'Delivering Your Mail' by Anne Owen, Copyright 2004

This is a neat book, the illustrations are vibrant and attention grabbing. The book explains that mail carriers deliver our mail and that they deliver it all over. It talks about the vehicle that mail carriers drive and that the wheel is on the same side that the curbs are on. It even talks a little about the pony express and how mail carriers first started. At the end of the book there is a list of 'words to know' with definitions. To extend learning on this book in the dramatic play area I could add envelopes (assorted sizes), empty boxes, a large purse, pencils, hat, stickers (for stamps), and a frisby (steering wheel).

A Trip to the Firehouse by Wendy Cheyette Lewison Copyright 1998

This book is about a group of children that visit a fire station and learn how firefighters do their jobs. They see where firefighters sleep and eat, how they take care of the fire trucks and what happens when there is a fire alarm. For a dramatic play area I would have books about firemen, fireman hats and coats, buckets for water, a hose, kid size fire extinguishers, build a fire truck so kids can sit in it, a phone to call the fire department or to take calls of fires. This would be pretty fun!!

Gus the Bus Driver by Barbra Bass

"Every young child yearns for their turn to ride the big yellow school bus. Parents seek confirmation that their children wil be safe on the bus. Gus the Bus Driver puts everyone's concerns at ease with his kindly face and his comforting manner."

Dramatic Play: set up rows of chairs like bus seats. Have someone be the driver (they can wear the drivers hat). Someone can be a crossing guard with a vest. Others can be riding the bus to school. This is a good time to practice sitting down while the bus is moving, listening to the bus driver, and going over any other bus safety rules.

Delivering Your Mail: a book about mail carriers

By: Ann Owen Illustrated by: Eric Thomas

Copyright 2004 by picture window books This book talks about the things a mail carrier does like sorting and delivering. It also talks about how the steering wheel is on the same side as the curb. And different places they deliver mail at and how the follow the same route. Dramatic Play: mailboxes made from shoe boxes if you plan ahead you can spray paint them and add numbers to the side and a moveable flag. Pencils, envelopes, markers, stickers (for stamps), blue button up shirts, mail bag, I might have some laminated envelopes ready to play with vs. having them make them all, mail sorting bins, large box with the steering wheel on the curb side, map for creating routes, hand stamps, I might also have some labels pre-made or a list of childrens names (with their pictures next to them) so the kids can practice writing other childrens names, scale, junk mail, magazines, a couple of boxes for packages, and tape lots of tape! On a slightly different note: I have just made a new dramatic play kit I thought you might enjoy: A Painter: I know some us have used paint rollers outside but I never thought to use them inside until recently. In my kit I have 4 rollers 2 different sizes, 3- 2 paintbrushes (I have 3 children old enough to understand in the mornings no sense to leave one out of the fun and have to wait), I got some empty paint pails at menards, a sheet for a drop cloth, and Im still looking for some white shirts for the paint shirts I might just have to use t-shirts. Im sure that there are more things I could addbut this is where Im at now. Any suggestions are welcome. Im so excited to see them painting EVERYTHING.

The Little Bitty Bakery by Leslie Muir Copyright 2011

Summary: At the Little Bitty Bakery, the pastry chef was beatfrom her powdered sugar nose, to her flour dusted feet." When a pastry chef works straight through her birthday with no time to celebrate, some industrious mice decide to cook her up a scrumptious birthday surprise. It's a happy day, indeed, for the baker when she discovers their delicious secret! Dramatic Play:

Bowl cupcake tin cupcake liners pan whisk plates napkins

plastic Pastries utnecils cups measuring cups and spoons cookie cutters Apron Chef hat oven mits table cloth cash register There is proablay more that could go in there for a bakery but that is all i think think of for right now!

Librarians Help

By: Dee Ready Copy right: 2013 Summary Librarians work in a public library, at schools, and many other places. It is their job to help people find information whether it be on books, magazines, websites, movies, or other materials. They buy materials and plan events for the library. They may do story hours, book clubs, and summer reading programs. They use computers to find material listed in the library, to help people look up information, and to scan/check out materials. Librarians help people learn and have fun. Dramatic Play Area Dramatic play area could be set up to resemble a library. Provide books, magazines, and other media on shelves. Provide tables and chairs with card board constructed computers, book marks, paper and writing tools. Provide a desk, chair, cardboard computer with scanner, paper, writing tools, and book marks for the librarian. Other props might be a rug or small pillows for seating, books displayed on tables or shelves, tote bags for carrying materials, an array of dress up clothes to choose from, including some semi dress clothes and name badges for librarians. For diversity include other props such as different child made art pieces nicely displayed, glasses, and canes.

BOOK: I Know Why I Brush My Teeth

BY: Kate Rowan

Copy Write Date: 1999 SUMMARY: This book talks about Sam and why it's so important to brush your teeth. With a little help from his mom he tells you how to take care of them and whether they're baby teeth or big ones! SET AN AREA UP AS: A dentist office SUPPORTING PROPS: Toothburshes, white coat for dentist, toy telephone, dental mirrors, dental smock, small paper cups for rinsing, pictures of drawings of healthy smiles, Dolls and stuffed animals as patients, goggles, gloves, masks chair for the dentist chair for the dolls and stuffed animals, bill pad, wall calandar, paper, pencils, appointment book, perscription pad, patient file folders. magazines

Title: A Trip To The Dentist

Author: Penny Smith Copyright Date: 2006 Summary: A Trip To The Dentist is a story about Sarah and her brother Josh and their trip to the dentist. The story follows Sarah and Josh through their experience at the dentist. It follows them from the reception area - back to the dentist chair. The book shows Josh and Sarah both getting cleanings on their teeth, but Sarah has a cavity so it shows the process of getting a filling. I think this is a wonderful book because instead of illustrations the book has photographs. Dramatic Play Area: For the dramatic play area I would set up a couple chairs so the children could pretend to be the dentist on stuffed animals and dolls. I would also provide dentist gear, masks, aprons, glasses, etc. I would also place empty dental floss containers and empty tooth paste tubes (the pump kind.) I would also have clipboards, pencils, dental forms the children can fill out (tooth diagrams), and old teeth x-rays. For decorations, I would hangup dental posters.

Sanitation Workers Help Us by: Aaron Murray copyright: 2013

This book introduces children to basic concpets of the field of sanitation. Featuring anti-bias pictures and easy reading it is greatfor a teacher to read to preschool age children or allow for those who have just learned, to read (whether aloud or to themselves.) It touches on safety precautoins as well as what it is to recycle. The dramatic play area would include: bright clothing: helmets,vests, gloves a large as children box covered in paper decorated as a garbage truck, and one in blue as recycling truck slightly smaller boxes for the bins at the facility crumpled vaious colors of paper, cloth, plastic, even (clean) recycleable containers It would be set up as the street on one side (where the waste is picked up.) On the other side it would be set up as the waste management facility, (where the waste is processed.)

Book: A day in the life of a zookeeper Author: Nate LeBoutillier

This book goes through a day in a life in zookeeper, and the things entailed. It has fun facts, and things about the field of zookeeping. It is short, 24 pages, and has a lot of pictures. I think a great way to extend or use this in dramatic play would be to make a zoo with different stuffed animals, foods, landscapes (rocks or trees), fences for each animal, and a zookeeper uniform etc.

Tessa the Teacher by Jo Litchfield and Felicity Brooks, copyright date is 2006.

This book is about daily situations that a teacher faces. It's the first day of the class play and the show must go on ,but with the main actor absent, numerous scraped knees, lost snacks, and playground problems to deal with Tessa the teacher need to figure out what to do. For the dramatic play area I would set up a dress up area with pretend glasses and sweaters. I could stalk the "schoolroom" with chalk, an eraser, pencils, crayons, rulers, paper and old workbooks. Also have a table top felt board with felt pieces. A chalkboard or whiteboard and pens, old text books and pencils, ruler, eraser and sharpener in a pencil case, alphabet chart, weather chart and/or calendar magnetic letters and magnet board, picture books, table and chairs, and a small mat for the class to sit on.