We loved this idea of using an emotion word spy glass to help younger learners search in picture books for feeling and emotion words. It was inspired by the idea of using our ‘coggles’ to look for the different aspects of emotional learning in stories and other texts, but it makes the idea so much simpler by focusing on any content relating to a single aspect, or ‘cog’, at a time. Vuurtorenwachter Jonas vaart zijn rondje op een rustige zee. Hij houdt van de zee. Tot op een dag het weer omslaat en torenhoge gitzwarte golven zijn bootje laten omslaan. ‘De zee kolkt en woelt.’ The text is simple and easy to read, but the message is critical. Our oceans are dying and the young will inherit this planet. They must learn to care for it and protect it. This books is a wonderful way to introduce this concept of saving the whales and the oceans, caring for the environment, cleaning up beaches, reducing plastic waste and instilling a deep love for the sea.

I Love You, Blue Kangaroo! by Emma Chichester Clark - Waterstones

A simple, yet adorably delightful tale with powerful messaging about the importance of protecting the oceans. Team Margot’s International Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Awareness Day will bust myths, raise awareness and bring hope to those desperately waiting to find a donor.” We have to credit the idea to Fiona Lang, Nurture Teacher at Meldrum Primary School in West Lothian, and we’re fairly sure you’ll get the gist of how she used the orange cog magnifying glass with her group by looking at this photograph. MARK BALE APPOINTED CHAIR OF THE STEERING GROUP FOR THE ALL-PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP FOR ETHNICITY TRANSPLANTATION AND TRANSFUSION Hij drijft in zee en zijn rode bootje zinkt. Jonas roept om hulp. Gelukkig is daar walvis Blauw. De walvis redt Jonas en ook het bootje neemt hij op de rug. Ze sluiten vriendschap en Jonas hoopt dat ze elkaar morgen weer zullen zien.Over the years, those who have seemed to me to be the most happy, contented, and fulfilled have always been the people who have lived the most outgoing and unselfish lives.” Discuss what sharing is and why it is nice to share things with other people. What do you have to share with your family / friends? Think of prices for each toy that Lily receives. Set up your own toy shop and work out the total prices for people who buy more than one item. Blauw, ik hou van jou’ is inmiddels in vele talen uitgegeven. De Nederlandse vertaling uit het Engels is van Irene Kunst. Een tekst die kinderen goed kunnen begrijpen en bij herhaaldelijk voorlezen zelf zullen herhalen.

I Love You, Blue Kangaroo | Book reviews | RGfE I Love You, Blue Kangaroo | Book reviews | RGfE

If necessary you could introduce the idea by using the orange/green/red spy glass to look for orange/green/red things in the room/in a storybook etc. This would also be a way to include younger or less able children in a mixed learning group.

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Full disclosure: I received a free ARC for review through Library Thing's Early reviewers program.) Team Margot Foundation has been nominated as ‘Best Charity’ in The Sun’s inaugural ‘WHO CARES WINS’ Health Awards

I love you, Blue Kangaroo! | Team Margot I love you, Blue Kangaroo! | Team Margot

This is a poignant story about a little boy caught in a storm; when “the ocean roars and rages” he cries for help and is rescued by a whale named Blue. One day when Blue does not come, the child dives into the ocean to find him. When Blue opens his mouth to say “AAAH”, the boy discovers a “belly full of bags”, which the child works to haul away, rescuing the whale in return. Blue Kangaroo has trouble sleeping at night because he is upset. Find out why we need sleep and think of ways that we can help ourselves to sleep. Try hot-seating the characters in the story to find out their feelings about what happened. How did Blue Kangaroo feel at different points? Did Lily realise that Blue Kangaroo was feeling upset?A favourite bedtime story, gently told and beautifully illustrated. Children and parents will recognise and relate to the importance of a favourite toy.