Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type

Publication Year: 2000

Author: Doreen Cronin

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: Kindergarten to Grade 2

Theme: Conflict resolutions

Skill Taught: Making predictions, creative thinking

Summary: The story is about Farmer Brown and his cows.  The cows have found an old typewriter in the barn and have typed out a message that they would like electric blankets because the barn is too cold.  Farmer Brown can't believe the cows are able to use the typewriter, and even more stunned when he realizes the cows will go on strike if their demands are not met.  Farmer Brown does not fold into the demands, which leads to the cows going on strike.  The hens join the strike as well, leaving Farmer Brown with no eggs nor milk.  Between the two sides is Duck, who delivers the typed messages back and forth.  The book ends with the cows developing a solution that ultimately makes both sides happy.   

About the Author: Doreen Cronin was born in Queens and latter attended Pennsylvania State University, followed by St. John's University School of law.  Her first book, Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type was rejected numerous times, but while she was a practicing attorney, a publishing company accepted her manuscript and wanted to turn it into a book.  The process took five years, but she was committed to never giving up the story that so many people love today.  Doreen has decided to change career and become a full-time children's author.  

(http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/doreen-cronin-0)  

For the Classroom

Pre-Reading Activity: I would begin by showing students the cover of the book and reading the title out loud, asking the students for predictions of what the book may be about.  I would then go into a class discussion about the sounds animals make, and ask the questions, "Who has pets?" "How do you know when they want something?" "What would it be like if animals could talk?" "What might they say to us?" I feel children will be unfamiliar with typewriters, so I would try to find one and bring it into class for students to look at and play around with, becoming familiar with the sounds it makes.

Post-Reading Activity: When we have completed the book, I would ask the students what would happen if other animals could type, and what would they ask for.  We would listen to students' thoughts and then they would go back to their seats to write a short story along with an illustration about any animal of their choice and the demands they would have.  

Reflection: Children love animals, and this book's watercolor illustrations compliment the animal characters that children will enjoy reading about.  The story is funny and different, allowing children's imaginations to wonder as they hear the story and see the pictures.  I like how the book incorporates the entire class during a read aloud, suggesting that everyone reads, "Click Clack Moo, Click Clack Moo, Clickety Clack MOO."  This kind of reading keeps students' excitement level high throughout the book, as well as keeps their focus.  Another aspect I liked about the book are the cows' eyes expressions.  

Buy this book now at Amazon.com

No, David!

Publication Year: 1998
Author: David Shannon

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Grade Level: Pre-K to Grade 2

Theme: Misbehavior and consequences

Skill Taught: Three parts to reading a book

Summary: This story is about a young boy named David and the trouble he gets into.  His mom is always saying "No, David!" From reaching into the cookie jar, walking through the house full of mud, playing with his food, knocking down a vase, or picking his nose, he is always causing mischief.  Regardless of the trouble  he continually gets into, his mother still loves him.

About the Author: David Shannon was born in Washington, D. C. on October 5, 1960.  Shannon loved to make his own illustrations to the books he was reading in high school, leading him to choose the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.  After college, he moved to New York City to work for the New York Times and the Book Review.  Working for these two groups exposed his illustrations across the country, leading to his first book of illustrations in How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have?  His first children's book was How Georgie Radbourn Saved Baseball, which was published in 1994.  (http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/david-shannon)  

For the Classroom

Pre-Reading Activity: I would introduce to students the idea of comprehending a book by "reading" its pictures.  I would begin by having the class draw a picture and be able to tell a story from it.  Students would turn to their partner, taking turns telling the story of their picture with no words.  We would begin reading the book by only looking at the pictures and analyzing what is happening on each page.  We would read the book a second time, but this turn around, we would read the words.  As a group, we would compare how we read the story through its pictures and then through its words.   

Post-Reading Activity: After reading the book twice, students would take turns retelling the story to a partner as we went through the book one page at a time.  Students would go back to their seats and I would begin a class discussion about the importance of reading a book in the three different methods we did, and ask the class to explain the benefits of this strategy.  Once we have concluded our class discussion, student would then write an entry into their Learning Logs to be collected at a later date.

Reflection: I really enjoyed the artwork of this book, and especially David's appearance.  This book is a great way to teach students to not only read the words, but the pictures too.  It is a story all children can relate to, and makes them aware they are always loved no matter how much trouble they find themselves in.  This book can also be used to help children recognize their mistakes and learning from them, supporting a healthy development.      

Buy this book now at Amazon.com

Strega Nona

Year Published: 1975

Author: Tomie dePaola

Genre: Fairy Tale

Grade Level: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Theme: Responsibility, resourcefulness

Skill Taught: Italian culture

Summary: This book is about a helpful grandmother witch named Strega Nona, and her magic pasta pot.  One day, Strega Nona leaves town and employs Big Anthony to watch over her house and garden, and tells him not to touch the pot while she is away.  Big Anthony can't resist and begins singing to the pot, making enough pasta to fill up the house, as well as the town.  He doesn't know to blow kisses to the pot in order to stop it from making any more pasta.  Fortunately, Strega Nona returns and stops to the pot from making more pasta.  She hands Big Anthony a fork and makes him eat all of the pasta he made.  

About the Author: Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut on September 15, 1934, and developed at an early age a love for reading.  Throughout his school years, he enjoyed drawing and dancing. After graduating from high school, he went to Pratt Institute and practiced drawing everything.  His first job was to illustrate for a science book titled Sound.  About a year later, he wrote and illustrated his first book, The Wonderful Dragon of Timlin.  Over the past 40 years, Tomie has written over 100 stories and illustrated over 250 books.  (http://www.tomie.com/about_tomie/bio.html)

For the Classroom

Pre-Reading Activity: I would have a K-W-L handout for the students, informing them the "K" stands for what students know, the "W" stands for what students want to learn, and the "L" stands for what students have learned.  Before reading the book, students would write any information they know and want to know about Italy.  I would walk around the room to make sure students were filling the cart out correctly.

Post-Reading Activity: After reading the book, we would explore Calabria by first locating Italy on a world map.  I would project pictures of Calabria's geography and inform the students briefly about the Italian culture, including a visual of the Italian flag, popular food, and a few Italian word (Strega: Witch, Nona: Grandma, Si: Yes, Grazia: Thank you, Libro: Book, Per Favore: Please).  The lesson would finish by students filling the last column of their K-W-L chart and sharing to the class something new they learned.

Reflection: Being Italian, I found this book enjoyable and a great way to incorporate culture into a book.  Depending how much time a teacher would like to spend with this book will determine how much they can teach students about the Italian culture as well as what makes all cultures unique.  The book teaches the lesson to be responsible, and gets the point across in a funny way.

Buy this book now at Amazon.com