The Cow that Laid an Egg

Written by Andy Cutbill

Illustrated by Russell Ayto

Summary: In this silly book, Marjorie the cow is complaining that she is never involved in anything interesting. The chickens decide to help her out by making it seem that she laid an egg.  The results are funny and the ending is unexpected!

Mini-Lesson: Sequence

This books has a clear sequence of events.  As you read aloud, keep track of the events that occur or use this book as a model for retelling a text.  The beginning, middle, and end are easily discernible.

Mini-Lesson: Cause and Effect

There are many clear examples of cause and effect in this text.  Each choice that is made by the characters has a positive or negative effect.  Create a chart with your students listing the events in the text and the effects of those events.

The Knight and the Dragon

The Knight and the Dragon

Written and Illustrated by Tomie dePaola

Summary: This comical book is about a dragon and a knight who are determined to fight each other in a duel. However, they are not quiet fierce enough to be successful. The result of the duel will leave you smiling!

Mini-Lesson: Character Traits

This book has two main characters who have clear traits for students to observe.  Create a t-chart or webs to brainstorm character traits while reading this book.

Mini-Lesson: Compare and Contrast

This book is perfect for comparing and contrasting the characters and their preparation for the duel.  Create a t-chart or a Venn diagram to compare and contrast as you read the story.

Mini-Lesson: Making Inferences

I love using wordless picture books to work on skills for making inferences with students.  This book has a mix of pages with text and pages where students need to infer from the illustrations.  Plan to stop as you are reading to talk about what students see in the pictures and how they know what is happening. Encourage students to use specific details they see in the pictures to explain their thinking.

Do Not Build a Frankenstein!

Do Not Build a Frankenstein!

Written by Neil Numberman

Summary: A boy warns kids in his neighborhood of the problems with building a Frankenstein. Will the kids agree?

Mini-Lesson: Cause and Effect
This is a great text to work on the skill of identifying cause and effect.  The main character shares many of the effects of building your own monster and the effects of his advice on other kids.  Work with students to identify and create a chart of causes and effects from the book.

Mini-Lesson: Inferences
This book contains simple text that is greatly enhanced by the illustrations.  As you read the story aloud, pause to have students interpret the emotions of the characters based on their expressions.  The end of the book shows that the boy trying to convince the other children not to build a Frankenstein has a change of heart.  However, this can only be discovered by making an inference using the illustration and what the character says. Have students provide evidence for their inferences.

The Ugly Pumpkin

The Ugly Pumpkin

Written by David Horowitz

Summary: This book is about a pumpkin who is extremely upset that he does not look like all the other pumpkins in the pumpkin patch. He is not chosen by any children for Halloween.  He later discovers that he is not actually a pumpkin!  He's a squash and that is why he never felt like he fit in with the pumpkins.

Mini-Lesson: Compare and Contrast

This book is a twist on the story of the Ugly Duckling.  Read both books and use the stories to compare and contrast versions of the story.

Mini-Lesson: Summarizing

The Ugly Pumpkin is a great book for summarizing.  The story is pretty straightforward and has a clear problem and solution.  Use the summarizing frame of Someone/Wanted/But/So/Then

Mini-Lesson: Sequencing.

This story also lends itself to a sequencing activity.  The events in the text are clear and are easy to sequence for young students. After reading then story, work with students to put events in correct order.