Must Have Picture Books (linky)

        I love books!  I read them.  I borrow them.  I buy them.  This is why I am super excited about joining The Teacher Wife's linky party.  The most difficult thing will be just narrowing the books down to my top five picture books.  My favorites really change with my mood and my purpose for reading but I would have to say that right now my favorite picture books would probably be:

        I love this book!  I read it at the beginning of the year.  After reading the book I have my students decorate their picture of a bucket and then glue the bucket to a library pocket.  We then use these as our buckets all year long.  Since I deliver all of the buckets I get to see all of the sweet things that my students say to one another.  It's so sweet!

       the dot is a great book that encourages students to find their inner artist.  I like to use it when I am teaching theme because of the great lesson that it teaches! 

        ish was written by the same author of the dot and is another great book to encourage students to just do their best.  I like to use this one too while I am teaching theme.

        The Giving Tree is a classic book that I'm sure I don't have to tell you why it's one of my favorites, you know an oldie but a goodie! 

        My final favorite is Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes.  First, let me say I love ALL of the Henkes "mouse" books!!!  This one is my favorite because of my personal connection.  In the book Lilly goes shopping with her Grammie one weekend to get her purple plastic purse, movie star sunglasses and three shiny quarters and I have TONS of fabulous memories shopping with my Gramma.  In fact she just took me back to school shopping last week-it was so cute!


        So those are my top five favorites (today anyway).  If you want to join the party I'm sure there is still time just head over to The Teacher Wife and add your books!!!  Or even just read through the hundreds of other great choices.