Dawn Menge’s - Queen Vernita's Visitors initiates the work with a elucidation that Vernita is the sovereign of Oceaneer; a most extravagant world. Living in a lovely ivy and rose covered castle she was mostly happy.

Make no mistake: Vernita loved being the monarch, on the other hand she missed all her friends from the land of Quails. Upon checking her calendar she realized that it had been exactly one whole year since she had seen her friends.

Queen Vernita decided she would get in touch with and encourage her friends to come for a visit during each month of the coming year. That very evening Queen Vernita wrote twelve invitations to her twelve friends. 

Osage County First Grade find enjoyment in listening to the engaging account centered upon Queen Vernita and her calendar of friends and activities. We note that the Queen and her friend Debbie spent time together beginning January 1 through January 31. 

We are given a full run down of how the pair spent their time; during each day of the week the duo benefited from taking part in different activities. Monday’s they enjoyed a jolly jump rope, Tuesday found them juggling jacks, on Wednesday they played four square, and on Thursday they took pleasure in marvelous movies. Friday was the day the twosome popped pumpernickel popcorn, Saturday they enjoyed long walks around the castle and on Sundays they stayed in and read three books.

Alliteration, recurrence, names of the days of week and day, number and order, in addition to month order and the names of each month presents an exceptional teaching tool for morning calendar work in K – 1 grades.

Calendar is one of the mandatory teaching goals in many states. Tommie, who only stayed 28 days came in February – it was not leap year. He and the Monarch enjoyed snowy activities as well as spending some time during the visit just staying in and practicing writing letters in cursive script, March brought Dana who stayed for 31 days – she brought along her seven favorite board games.

It was April and warmer weather when Cale as well as his perky dog Scrappers arrived for a fun filled 30 day visit.

And, in May, Jeremy arrived in time to see all the flora the April showers had created. He and the Queen picked flowers during each and every one of the 31 days of their holiday.

June and the inauguration of summer found Westley incoming for his 30 day visit during which he and Queen Vernita had a magnificent time spending time in the summer sun.

Ashlie arrived for a visit on the Oceaneer Beach with Queen Vernita; the pair spent 31 splendid sun filled July days.

Thus it went month by month and comrade by comrade, Hannah arrived in August, followed by Virginia in September, Mike came in October, he gave way in November to Nicole.

Tyler Ann was the last of the twelve for 31 days in December. Moreover, as Vernita was waving farewell to a departing Tyler Ann, we see the approaching carriage bringing Debbie for her next January visit.

Instructing Little People concerning the monthly calendar, through using days of the weeks, holidays and seasons presented as the exploits chronicling Queen Vernita and her friends; is a task Osage County First Grade undertakes during morning calendar time. Queen Vernita and her friends is often selected also as a book for partner reading, for satisfaction at the reading table during work time, or for taking to a DEAR office for sustained reading time.

The premise behind the account is engaging as the Queen invites 12 matchless friends to holiday with her during each month of the year. I am pleased to find the Queen has an full circle of friends including women – Debbie, Hannah, Virginia and Nicole; men – Tommie, Jeremy and Mike; teens – Dana and Ashlie and children – Cale, Westley and Tyler Ann.

Relationships and interpersonal relationships is one more area of study in the classroom. Calendar tasking in our classroom integrates discussion regarding month name and order, names and days of the week in addition to the day before, and the day after, seasons are talked about and illustrations noted whether they are cold activities, inside activities, outside or beach activities and why some activities are appropriate for the particular month and season and they are not appropriate for other seasons or months.

I like that the idea of leap year is introduced, this school year Osage County First Grade noted that 2008 is/was a leap year, and that in our country, The United States, that means election year for choosing a new President who is the leader of our country. Casting ballots for president in November was one of our activities.

Illustrations supplied by artist Bobbi Switzer are gleaming, packed with animation and movement through the use of vibrant color and just plain child pleasing. I particularly enjoy the rendering of Vernita, she does bear a notable resemblance to a well known monarch living today.

Writer/Educator Menge has produced an engaging, well written tale in picture book format for the pleasure of kids and adults. Highly recommended as a splendid read, and as a winning teaching tool valuable for emphasizing calendar related themes and activities. Whether in home or classroom setting Queen Vernita's Visitors is a must have.

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Reviewed by Molly’s Reviews

molly martin

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Product Details and Shipping Information from Amazon

Queen Vernita's Visitors

Author Dawn Menge

Illustrator Bobbi Switzer

Product Details LISTENING level: Ages 3-9

Reading level: Read to ages 3 – 6,

Read with help 6 -7,

Read alone strong Primary readers

Paperback: 36 pages

Publisher: Outskirts Press

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1598007149

ISBN-13: 978-1598007145

Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.5 x 0.1 inches

Shipping Weight: 2.9 ounces

$12.95

. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

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About the Author: Dawn Menge is an educator having a background in Special Education and is well aware that alliteration, repetition and just plain fun engage children and hold their interest fast.