Lois Ehlert!

The Plan

Books

Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert
In My World by Lois Ehlert
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Thanks A Lot”
Thanks a lot, Thanks for sun in the sky.
Thanks a lot, Thanks for clouds so high.
Thanks a lot, Thanks for whispering wind.
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the birds in the spring.
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the moonlit night.
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the stars so bright.
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the wondering me.
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the way I feel.
Thanks for the animals, Thanks for the land, Thanks for the people everywhere.
Thanks a lot, Thanks for all I’ve got. Thanks for all I’ve got.

Activity: “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” Tree

Fingerplay: “Two Little Butterflies”
Two little butterflies sitting on a hill
One named Jack, the other named Jill
Fly away, Jack, fly away, Jill
Come back, Jack, come back, Jill
Credit: Modified from Childhood

Craft

Since coloring sheets have gone over so well at the daycare, I’ve decided to go ahead and keep using them. The teachers love the sheets and the practice the kids get with holding crayons.

How It Went

Lois Ehlert is a special author to me, because she won the Caldecott Honor for “Color Zoo” when I was in kindergarten. I distinctly remember my elementary school librarian reading us this book — he loved to read to us, if my memories are any indication — and I feel like when I read this book to my kids, I’m honoring him. (Okay, sappy moment aside!) We had a great discussion about what kinds of techniques Ms. Ehlert uses — cut-outs, flaps, small pages. The kids really enjoyed comparing “Color Zoo” to “In My World” and “Planting a Rainbow” to “Waiting for Wings.” Our Chicka tree activity was awesome and super interactive since I let the kids put the letters on the tree. I used “Thanks a Lot” as my flannelboard since “In My World” ends with “Thank you, world, for everything.”