The Lion and the Mouse



Author:  Jerry Pinkney

Illustrator:  Jerry Pinkney

Award:   Caldecott Medal

Genre:   Fiction

Grades:   Kindergarten/First

Quick Summary: Jerry Pinkney's book is an excellent piece of literature geared towards the lower primary grade levels. This book has fabulous illustrations, which is extremely important since this book has no text. Pinkney's wordless adaptations of the distinct relationship between two very different animals shows the importance of healthy relationships and helping one another. A ferocious lion comes to the rescue to a tiny mouse whom he planned to eat, while the tiny mouse saves the lion from being captured from a trap. (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6534132-the-lion-and-the-mouse).

Theme:  This book can show little elementary schoolers the importancew of building healthy relationships in the classroom, offering a helping hand, and the importance of using more than reading words to discover the meaning in a book.

Pre-Reading Activities:  Before reading this book, I would have students write down each student's name on a piece of paper in the classroom. Each student in the classroom will have to write only one positive thing about each individual person in the classroom. This activity connects to the overall meaning being told in the story.

Post-Reading Activities: After reading the book, students will have to write their own stories in which two very different animals help each other in some way. This activity will help my students build creativity using their imaginations while connectiong the meaning of the Read-A-Loud group text to their own work.

Assessment:  Students will be able to show and describe their individual literature pieces to the class.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee

Author:  Philip C. Stead

Illustrator: Erin E. Stead

Award: Caldecott Medal

Genre: Fiction

Grades: First/Second Grade

Theme:  Building strong social bonds and true friendships.

Quick Summary: Philip and Erin Stead's book focuses on a children's moral in building strong social bonds with people through friendships and dedication. A friendly zookeeper, who often makes frequent visits to see his good animal friends, unfortunately gets sick one day. However, through the importance of putting in the effort to show one cares for his or her friends, the animals decide to return the favor and visit their good friend--the zookeeper.

Pre-Reading Activities: Before reading this story, I would want to go over with my class the qualities that make a good friend or friendship. If my students are able to describe what a good friendship or a good friend entails, they will be more likely to display these qualities to their own friends in the classroom.

Post-Reading Activities:  After reading the story, I will want my students to summarize the key componets of the animals' friendships in the story. After further examining the story's theme, I would want my students to discuss with the class some of the things that they have done personally to be a good friend.

Assessment: Students will be able to demonstrate some qualities that present a positive and heavily friendship. This will be observed throughout the week and students will receive a "good citizenship" ticket for demonstrating a good friendship throughout the week.

-Overall, I enjoyed this book. This story will help young students look to promote a healthy friendship and care for their friends. If a friend puts in the effort for a sick friend, that friend will return the favor in another way in the future. This story's main message is to show that if you care and put in the effort for your friends when they need it, the same will be returned back to you.