Story S-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-r-s: Activities to Expand Children's Favorite Books (Pre-K and K) [Paperback]

Shirley Raines (Author), Robert J. Canady (Author)

Book Description

Series: Story S-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-r-s

90 children's books are s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d five different ways with lively learning activities.

Editorial Reviews

Review

90 children's books are organized into teaching units. The books and activities in the units can be used as a group or individually as resources in support of topics and/or projects in the classroom. -- Dimensions of Early Childhood "Review of Professional Literature"

About the Author

Dr. Shirley Raines is a Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Childhood Education at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Her specializations for her doctorate were in the areas of early childhood education and child development. Dr. Raines researches both children's interests in books and teaching cases of effective integrated curricula. She is a board member for the Association for Childhood Education International and is active in NAEYC and NAECTE. She is frequently a keynote speaker to local, state, national and international groups. Dr. Raines is a teacher educator who has been a primary classroom teacher, a child care center director and a Head Start director.

She is senior author of The Whole Language Kindergarten from Teacher's College Press and Stories: Children's Literature In Early Education from Delmar.

Dr. Robert Canady is Professor of Education at Marymount University in Virginia. He teaches graduate courses in language arts and reading, and does research in emergent literacy. He has both taught in and directed preschool programs.

Dr. Raines and Dr. Canady are a husband and wife author team. Bob spends his spare time drawing cartoons, restoring antique cars, and flying his own airplane. Shirley does photography and paints watercolors. Together they also wrote The Whole Language Kindergarten, published by Teachers College Press.

Product Details

• Paperback: 251 pages
• Publisher: Gryphon House (July 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876591195
• ISBN-13: 978-0876591192
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #161,517 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #42 in Books > Education & Reference > Publishing & Books > Bibliographies & Indexes > Literature

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great for teachers and caregivers, less valuable for parents, October 20, 2001

By 

audrey (white mtns) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Story S-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-r-s: Activities to Expand Children's Favorite Books (Pre-K and K) (Paperback)

Organized around eighteen themes, with five books featured for each, this resource is a valuable aid primarily geared toward the classroom teacher or daycare worker rather than a parent. With a nice selection of 90 well-regarded books, each is devoted two pages and features a picture of the book's cover, a short description of the content, Circle Time presentation ideas, five story stretchers well marked in bold (Art, Snack Time, Math, Music, Science and Nature Center, Library Corner, etc.) with a learning objective, materials list, and instructions. At the end of each chapter are the complete citations for the five featured books as well as a list of additional books related to the theme.

An example of the content: the first theme is Families, and the five featured books are 'A Baby Sister for Frances', 'Me Too!', 'Whose Mouse Are You?', 'Five Minutes' Peace', and 'Titch'. For 'Titch', story stretcher activities are: decorating t-shirts; listening to a tape of the story and turning the pages; counting to three; watching plants grow; making a pinwheel. Other themes include Friendship, Feelings, Colors, Counting, and Transportation.

As someone interested in homeschooling one child, I found that quite a few of these activities were inappropriate for me, but some were adaptable and others were as applicable to one child as to many.

An appendix instructs one in binding a book, constructing a rebus chart and making art dough. Separate indices list authors and illustrators; book titles (both featured and recommended); activities organized by type; and terms (objects, concepts and techniques used in the activities).

Strengths: nice book selection; well-organized and presented.

Weaknesses: activities are not consistently relevant or creative; no information is given about appropriate age or reading levels for the books or activities.

Overall, I would say this is a valuable resource, particularly if you are working with a group of children and don't have the time or the knack for coming up with ideas of your own to expand on reading material.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful way to enjoy stories with your students!, April 4, 2000

By 

"amberm" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Story S-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-r-s: Activities to Expand Children's Favorite Books (Pre-K and K) (Paperback)

Story stretchers help prolong children's favorite books by offering many activities that correspond with each story. The stories are grouped by theme, so it is easy to find books for your weekly theme. Not only are there featured books for each theme, but the authors have listed other books that will work with your theme, too. Story stretchers makes it easy to turn one short story into a whole days worth of fun activities that incorporate all curriculum areas (math, art, music & movement, etc.).

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Literature Based Curriculum, April 1, 2000

By 

Andrea Johnson (Orange, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Story S-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-r-s: Activities to Expand Children's Favorite Books (Pre-K and K) (Paperback)

I was introduced to this book in a Preschool Literature Class I'm taking. A friend has one...and I had to buy it too! There are lots of great ideas in all curriculum areas all based on a book. And several books fit under one theme or topic. What a wonderful resource for teachers who like to teach from literature!