Chester is more than a picture book. It is a story told, and retold, by dueling author-illustrators. Melanie Watt starts out with the story of a mouse in a house. Then Melanie's cat, Chester, sends the mouse packing and proceeds to cover the pages with rewrites from his red marker, and the gloves are off. M?lanie and her mouse won't take Chester's antics lying down. And Chester is obviously a creative powerhouse with confidence to spare. Where will this war of the picture-book makers lead? Is it a one-way ticket to Chesterville, or will Melanie get her mouse production off the ground?
Chester's Masterpiece By Melanie Watt Chester’s finally ready to write his own masterpiece — he just needs to get pesky writer-illustrator Mélanie Watt out of the way. Chester’s solo attempts at storytelling are messy, to say the least, but he’s determined to go it alone. But where’s his story going? After several alternative (but always unhappy) endings, Chester is confronted by a problem he never bargained for. A wry comment on the creative process and how good stories are constructed, this is the most uproarious Chester book yet.
How would I use this book in the Classroom?
For grades K-4 I would use this book as a fun way to show kids how creativity and story writing is a tricky process. Things may not always turn out the way we want them to but it is fun to create stories. Plus, its a hilariously adorable addition to any classroom bookshelf. Other Books by Melanie Watt Chesters Back! Augustine The Scaredy Squirrel Series
A Promise is a Promise by Robert Munsch & Michael Kusugak
Summary A Qallupilluq is an imaginary Inuet creature, somewhat like a troll, that lives in Hudson Bay. It wears a woman's parka made of loon feathers and reprtedly grabs children when they come too near cracks in the ice. The Inuit traditionally spend a lot of time on the sea ice, so the Qallupilluit were clearly invented as a means to help keep small children away from dangerous crevices. Michael Kusugak, thinking back to his childhood in the Arctic, made up a story about his own encounter with the Qallupilluit. He sent it to Robert Munsch, who had stayed with Michael's family while telling stories in Rankin Inlet, N.W.T. A Promise is a Promise is the result of their collaboration.
How I would use this book in the classroom?
This is an awesome book for k-6. I would use it as a tool to introduce myths and legends, creation stories, and to include FNMI culture into my lessons. Most people are aware of the books by Robert Munsch, however Michael Kusugak has a number of fantastic picture books for children as well. Other Books by Michael Kusugak Baseball Bats for Christmas The Littlest Sled Dog Northern Lights: The Soccer Trails
My Name is Yoon
Yoon’s name means Shining Wisdom, and when she writes it in Korean, it looks happy, like dancing figures. But her father tells her that she must learn to write it in English. In English, all the lines and circles stand alone, which is just how Yoon feels in the United States. Yoon isn’t sure that she wants to be YOON. At her new school, she tries out different names – maybe CAT or BIRD. Maybe CUPCAKE!
Helen Recorvits’s spare and inspiring story about a little girl finding her place in a new country is given luminous pictures filled with surprising vistas and dreamscapes by Gabi Swiatkowska. My Name Is Yoon is a 2008 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
How I would use this in the classroom?
From K-6 I would use this novel to open up a discussion about diversity. Help students understand how it may be difficult for children from other countries to feel at home. It could also help to welcome new students into a classroom.
If The World Were a Village By: David J. Smith
If the World Were a Village tells us who we are, where we live, how fast we are growing, what languages we speak, what religions we practice and ore. So come and learn about our global village!
How I would use this in a Classroom?
I used this in my grade 3 classroom to introduce our units on Tunisia, Ukraine, and India. It introduced them to the concept of our diverse world. I would use this in almost any classroom. The accompanying video is very engaging. Links http://www.iftheworldwereavillage.com/ Notes: I would recommend purchasing the video that accompanies this book.