A Whole Nother Story As told by Dr. Cuthbert Soup

Wonderfully Illustrated by
Jeffrey Stewart Timmons

Book Review

Book Trailer

Language Arts

1. Create compilation of all students' favorite Dr. Soup quotes. This can be a video, PowerPoint, performance, paper slide video, or any other creative expression of the preferred literary lines.


2. Writing Topics:
- Where and when would you go if you could travel through space and time?
- What would you name yourself if you could pick any name? Why? Describe your reasoning for two more new names.
-Which was your favorite villan in the book? Why? 


3. Discuss in depth the importance of each bit of advice offered by Dr. Soup. I found the advice on tattoos and time travel particularly interesting.


4. Guided inquiry based on topics students wish to know more about. For instance, the Trojan Horse as referred to on page 145. Students can then share what they learned with each other.

We Are in a Book by Mo Willems

Language Arts:

The greatest thing about this book is that it is designed to be read over and over again.  The primary grades will love to hear it again and again.  As we all know, it is imperative that little learners hear the same book many times.  My niece, a reader since forever, has her parents to thank, because they spent time reading her favorite books repeatedly until the covers were soft and worn and barely hanging on.  Repeated reading builds crucial synapses!

Read this book at least once a day until every child in your class has had a turn as the "Reader" to whom which Piggie and Gerald refer.  Every student will want an individual turn saying "Banana" at Piggie's prompting.  This enables those not so strong readers a chance to be a confident reader.  Thank you Mo Willems!

Invite Mo Willems to serve as the focus of your class for a week.  Bring in a variety of Mo Willems books. For a list of all Mo's books: Mo's Bibliography 

• Have the students compare and contrast the books.  
• Use Mo's Website to learn more about Mo and play some games he has to offer. 
• Chart and graph your students' favorite books and characters.
• Write letters to Mo Willems or a favorite character.
• Discuss how the illustrations are used to express feeling, tone, and mood.

Math:

Calculate the exact number of pages from page 45 when Piggie peeks to see how many pages until the book is over and page 57 when the book is over.  Discuss the different ways of finding the answer.

See chart and graph activity listed above.

Count how many times the word "Hee" or "Ha" is written in the book.

Review of We Are in a Book