Once Upon A Story

Great read. Click the link to listen to a three episode (total less than 60 minutes) podcast on the importance of teaching reading and the reading gap with minorities.

Many kids struggle with reading – and children of color are far less likely to get the help they need A false assumption about what it takes to be a skilled reader has created deep inequalities among U.S. children, putting many on a difficult path in life.

How many ways can you reuse your favorite dress that has become too small? This creative thinker discovered about half a dozen!



This is a great book for sequencing (days of the week), vocabulary (distraught + overwrought), and idioms (“Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.”). Click the link above to download a freebie that touches on each of these concepts 🦋

Young John Lewis knew that he was called to speak up for those who can’t speak up for themselves while tending to the 60 something chickens on his family’s Alabama farm. Inspired by the ministers at his church, John would gather the chickens in the yard to preach to them, setting the stage for his powerful legacy of stirring the souls of people and moving them to action.


Remembering John Lewis today - a young chicken stirring preacher who would later inspire thousands to get into good trouble. Necessary trouble.

Week 6 activities for chapters 11 + 12 are linked above!! Next week is our last week for this book study. All activities will be added to our TPT store, so download now while they’re free!

:::SWIPE::: Our summer reading workshop ✨READ IT. MAKE IT. TAKE IT✨is going virtual! Each purchase includes a literacy kit with 5 exciting picture books + items/activities for creative book responses for each book + a read aloud video of each story + reading activities to develop reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.


Books Included:
🥳Saturday by Oge Mora
👦The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
🌵Nobody Hugs a Cactus by Carter Goodrich
🧡My Heart by Corinna Luyken
👭I Walk With Vanessa by Kerascoët



This book kit would be appropriate for ages 4-8 and is a great way to build your child’s home library, develop an interactive love for books, and a unique way to incorporate literacy in a distance learning/home school schedule for the fall.


Website coming soon 🙌🏾. For now, link in bio to sign up! 🦋




@ Houston, Texas

This month we’ve committed to sharing stories about diversity, acceptance and kindness • Books with a person of color as the main character • Books written/illustrated by minority authors/illustrators.


How boring would it be if we were all the same? One of These Things Is Not Like the Other is a great read aloud with a unique approach in teaching little ones that we are all different - the way we look, the way we dress, the way we learn, the way we talk - AND THAT’S OKAY!


Accepting the differences of others is one small step to a kinder, more loving community, nation, world. ❤️

Download week 5 activities for The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by clicking the above link! Don’t forget to use to tag us in your special share activity!!

This month we’ve committed to sharing stories about diversity, acceptance and kindness • Books with a person of color as the main character • Books written/illustrated by minority authors/illustrators.


When Saturday plans go wrong for a mom and her daughter, they find ways to be flexible, roll with the punches and make the best of their anticipated day together.


Looking for a mentor text to teach flexibility, Oge Mora’s Saturday is a great option. Grab our cause and effect freebie to make this an engaging Saturday + weekend literacy activity.


How are you spending your Saturday?

This month we’ve committed to sharing stories about diversity, acceptance and kindness • Books with a person of color as the main character • Books written/illustrated by minority authors/illustrators.



WORDLESS WEDNESDAY!!! 🥳


I Walk With Vanessa is a wordless book about how a simple act of kindness supported a girl who was being bullied and ultimately changed a community. Although this timeless story of acceptance illustrates that one can be an ally without saying a word, it is still undeniably important to be a public example of kindness, acceptance and compassion for meaningful exchange. This is a great book to teach our youngest to courageously stand up for what is right and without any embarrassment. The state of our world + country depends on it.



Wordless Books:
🤩 Promote Creativity and Imagination
🤩 Teaches Story Structure + Sequencing
🤩 Teaches Inferencing
🤩 Builds Oral Language



Wordless Book Activities:
🦋 Record your child telling the story
🦋 Take turns creating and telling a story using a wordless book and talk about how your stories were the same/different.
🦋 Use sticky notes to write the story as your child narrates and stick it to the pages of the book
🦋 Have your child draw another ending to the story



How do you use wordless books?

Week 4 activities for our virtual book club book are now available for download using the link in our bio! I have to say, chapter 7 was a bit tough for me. But I’m happy things are starting to look up for William in chapter 8! What are your thoughts about the book so far? What comments or questions have your readers + listeners had at this point of the story?

Having the courage to try something new can be scary! But Jabari’s dad gives him some good advice on how to take that big, scary leap and come out on the other side like “What’s next?”



Use this book as a read aloud to discuss trying something new + having courage. Have your students/kiddos make a connection to Jabari’s story by sharing a time they were scared to try something new and how they found courage. 🦋