Seasons, Squash & Scarecrows: How Our K–2 Discovery Guides Came to Life
By: Lanette Judy
If you’ve ever curled up on the couch with your little ones and a stack of picture books, you already know the magic of reading aloud. Their eyes widen, questions bubble up, and suddenly the story comes alive in your living room. That spark, that joy of discovery, is exactly what inspired us to create our brand-new Discovery Guides for Grades K–2. Because learning at this age should feel less like worksheets and more like wonder.
After purchasing TLP and seeing all the quality literature for Grades 3 and up, I knew I needed to bring the same love for Discovery learning and literature to Grades K-2. I love children’s books and I know the impact and excitement they can bring to student learning. I found the best teacher I know, Rosanna Bollinger, my mother and former Kindergarten and first grade teacher of 25 years to author the curriculum. She’s an expert in K-2, and knows what kids love and need to learn at this age. She willingly took on the challenge (and fun!) of creating our first Discovery Guide for Grades K-2.
A note from our author, Rosanna: When I attended college, my favorite professor taught Children's Literature, and he emphasized the benefits of reading aloud to students. His genuine passion for quality literature was truly motivating. A few years later, when I became a first-year elementary teacher, what I cherished most were our daily sessions of reading aloud together. Twenty years later, I had a former student recall with fondness the books that I had read that year and she shared how they impacted her at that time of her life. I know my two children remember reading library books before naptime and bedtime and both do the same with their children. Reading aloud helps children fall in love with books. It builds vocabulary, strengthens listening and thinking skills, and shows them how stories work. Most importantly, it creates joyful moments of connection.
Total Language Plus provides guides that focus on specific books, using literature as the foundation for learning. It caught my attention that they were seeking someone to write Discovery Guides and Student Books for grades K-2. So, I dug right in and chose some quality fall themed fiction and nonfiction books. I used the book’s vocabulary and ideas to spark discussion questions, hands-on activities, writing assignments, Bible connections and family engagement projects. One book can open a whole world of learning! I hope your children remember the joy of sharing literature with you for years to come. Enjoy “Seasons, Squash and Scarecrows”—it was a pleasure to write.
So Let’s look inside: What is in the Seasons, Squash and Scarecrows Discovery Guide?
This engaging, literature-based unit pairs beloved fall-themed picture books with interactive lessons that build reading, writing, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills—all while nurturing biblical values. Each fall book pair provides 6 days of instruction, for a total of about 18 days or about 1 month worth of instruction. The Guide is paired with the best fall books;
Your student will enjoy rich read-aloud experiences, explore the “Fruit of the Spirit” through stories, and connect with God’s creation by learning about apples, pumpkins, squash, and scarecrows. Field trip ideas are included. Each 6-day book pairing includes:
Guided Comprehension Plans with before, during, and after reading questions
Bible Connections that link story themes to Scripture
Hands-On Extensions like apple printing, retelling puppets, and scarecrow games
Word Work & Writing Activities to build phonics, handwriting, and creative expression
Poetry Exploration to grow a love of language
Student Reference Charts for vowels, high-frequency words, and handwriting
Perfect for early elementary learners, this guide fosters joy-filled literacy while encouraging kindness, gratitude, and care for God’s world. This guide is set up for family style learning for students in Grades K-2. Get yours here!