled Upon Finds!

Linking up AGAIN with Collaboration Cuties for their Must Read Mentor Text Linky.  The topic again this week is mentor texts for back to school...

Personal Space Camp by Julia Cook is a great text to use toward the beginning of school when teaching kids what it means to respect each others' personal space.  When my kids brainstorm their classroom responsibilities (rules), keeping your hands to yourself is ALWAYS shared, so that is when I choose to use this text as a read aloud.  

Amazon Synopsis: Louis is back! And this time, he's learning all about personal space. Louis, a self-taught space expert is delighted to learn that his teacher has sent him to the principal's office to attend personal space camp. Eager to learn more about lunar landings, space suits, and other cosmic concepts, Louis soon discovers that he has much to learn about personal space right here on earth.  

When Louis is at Personal Space Camp, he is asked to sit inside of a hula hoop.  The area inside the hula hoop represents a person's personal space.  I bring in hula hoops so students can stand inside and actually have the same experience Louis did in the story.  This is a creative read aloud and results in wonderful discussions with the kids... 

If you have not heard of Julia Cook's wonderful books, click here to check out Amazon's Julia Cook Page. If you have, you just might find a new one you like... :0)

On to my fabulous stumbled upon finds...

Well, as I as writing this post, and got online to find a cover image of Personal Space Camp, I stumbled upon an image that then led me to a Pinterest board with a focus on counseling bibliotherapy (by Dianne Loyd). This then led me to another text that I had never heard of and immediately caught my eye...

  

 

Which led me to another book by Linda Kranz (and the plush fish)...

Which led me to oodles of art projects and another AWESOME art site...

There's a Dragon in My Art Room

AND this wonderful art project to accompany Linda Kranz's books... 

Which made me want to see if  Linda Kranz had a website... 

Which is where I found these FREE goodies to use with the kids... (also available for You Be You)

Needless to say, these fabulous stumbled upon finds caused me to order both of the books and the plush fish.

HOW HAVE I NEVER COME UPON THESE BOOKS BEFORE TODAY????

I am REALLY looking forward to using these inspiring books this fall and seeing my kids unique fish masterpieces!

Fly on over to Collaboration Cuties to read about more back to school mentor texts...

Wishing you a wonderful week!