Little Blue Truck's Halloween

Little Blue Truck's Halloween

By. Alice Schertle

Illustrated by. Jill Mcelmurry

This book is great for this time of year.  I just got this book for my son last week and we took it to his preschool to share it with his classmates. The little blue truck is the main character. The toad drives the little blue truck. It was halloween and they were going around trying to find friends who were dressed up for the halloween party. Every time they would come up to a new friend they would guess who was that friend behind the mask? Ass they go down the road more and more they pick up more friends each time they stop. By the end they show up to the party, everyone goes inside other than the little blue truck and toad. They had curtains up and behind them were the little blue truck in hi costume, he was a ghost and toad pulled the sheet of so everyone would know who it was. He beeped and beeped his horn from excitement.  

Readers Activities

Who do you want to be if you were in this story? Color a picture.

Which character is the most exciting for you, write a story about them.

Readers Questions

Who was the the characters in the story?

Who was a sport in bringing everyone to the party?

The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree

By. Shel Silverstein

The giving tree is a great book about a boy and a tree getting older.

The tree loved this boy that came to her each day. The boy continued to grow as the tree well was the tree. Of course the tree lost leaves, flowers and branches along the way, but the tree continued to be the tree. She love the boy and continued to be there whenever the boy would come to see her. He carved a heart with his initials and the trees in the tree. Latter on when the boy got older he carved his initials and a girls. The tree was so giving every time the boy would ask for something. He asked for her branches and she gave them to her. He asked if he could have her trunk so she said of course she gave it to him. The boy grew older and older and realized he didn't need much more in life. So he sat on her stump and thats how the story ended. 

Readers Activities

What was your favorite part of the story? Wright about it.

Can you draw a tree that you admire and like?

Response Questions

Do you think the tree was very giving?

Do you think the tree ever wondered why the boy needed so much from her and never got anything in return other than spending time with the boy?

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

This is a story is about a rabbit that was very loved, but did not know what love was or wasn't realistic to what he was. He was a doll to some, but he was a fancy one. He was made of glass and had fancy things with him. He first was a gift to a little girl that loved him so much. She lost him at sea, it was not her fault. He was lost at sea for awhile. He goes through trails and tribulations. He did not understand what love was until the last few chapters. He was with a young girl that became ill. He realized that he was loved and realized how to love someone back. I feel like the end of the story he found his way home in a since. 

Class Activity

Please draw your favorite stuffed animal or favorite toy. Then tell us a story of why you love and appreciate it.

Response Questions

Why was Edward the way he was?

When did he realize he was loved and when did he know what love is?

Otis And The Scarecrow

Otis And The Scarecrow

Otis a tractor who is supper friendly and wants to be friends with everyone. Otis and his friends from the farm seemed curious. They were curious about scarecrow. He seemed mad or angry, he looked that way the most and did not talk when they tried to talk to him and become friends with them. Otis and the rest of the friends went on there way like a normal day.The farmer put the scarecrow up to help keep birds away from the crop. The animals and Otis tried through out the season but the scarecrow did not answer when talked to or would change expression. The crows came back when the harvest was picked. The seasons changed and the farm kept moving forward. The scarecrow stayed and continued to be a scarecrow. The rains moved in and the animals and Otis did not like that the scarecrow had to stay out in the rain all by himself so they went to him and stayed with him. They decided that the scarecrow being around friends was better than him being by himself and he would be happier. 

Reader Activities 

What is the your favorite part of this story? Why is it your favorite part? Would you change the ending? 

Reading Questions

Why did the scarecrow never smile or show feeling?

Who was the most important part of this story?

Long, L. (n.d.). Otis and the scarecrow.

Fort Sumter's Cat Jack The Cat That Went To War.

Fort Sumter's Cat Jack the cat that went to war

This book is about a cat, this cat is a unique cat that tells a story about himself going through history. Jack the cat comes in the city in the summer, he discovers what the city has to offer. Then something looked like fireworks, they realized that it was not. It was a war that started in the area. Jack understands that he has to do his duty and decides to go to Fort Sumter. He was in the action, something spoked him so he decided to stay inside and out of the way. He was able to get out and go fishing. The fort was under attack, it became to much for the soldiers and power of the guns. The fort turned into rubble. Jack decided to leave the fort and went home, like the soldiers did too. Jack is the most unusual cat. 

Reader Activities

I would like the kids to draw a fort and write a little story on what they would imagine it would be like to be at a fort in a war.

Reader Response Questions

Would you like to go to a fort?

How would you handle going to a fort in a war?

Jack the Cat Went to War: Fort Sumter's Cat

Text copyright 2001 ny Russel Horres

Illustrations copyright 2011 Kate Sherill