A YEAR OF EVERYDAY WONDERS by Cheryl Klein & Qin Leng - a celebration of "firsts"

 

Why this book?

This book is all about first experiences. It starts with the first day of the New Year, and takes us on a journey of many of a child's "firsts" that might happen in a year. 

 I loved the fun, light-hearted illustrations created with ink and watercolor--they have so much movement and personality! I also appreciated the slight touches of humor in the text and the illustrations.

My thoughts as a creator:

This is a great example of a picture book that uses minimal words. The repetition of "first" creates a nice pattern and sets up some of the humor in the text. The text in this one also shows us how to leave lots of room for the illustrator to bring more to the story.

My thoughts as an educator:

I loved all the possibilities for using this book in the classroom. So many kids can relate to that feeling of the "first time" doing something and will think of many of their own "first experiences" during a class discussion. You could dive deeper into feelings and SEL by talking about feelings that are related to first experiences, such as fear, apprehension or even surprise. This book also works well as a lead-in to goal setting, since kids could draw or write about something they'd like to try for the first time.

Ages: 3 - 7

Grades: Prek - 3

Connections: new experiences, New Year's Day, seasons, feelings, appreciating the world, small joys of life

Activities:

Goal Setting & Literacy - Have students draw and write about something they'd like to try for the first time. 

Literacy - Make a list of writing topics based on "firsts." Have students draw or write about a "first" such as the first time they had waffles, the first time they went sledding, etc. 

Bonus tip: Create a class book of "firsts" by collecting a page from each student. I make inexpensive class books by putting each student's page in a plastic page protector and compiling them in a duotang. Then I get a few students to help design a cover, laminate it for greater durability and tape it onto the duotang. 

Math - Create a class graph to show how everyone is feeling. Or do a "Have You Ever...? graph question using one of the ideas from the story.

Social-Emotional Learning: Provide a "feeling check-in station" so students can move their marker to indicate how they are feeling. (In my classroom, I have  pictures of real faces showing emotions on a magnetic board and students can move their name magnet onto the appropriate picture at any time during the day). 

More resources:

In this interview on the Teaching Books Blog, author Cheryl Klein talks about where she got the idea for the book and provides an Imagination Activity for generating writing ideas. 

Proud to Be Primary Emotions for Kids: Lessons and Activities to Build Self-Awareness

Description from the publisher:

From first haircut to first ice-cream cone, each year brings a new cycle of experiences.

With each new year come countless little wonders. From the highs—first snowfall, first new umbrella, first beach trip—to the lows—first missed bus, first lost umbrella, first sunburn—every year older means another cycle of everyday experiences.

In their clever, playful, observant picture book, acclaimed author Cheryl B. Klein and illustrator Qin Leng explore many truths of childhood through a calendar year of small moments that, all together, comprise what it is to be a kid.

A Year of Everyday Wonders by Cheryl B. Klein & Qin Leng was published by Abrams Books for Young Readers in 2020.