Teaching Rules and Routines: Taking Care of Books

I'm really excited about my latest project. I worked on it all day Sunday, even though I had loads of laundry and lesson planning to do! But it was worth it. I made a book to teach kids the right and wrong ways to handle books.

This is not my idea. There is a famous book out there called Mr. Wiggle. Several teachers at my school have copies made from laminated construction paper with a cute little bear. I even think there is an actual published book out there, but it seems that it's out of print, and used copies are running $80 and up (yikes!). Anyway, making this book has been on my to-do list for years. So when I finally got around to doing it, I decided to update it a bit.

So here it is:

 
Just like in Mr. Wiggle, someone has been very naughty with this book and the forest friends are very sad! (Cheesy, huh?!)

Here someone scribbled with markers and crayons... 

Here somebody drew a picture with a pencil... 

Here somebody got mud on the page... 

Here someone got juice and chocolate on the page... 

Here someone glued on paper and stuck on stickers. And yes, that says snail when it's actually a caterpillar. I fixed it. (Thanks, Anh!)

And here somebody ripped a page... 

But now all of the forest friends are happy again, because they know the kids are going to take good care of the books in their class (awww....) 

When I'm done reading this book, we will make a T-chart of good/bad choices when it comes to handling books. Here it is, all ready for tomorrow. 

I'm also going to make a bookmark that the kids can take home to remind them of how to properly care for books (I'll post it when I'm done). 

You can download Forest Friends here:

Download Forest Friends

I printed mine on cardstock and had it bound at Office Max for just a few dollars. You will have to do the scribbling and ripping yourself (it's kind of cathartic, although my friends inform me that I am not a very realistic scribbler). I used red watercolor for the juice and let it drip. I used brown tempera paint for the mud and chocolate.

I'm sure we will still have a few torn pages here and there, but I think the kids will be more invested in taking care of our library. 

Have fun scribbling! 

Comments

[Judy]

I absolutely love reading your blog and am in love with this book!! Thanks for sharing. I have never been more excited to "destroy" a book :)

[Sabrina]

Thank you so much for posting this book! I know what I'll be doing tomorrow evening :)

[Amanda]

So cute! Thanks for sharing!

[Edana]

Bless your heart for sharing! I absolutely LOVE IT! Its exactly what I've been looking for! And I totally hear you on dry markers & glue sticks...sigh.

THANKS AGAIN :)

[Nancy]

See this is so cute!!!!! Can't wait to go home and download this. I'm student teaching next year and trying to get myself prepared a year before with all lesson planning and such. I love your blog!!!

[Michelle]

Thank you so much! I'm going to print it out today.

[Eilis]

Your best and cutest project yet! Thanks!

[Kristin]

It's so nice of you to post this book. It's beautiful!

[Dana]

Thank you so much for sharing this book! It is adorable!

[Sonni]

This is beautiful!!! Thank you for sharing!!!

[Stephanie]

This is fabulous! Thank you so much for being so generous with your time and hard work. Love it!

[Sue]

I had made the book Mr. Wiggles my first year teaching and I am sorry to say lost is between moves. I love your version. Thank you so much for remaking it and sharing it.
Sue :)
The Very Busy Kindergarten

[Kimberly]

Thanks! This is a great book. I can't wait to use it.

[Patricia]

I love this idea! Just as I was thinking about how I would recreate this book, I finished reading your post and found your download! Thanks so much for sharing!

[Kelly]

I am in LOOOOOVE! I just sent your link to every teacher friend I have!!!! I love it!

Thanks for sharing!

[Carol]

Love the remake! Thanks for sharing all of your work. Can't wait to share it with the kids.

[Heidi Ferguson]

Thanks so much for sharing this!
I love it and can't wait to use it.

[Kindergartencreativity.blogspot.com]

This is great! Thanks for sharing it. It's perfect for starting Read to Self next week :)

[Linda]

I LOVE this! Thank you so much for sharing it! I have been searching for the perfect book to teach my preschool students how to treat books...this is perfect!

[Sue G]

Great practical way to teach book care, thank you especially for providing the download. I look forward to wrecking this book and reading it to my junior kindergartners.

[Amy]

I just discovered your blog! I love the forest friends book. I teach first grade and they need reminders too! I can't wait to make this. Thanks!

[Casey]

Thank you so much for this! I have printed, laminated and put together for a book to read on our first day! Had so much fun "messing"it up!

[Emily]

Thank you for the pdf! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!! What clipart program did you use for this? It is so great :)

[erica]

brilliant!! thank-you soo much!!!

[Pallavi]

Cutest poorly treated book ever!! hehe love it..I am def gonna show it to my preschool kids thanks a ton!