A Place to Start a Family (David L. Harrison)

Title:  A Place to Start a Family

Author:  David L. Harrison

Illustrator:  Giles Laroche

Target Ages:  5-10

Genre:  Non-Fiction Poetry

Publisher Summary:

Many animals build in order to find a mate, lay eggs, give birth, and protect their babies.  The types of structures they create are often extraordinary.  From the prairie dog to the pufferfish and from the termite to the stork, discover how and why many animals build.

Poem Samples (Click for Larger View):

Evaluation: 

Earlier this year, I reviewed another Harrison-Laroche collaboration Now You See Them, Now You Don't.  Like the previous book, this one deserves to be in every library, classroom, and home.  

The poems are insightful. Harrison features many animals and attributes I was not previously familiar with, like the only snake that builds a nest and the spider that feeds its young for weeks after birth.  Young and old will be engaged and fascinated with the creatures’ preparation for and care of their babies. 

The poems are entertaining.  For instance, “Red Ovenbird” has short stanzas with repetition. Similarly, “Termite” uses repetition and predictive phrasing.  Both are perfect for choral reading.  Others connect animals to human behaviors like the animals that kiss and play king of the hill or the animals that keep their babies safe and dry. 

Laroche’s illustrations are stunning and brilliant.  I love the textures, the contrasts,  the colors.  Each sight feels like a peek into the secret lives of these creatures with all its vividness and beauty. 

Whether you come for the illustrations and stay for the poetry or come for the poetry and stay for the illustrations, you are going to love both in A Place to Start a Family.

Ideas for Extension Activities at Home or Lesson Plans for Teachers:

• Science:  Use poems in a unit related to mammals, fish, insects, reptiles, or baby animals. 
• Poetry vs. Prose: Each creature is featured in a short prose paragraph at the end book.  Both the prose paragraph and the poetry include many of the same facts, but one uses figurative elements and experiences the facts imaginatively.  Put the prose and the poetry side by side and compare them to teach the difference of these two writing forms.
• Poetry:  Using a short paragraph of information from science or other subject area, write poems that imaginatively experience the facts. 
• Categorization:  Break the animals into groups like type (mammal, fish), location (air, water, underground), type of home, caring for young, and so forth.  To extend to math, create one or more charts of information.
• Comparison:  Pick two creatures to compare and contrast.  How are they similar?  Different?
• Language:  Identify rhyming words and alliteration.  For younger children, use them as a spring board for reading instruction.  For instance, list the words that rhyme in the poem. (“European Paper Wasp” is a good poem for this exercise.)  Point out similarities in spelling and sound.  Write out new words that rhyme.  Allow early readers to decipher them. 

Nix the Comfort Zone

X Why Z Animals (by Mark Shulman & James Buckley Jr.)

Summary of X WhyZ Animals (by Mark Shulman & James Buckley Jr.)

X Why Z Animals is written for inquiring young minds.  This non-fiction book is broken into 8 sections, each a different class of animals—mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, arachnids, sea animals, birds, and dinosaurs.  The sections begin with a brief description of each class, including a description of characteristics unique to them.  Then, there are questions that kids commonly ask like:

Why do chameleons change color?

Why do snakes stick out their tongues?

Why do baby deer have spots?

Why do roosters crow in the morning?

Why do dolphins make clicking sounds?

Why do fish swim in schools?

The questions have a short explanation in child-friendly language.  There are also “X Why Z Facts” interspersed throughout, which are fun tidbits about animals.  Colorful photographs compliment each page of this “Time for Kids” book. 

Evaluation

The book is oversized with big print and vivid photographs.  The information is laid out well and the questions are engaging.  It is ideal for sitting with young children and reading out loud.

X Why Z Animals could be used in a classroom to accompany units on different classes of animals.  The only downside is that each animal class is not dealt with equally.  For instance, there are 20 pages devoted to mammals, but only 2 for amphibians. Granted it, children may be more interested in mammals because of their interaction with them at home, on farms, and in the woods.  However, I feel the coverage could be a bit more equal. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book.  I recommend it for kids ages 3-8.  They will enjoy the pictures and dialogue about some of their favorite animals. 

The X Why Z series includes books on space, the human body, and general questions.

Christmas Picture Books: Beloved Literary Characters (Early Childhood)

Corduroy, Max & Ruby, Spot, and Little Miss Spider are beloved storybook characters celebrating Christmas.  The text, illustrations, and storylines are ideal for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.  Two of them are flap books which allow children to practice small motor skills and predicting as well as experiencing the joy of discovery.   I am confident these books will please the young children in your life!

Spot’s First Christmas (ages 0-3) by Eric Hill 

On Christmas Eve, Spot and his mom have lots to do.  They bring in the Christmas tree and trim it.  They wrap the presents.  Carolers come to their door to sing for them.  Spot is so eager for Santa’s arrival that he gets a little too excited looking through the wrapped gifts for presents of his own.  Spot falls asleep at last, but he hears and sees Santa outside his window.  The next morning Spot finds lots of gifts in his stocking:  a ball, a bone, a brush, and a new collar.  This book allows for discoveries on every page as babies and toddlers interact, predict, and turn the flaps. 

Max’s Christmas (ages 0-4) by Rosemary Wells  

It is Christmas Eve.  Ruby tells Max that Santa is coming.  Max has many typical preschool aged questions: What? Who? Where? How? Why?  Ruby just wants him to settle down for the night, so she eventually answers, “BECAUSE!”  Max does not believe Ruby, especially about no one being allowed to see Santa.  He sneaks downstairs to wait for him by the fire place.  Waking when Santa arrives, he is full of questions for the jolly bunny dressed in red.  To end the incessant questions, Santa declares, “BECAUSE!”  When Ruby comes down, she finds Max sleeping on the couch with a Santa hat.  She asks him why his blanket is bulgy?  As she removes the blanket, Max says, “BECAUSE!”  Ruby finds that he is hiding all the presents from Santa! 

Corduroy’s Christmas (ages 1-4) by Don Freeman 

Corduroy loves Christmas.  Children can help him get ready!   As he trims the tree, he needs to find the angel.  There are lots of presents to look inside to find it.   While he is wrapping the presents, he gets “lost” in all the wrapping paper.  He writes his letter to Santa which children can open to find out what he is hoping for this year.  During caroling, everyone is bundled up, but by lifting the flaps, children can discover which one is him.  Finally, on Christmas morning, open the flaps to see what Santa brought!  This interactive flap book is entertaining and endearing. 

Little Miss Spider: A Christmas Wish (ages 3-5) by David Kirk 

It is Little Miss Spider first Christmas, but she is lonely.  She wishes on her Christmas star for one thing she has longed for all year.  When she goes outside, she finds all the insects are sleeping, not a friend to be found.  Then, Asparagus Beetle reveals himself.  The two of them dash through snow tunnels, make snow butterflies, and build a grand snow castle.   After her friend drops her off at home, Little Miss Spider is lonely again.  She feels something isn’t right.  Together with her mother, they find Asparagus Beetle all alone in the snow.  They invite him to spend Christmas with them…which fulfills two Christmas wishes! 

Halloween: Spider Theme (Fiction)

Spiders are often associated with Halloween.   Listed are some fun spider stories ideal for the Halloween season reading, but, of course, these picture books are fitting any time of the year.

The Spider and the Fly (ages 8-12) by Tony Diterlizzi (based on the cautionary tale by Mary Howitt)
There are dazzling, detailed black and white illustrations to accompany this tale written in poetic form.  It has a wonderful rhythm and rhyme that is pleasing to the ears. This book would be great for a unit on poetry.   There are true end rhymes (thin/in), internal rhymes (pantry/see), and eye rhymes (vain/again).  It includes lots of assonance and consonance.  For figurative language, there is irony, hyperbole, and personification.   Foreshadow is utilized in the pictures with ghosts of other insects and a book called the Joy of Cooking:  Insects.   The spider lures the fly in with his charm and smooth compliments.  It is the instructive tale about the importance of not being taken captive by silly, flattering words.  

Diary of a Spider (ages 4-8) by Doreen Cronin (fantasy fiction)
In this clever and comical book, life is seen from the perspective of a spider.  It is written in journal format using short sentences with lots of additional insights and amusements gained from the vibrant illustrations.  Fly and Worm are Spider’s best friends which results in some familiar challenges when visiting other people’s homes.  Generational differences are displayed subtly, like when grandfather has bias against 6-legged insects.   This motif is reinforced when Spider wishes people would not judge all spiders just because some of them bite.  Interspersed in the fantasy and humor are facts about spiders.  Students may be led to discuss what is factual and what is fictional as well as the use of personification in the text.  Whether you use this book for leisure or for learning, you will never look at spiders the same way after reading this diary. 

The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out! Big Time! (ages 3-8) by Troy Cummings (fantasy fiction)
Using the popular nursery rhyme, Troy Cummings tells the after-story of the spider who fell down the waterspout.  The spider feels embarrassed and discouraged.  Her lady bug friend encourages her to overcome her fears though.  As a result, the spider not only learns how to climb again, but she reaches new heights!  The comic, cartoon illustrations enhance the amusing and inspiring text.  Discuss age-appropriate challenges with your students or children and brainstorm ways to overcome them.  The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out! Big Time!  is  a wonderful lesson in perseverance. 

Teaching Opportunities:
Recipe for Spider Cookies at Fun on a Dime
Learn to build your own spider at Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational
Writing prompt at Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational