"Katy No-Pocket" and Kindness Kisses

For the past two weeks, the kids and I have been "rowing" Katy No-Pocket by Emmy Payne from our Before Five in a Row curriculum.

We're a Classical Conversations family, a My Father's World family, and a Before Five in a Row family. You can read about our curriculum choices (and why so many) here.  

Normally, we row one Before Five in a Row (BFIAR) book a week. But last week, our decks were stacked.

We spent time with a friend who we really wanted to reconnect with... we made dinner for someone with a new baby... we went outlet shopping for the kids' summer clothes with my mom... and so on and so forth.

Each time I opt to skip a school lesson, a part of me cringes. The strict-school-ma'rm sitting on my shoulder tsks, tsks and whispers in my ear, "Kids in traditional schools are learning right now! They don't ignore their lessons and go shopping instead!"

But then, the quieter and calmer voice of reason softly reminds me, we want this---this chance to derail our schedule to love a friend. This flexibility for my kids to shop and spend time with their grandmother. This opportunity to choose what is most needful each day.

And really, each day is full of fresh new possibilities. When the next Monday rolled around, we dove deep into Katy No-Pocket and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly!

About the Author and Illustrator 

Each time we begin a BFIAR book, I start with the book cover. I point out the title, the cover art, and the author and illustrator. Those terms (title, cover, author, illustrator) can be vocabulary basics, even for preschoolers.
  
Next, we talk about the author and illustrator. Emmy Payne came from a literary family. She co-wrote 18 mystery novels with her mother, Christine Noble Govan. Katy No-Pocket was Emmy Payne's only children's book.

Katy No-Pocket's illustrator, H.A. Rey, is, of course, the famous author and illustrator of Curious George. The kids and I looked for Rey's signature style and bold color choices in Katy No-Pocket.

Reading the Book 5 Times

Katy No-Pocket started as a bedtime book before we began "rowing" it. My kids discovered it in our library bag and pulled it out immediately.

• Read 1: Bedtime story.

• Read 2: Bedtime story.

• Read 3: Read aloud at the school table.

• Read 4: Kids "read" the book to mom. I turned the pages and kids explained what was happening and naturally, recited any lines they could remember. Asking kids to retell stories develops key literacy skills, moving them from passive listeners to active storytellers. 

• Read 5: Each kid summarized the book orally and I typed their summaries. We printed them and glued them into their lapbooks.

Learning About Kangaroos 

So obviously we used Katy No-Pocket as an opportunity to learn about kangaroos.