Laura Purdie Salas

Writing the World for Kids

You are here: Home / Archives for Book & Writing Thoughts

Ready for Talk Like a Pirate Day? #ClassroomConnections

By 1 Comment

It’s almost Talk Like a Pirate Day! I can’t believe my A Is for Arrr! A Pirate Alphabet, was published 10 years ago! If you don’t have that book, check out this roundup of pirate-themed picture books. And don’t miss Pirates, by David L. Harrison and Dan Burr. It’s one of my very favorite poetry […]

Tagged With: , , ,

A #Readaloud of CLOVER KITTY GOES TO KITTYGARTEN

By Leave a Comment

Hey, teacher friends–here’s a super-cute readaloud of my latest picture book, CLOVER KITTY GOES TO KITTYGARTEN (Two Lions, illus by Hiroe Nakata). Ms J of Storytime with Ms J is such a wonderful storyteller! This story is awesome for discussions of friendship skills, anxiety, sensory sensitivity, and problem-solving. Enjoy!

Tagged With: , ,

Collect Rocks Day Is Coming Up! #ClassroomConnections

By 1 Comment

Did you know September 16 is Collect Rocks Day? Me, neither! (And really, isn’t every day a good day to collect rocks?) Agates are my favorite—what’s yours? To celebrate, check out my readaloud of A Rock Can Be at https://youtu.be/xBuJ1Fys-9M And on my page for the book, I have a teaching guide plus links to […]

Tagged With: , , , ,

A Virtual Storywalk for If You Were the Moon #ClassroomConnections

By

Did you see the full moon last night? Sigh…one of my favorite things in the world. Dakota County Library in Minnesota has created a virtual storywalk of my book If You Were the Moon (Millbrook Press, illus by Jaime Kim). It’s set up in a park so it’s as if you’re walking through the park […]

Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Writing to an Author #ClassroomConnections

By

 Last month, I got an amazing email from a kindergarten teacher in Belgium named Eleonora about my most recent picture book, Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten. She said that a friend recommended the book to her because: “(I’m autistic and very sensitive to sensory stimuli) and a kindergarten teacher. And I really, really loved it, […]

Tagged With: , , ,

Get Ready for Literacy Day! #ClassroomConnections

By

September 8 is International Literacy Day! This year’s theme is Teaching and Learning in the Covid-19 Crisis and Beyond. It’s a great time to thank all the teachers you know for the extra work they’re doing to reach and teach your kids during challenging times. Thanks, teachers! Here are just a few activities I offer […]

Tagged With: , , , ,

Back to School Printables #ClassroomConnections

By

This year, the phrase “back to school” is raising anxiety levels to a new high. I’m not even a teacher anymore, and my kids are grown, but even I’m feeling the pressure. (On a less dangerous level, it’s a rather nerve-wracking time to be a children’s writer, too, as getting our books to readers is […]

Tagged With: , , ,

Animal Adaptations #ClassroomConnections

By

One of the science topics I am constantly fascinated by is animal adaptations: how animals’ bodies and behaviors adapt to their environments. My favorite facts from Snack, Snooze, Skedaddle: How Animals Get Ready for Winter (Millbrook, illus by Claudine Gevry) concern Northern wood frogs that freeze solid and earthworms that migrate vertically, just a few […]

Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Back to School with Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten #ClassroomConnections

By

It’s almost time for school to begin—in one form or another! As a kid, one of my favorite things about school was spending time in the library (these were the days before media centers!). I’m so sad that this year, many school districts facing financial hardship have laid off librarians and media specialists. I’ve worked […]

Tagged With: , ,

Puppet Play to Encourage Being a Good Friend

By

There are so many ways we can encourage kids to be good friends. And the actions that might be friendly to one child can feel totally overwhelming to another. In Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten, the other kitties aren’t really a squealing tornado of fangs and fur…but that’s how it feels to Clover. Check out […]

Tagged With: , , ,