Author/Illustrator: David Elliott/Holly Meade
Plot Summary: Explore the family farm as each animal is described in a short, rhyming poem. Woodblock printing creates colorful and interesting barnyard illustrations.
Comments: Simple poetry for young children, this will also benefit emerging readers. This is a good choice for my library, k - 3.
Extensions:
1. During a read aloud in the Media Center for kindergarten and first graders, employ the use of puppets or stuffed animals to help "tell" the story.
2. Use this book as the centerpiece of a display and include individual, nonfiction books about the animals featured in this book.
3. Use this book as an introduction to simple poems. The children can write their own simple poems and add illustrations.
4. Work with the art teacher to collaborate in a woodblock print-making art project.
Themes/keywords: domestic animals, animals, poetry
Age/Reading Level: Interest level - Pre-k - 3; ATOS - 1.5; Follett - 2.0
Standards:
ELAKR1 The student demonstrates knowledge of concepts of print.
ELAKR2 The student demonstrates the ability to identify and orally manipulate words and individual sounds within those spoken words. The student
a. Identifies and produces rhyming words in response to an oral prompt and distinguishes rhyming and non-rhyming words.
ELAKR6 The student gains meaning from orally presented text.
Publisher's Info: Candlewick Press, Cambridge, MA 2008
ISBN-13: 978-0-7636-3322-6
ISBN-10: 0-7636-3322-4
Awards/Review Sources:
Wilson's Children 01/01/09 | School Library Journal 02/01/08 |
| Booklist starred 05/15/08 | Horn Book starred 03/01/08 |
| Publishers Weekly 03/03/08 | Horn Book 10/01/08 |
| Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 03/01/08 | Kirkus Review 02/01/08 |
Genre/Dewey: 636(I don't agree with this; I think it should be with E Fiction.)
Websites:
Visit the 4-H Virtual Farm website
David Elliott's website
Holly Meade's website (She illustrated "Hush! A Thai Lullaby" which won a Caldecott Honor Award in 1997.
Notes for Booktalk: Especially good for K-1
Vocabulary: This book may include sight words and/or spelling words.
Comments
As a seven-year 4-H member and former Junior Leader in that fine organization, thanks for the link.
I'm thinking about the extension idea of working with the art teacher to produce woodblock prints. Here are some knives and a block of wood, kiddies... Uh, oh! TOURNIQUET!!!