The Santa Cruz Homeschool Book Club meets at the DLC once a month. We have recently added a second group, the Bookworms, for pre-reading and early reading kids approximately 4 to 8 years old. Each month we study a picture book author. Over the course of a month, families or children read as many books by the chosen author as they wish. At our monthly meeting we learn about the author, read and discuss at least one of their works, and do some type of related activity. If desired, families can do additional activities at home.
In October, we studied the sister team of Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel. At our meeting, we discussed our favorite books, read Shoe Town and Jackalope and enjoyed the autobiographical video “The Squirrel Sisters.” We learned that Susan and Janet were very different and did not always get along when they were growing up, but when they collaborate their talents combine to produce some really funny books. We also made (and quickly ate) the strawberry shortcake featured in Cook A Doodle Doo. Whipping the cream was the best part!
At home our family enjoyed exploring both sister's wonderful websites. We learned how Janet Stevens creates her art. We did some of the activities on Susan Stevens Crummel’s "teacher tips" page. Our favorites were looking for the hidden forks in And The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon and finding the alliteration, onomatopoeia, anaphora and simile in The Great Fuzz Frenzy. We enjoyed comparing their references to fairy tales and fables to the originals.
This month we are busy reading the books of Rosemary Wells to coincide with her author visit this month to Bookshop Santa Cruz.
If you are interested in attending book club, you need to be a member of our yahoo group so that you can get information about upcoming books and meetings. Some of our planned authors are Jan Brett and Robert Munsch.
If you would like to learn more about author study, see the Reading Rockets Author Study Tool Kit. I’m using it as a guide for the Bookworms.
For more information about the benefits of picture books and ideas for home activities check out Carol Hurst’s website This page lists some of the benefits of using picture books as opposed to ‘easy readers” with emergent readers.
