A House for Hermit Crab

Hermit Crab grows too big for his house and has to find a new one. He wants to do it fast so he is protected from predators. He quickly finds a shell that is the right size; however, he feels it is just too plain. He keeps it anyway but begins to decorate it with friends and plants from the ocean. He adds a sea anemone, starfish, coral, sea urchin, snail, lanternfish, and sits on smooth pebbles. Then, he feels like his home is perfect. After a while, he grows too big for his shell and he has to move on again. A smaller hermit crab promises to be nice to his friends and takes over his shell. Hermit Crab finds a new plain shell and is excited about the new possibilities.
Students could use their knowledge of the ocean and create their own shells with friends to clean, light up the place, and decorate the shell.
Carle, E. (1987)A House for Hermit Crab. Picture Book Studio: Saxonville, Ma

1, 2, 3 To the Zoo

This is a great counting book for children that are learning to count because it is clear what they are counting. The animals are easy to identify and visually engaging. I enjoy the collage art and find the train that connects all of the animals to be a good visual device to carry the book.
One way to use this book is to take advantage of the title. It is so easy to make predictions about which animals will be in the zoo and then check the predictions as you go along.
Carle, E. (1968) 1, 2, 3 To the Zoo. Putnam: New York.