Books in the classroom with Yvonne: Maya and Filippo Series

Maya & Filippo Talk Business in Seattle

By: Alinka Rutkowska

Maya and Filippo introduce young readers to Seattle, Washington. They are brother and sister that travel the world on a cruise ship that their father is the captain of. The story lends itself to teaching emergent readers how to retell a story with time order words. Each scene change in the book is connected to a straightforward event helping students remember the story. Rutkowska carefully blends fiction and nonfiction together making her books great mentor texts for students to add informational text to the fiction and personal narratives they write.  The story is followed up with a six question comprehension quiz and additional facts about Seattle.  Finally the illustrations have a child-like drawing feel that students can use as a model for illustrating their personal stories. 4 stars

 

Maya & Filippo Learn about Careers in Dunedin

By: Alinka Rutkowska

Maya and Filippo introduce young readers to Dunedin, New Zealand. They are brother and sister that travel the world on a cruise ship that their father is the captain of. Their new mission is to think about what they want to be when they grow up.  Maya and Filippo explore two places in Dunedin…a chocolate factory (the first in the Southern Hemisphere) and the University of Otago. At the end of the book is a comprehension quiz and additional facts. This will be a fun book to add to our classroom library. 4 stars

 

Maya & Filippo Visit a Glacier

By: Alinka Rutkowska

Maya and Filippo introduce young readers to Juneau, Alaska. They are brother and sister that travel the world on a cruise ship that their father is the captain of. While on their visit to Juneau the children learn about glaciers, bears, and how the plant fireweed can help us know when summer is coming and ending. Rutkowska purposefully weaves informational text into every story. Her style appeals to readers who enjoy the blend of fiction and non-fiction. 4 stars

 

Maya & Filippo Separate in Skagway

By: Alinka Rutkowska

Maya and Filippo introduce young readers to Skagway, Alaska. They are brother and sister that travel the world on a cruise ship that their father is the captain of. While in Skagway the children learn about the gold rush. But more importantly they learn that they are in charge of their feelings. This book is a great read aloud to young children. It lends itself to discussing how we can’t let small things ruin our days. 4 stars

 

Maya & Filippo See Impossible Things in the Garden City

By: Alinka Rutkowska

Maya and Filippo introduce young readers to Christchurch, New Zealand. They are brother and sister that travel the world on a cruise ship that their father is the captain of. Before getting off the ship to explore the Garden City Maya and Filippo draw pictures of things they hope to see someday. Their friends make fun of their drawings telling them they will never see the objects (a huge rose or bikes/cars on sides of buildings). This book is great for teaching young children predicting by using clues in the story and their knowledge of how stories go. Students could draw a picture and write about something they would like to see someday. Finally Ruskowska brings to the forefront the importance of apologizing when you are wrong and to be excepting of ideas from others. 4 stars