RAINBOW OF FRIENDSHIP

Rainbows, positivity, music, and friendship . . . 

If you're needing a dose of positivity, music and ways to change the world alongside a precious picture book and some sweet jammin' tunes, this episode is just right for you! Joni is absolutely precious and full of joy and a desire to share that joy with the world. No wonder she's an award-winning children's author and song writer. We had a great chat and we hope you enjoy joining us too!

RAINBOW OF FRIENDSHIP

Joni's first book, inspired by her daughters' girl scout days.  From Bare Book to published, and award-wining, check out the interview to find out more about Joni's inspiration, writing process, and path to publication. Check out her website in the guest links section to purchase copies directly from her (and to see her other fabulous books and songs and plays.)

A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)

Check out Joni's very own song and the book trailer for RAINBOW OF FRIENDSHIP.  Be sure to check the guest links below for where to access all of Joni's music, as well as my YouTube playlist for more fun songs and musical activities related to RAINBOW OF FRIENDSHIP.

friendship1818.mp3
File Size:	7875 kb
File Type:	mp3

Download File

---

Teacher Tips, Tricks and Topics

• Colors (Art/Science connection) -- 
  
  • For preschool through kindergarten -- color identification
  • For K-2, color mixing, primary vs. secondary colors
  • Color poems
• Rainbow (Science connection)
  • How do rainbows form?
  • Colors of the rainbow in order (ROY G BIV)
• Friendship (SEL/Health/Social Studies connection)
  • What makes a good friend'
  • Friendship character traits
  • How to be a good friend
  • Being friends with people different than you
• Alliteration (ELA connection)
  • Find examples in the book
  • Write your own examples
  • Alliterative sentences/poems with colors or about friendship
• Similes (ELA connection)
  • Find similes in the book
  • Write your own examples
  • Color poems "As red as. . . ." etc. (Pinterest board)
• Rhyming (ELA connection)
  • Find rhyming words
  • Create your own rhyming pairs or word families
  • Write rhyming couplets
• Adjectives (ELA connection)
  • Find adjectives
  • Write phrases or sentences with adjectives
  • Besides color, what other adjectives can we use?
• PE connections
  • Play hopscotch
  • Kick the Can
  • Hide-and-Seek
• Math connections
  • Color patterns
  • Create story problems from the book

Tips and Topics for Music Teachers

• This book would be a great companion to using Boomwhackers, bells, or color-coded solfege notation. (rainbow colors); could put the reds together, oranges, etc. and talk about how those sounds are the same (pitch); also could put sounds together (ie, CEG) and begin building chords; relate it to friendship.
• Rainbow songs (connecting science and music)
• Friendship songs (SEL)
• Rapping rhyming couplets
• Friendship song from Joni Klein-Higger
• Color songs

Writing Prompts from Tonnye

1. Write a rhyming couplet about your favorite color.  How many colors can you do?
2. Write a simile poem about one color -- or a simile poem about the whole rainbow of colors. (Check the pinterest board for some ideas and templates.
3. My Favorite Color is _______ because . . . 
4. Write your own story about neighborhoods where kids with differences learn to be friends.
5. Do you think kids with differences can be friends?  Why/why not?
6. Create a Venn diagram about you and your friend. How are you alike? Different?
7. Write a letter to your friend telling why they are a good friend.
8. Write an acrostic poem with the word friend.
9. Write an alliterative phrase or sentence with your name.
10. Write a poem or story telling which color neighborhood you would live in and why.
11. Write a letter from an  Orange to a Purple.
12. Write about how rainbows are formed.
13. Write about a magical rainbow.
14. Write a letter to the author and/or illustrator telling them why you like/don't like the book.
15. THE GRAY RAINBOW (title)

Writing Tips from Joni

1. Be a part of a writing community and utilize their offerings.
2. Join an in-person or online critique group that specializes in your genre. If you already belong to one and want to become more prolific, consider joining a second group.
3. Set goals - Daily, Yearly, and Long-term. For your daily goals, incorporate three positive things a day that move you closer to your yearly goals. Whether it be creating, researching, marketing, signing up for or reading an educational blog or newsletter, registering for an author/illustrator event, or critiquing your peers' work, these accomplishments add up and keep you moving forward on your creative journey. Remember, small wins are just as important as the big ones. For yearly goals, check in every couple of months to see how you are doing. Long term goals are great to look at whenever you need inspiration.
4. Go out of your comfort zone. That is where the most growth happens! 

Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!

Pinterest board full of activities for rainbow science, friendship, interviews with Joni and more!

YouTube playlist with songs about colors, rainbows, friendship, along with interviews with Joni and more.

PBJamz Snack

For this lovely book about friendship and rainbows, a rainbow of shortbread thumbprint cookies seems the perfect PBJamz snack for sharing.  Gather jams and jellies in a rainbow of colors and create your own delectable cookie rainbow and celebrate friendship with your besties! Get the recipe here.  

Guest Links and Giveaways
​

Social Links:
Joni’s Website: www.joniworld.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoniKleinHiggerBooks/
X: https://twitter.com/KleinHigger
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonikleinhigger/

Links to Joni’s Books
Barnyard Bubbe’s Hanukkah:
Barnyard Bubbe's Hanukkah
amazon.com

Ten Tzedakah Pennies: 
Ten Tzedakah Pennies
amazon.com

Links to Joni Klein-Higger’s music:  Joni's music is available on Spotify and most online music stores including, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. 
Joni Klein-Higger
open.spotify.com

Joni Klein Higger
open.spotify.com

​

Joni is excited to share a copy of Barnyard Bubbe’s Hanukkah with one lucky winner. To be eligible to win, simply leave a comment below by 11:59 PM (EST) on May 1, 2024.  Winner will be drawn at random from comments.

---