The Whopper (by Rebecca Ashdown)

Title:  The Whopper

Author: Rebecca Ashdown

Illustrator:  Rebecca Ashdown

Target Ages: 4-8

Genre:  Imaginative Realistic Fiction

Publisher Summary:  A humorous, quirky story about a little boy who tells a lie, which turns into the Whopper, a hungry and persistent monster.  As Percy’s guilt grows, the Whopper does, too, until finally…the Whopper EATS Percy!  It is only when the Whopper threatens to also eat Percy’s brother that Percy finally speaks up.

First Lines:  Boris and Percy loved it when Grandma came to stay.  There was just one problem.  Grandma had been knitting again. 

Memorable Moment:  The next day, Percy decided to send his grandma a letter to say that he was sorry for ruining the sweater.  A week later, a package arrived.  Percy loved getting packages.  There was just one problem…Grandma had been knitting again.

Evaluation: 

The Whopper is a whimsical combination of realistic fiction with some imagination. The characters and storyline are familiar and realistic.  A boy receives a present he does not like.  In his mischief, the gift is ruined.  The boy lies.  The imagination part is the Whopper character.  No one sees it but Percy and his brother (who knows he is lying). 

The monster is perfect.  He looks relatively harmless.  Most lies start off that way or at least they seem that way.  Slowly the monster gets bigger and bigger, even sleeping in Percy’s bed with him.  The parallel is clear—you cannot escape the web of a lie, and it is only going to get worse.  It does too!  The lie swallows Percy whole!  Again, the connection is vital. Lying can easily become foundational in a person’s character or eat away at his conscience.

Eventually, the monster tries to eat his brother.  It is the final prick to Percy's conscience.  He tells his mother the truth.  Again, nothing preachy here.  His mother praises him for telling the truth “at last” (clearly, she knew he was lying but waited for him to admit it).  Then, she makes him take responsibility (apologizing to his grandmother).

Writing books on moral issues, such as lying, is a challenge.  There is a real temptation toward tedious moralizing.  Author-illustrator Rebecca Ashdown clearly and effectively makes the point:  Lying is destruction to you and your loved ones.  However, the story never feels like a "lesson."

Lying to get out of trouble often seems like the easy way out.  Learning that getting in a little trouble is so much better than carrying a lie around or making dishonesty a habit is vital.  The Whopper is an outstanding picture book to illustrate that truth in a concrete and memorable way.

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

• Unwanted Gifts:  Inevitably, a child will receive a less than desirable gift from someone.  If it hasn't happened already, use the book to prompt a talk about the importance of gratitude and graciousness in those situations.
• Reality vs. Fantasy:  This story is ideal to practice distinguishing the two.  While Percy’s story is real, the monster is a fantasy.  It is a metaphor representing the lie and its destructive nature. Discuss why the author uses the monster to represent the lie. 
• Object Lesson:  There are several object lesson ideas online about lying that you could potentially use.  Objects such as fool’s gold, ice cream with salt, and a spider web are just a few ways to get across the impact of lying in a concrete way.
• Article:  How to Teach Kids to Stop Lying article provides insights into the problem and how to fix it, depending on the age of the child.
• Teaching Children About Honesty w/Free Printable Worksheets

For more Perfect Picture Book suggestions, visit Susanna Leonard Hill's blog round up.

Middle Grade Fantasy: The Dragon of Lonely Island (by Rebecca Rupp)

Summary of The Dragon of Lonely Island:

Three children, along with their mother, plan to spend the summer on Lonely Island where their elderly great-aunt Mehitabel has a home.  The only current residents on this island off the mainland are Mr. and Mrs. Jones, the caretakers.  Before they arrive, the children—Hannah, Zachary, and Sarah Emily—receive a short note from Aunt Mehitabel urging them to explore Drake’s Hill and to find the Tower Room.  A key is included.  The first morning on the island, Sarah Emily and Zachary find the intriguing Tower Room with its antique toys, books of fairy tales, and a puzzle box.  Later, they enthusiastically venture out to Drake’s Hill.  The smell of cinnamon and smoke permeates the air and entices them to explore a cave in the side of the hill.  To their amazement, there is a tridrake (three-headed dragon) named Fafnyr living there.   During each visit, one of the three dragon heads is awake.  The children curl up with the mythical beast as he tells them a story.  The eldest dragon head teaches Hannah about being responsible and compassionate from the experience of Mei-lan, a young girl from ancient China.  The middle dragon head is awake on their second visit.  He illustrates for Zachary the importance of sharing and selflessness through an orphan named Jamie who was taken captive by pirates.  The youngest dragon is alert on the children’s next visit.  Fearful Sarah Emily sees through the story of her young aunt Mehitabel’s (referred to as Hitty) plane crash on an island that she needs to be more resourceful and courageous.  The final story also reveals how Fafnyr came to live at Lonely Island.   The children inherit an important job:  protector of Fafnyr’s existence.   As the summer ends, the trio are reluctant to leave, but they look forward to the next summer on the island with Fafnyr and the Joneses. 

Evaluation:

The Dragon of Lonely Island is an interesting combination of fantasy and reality. This non-linear narrative moves fluidly from present to past to present by using key repetitive phrases as a flashback begins and italics during the past encounters.  The majority of the setting is in the “real” world with the only fantastical element being the dragon encounters.  Even the flashbacks with the dragon are historical fiction accounts where the dragon meets human children and indelibly impacts them in a positive manner.  While the dragon is clearly wise from its centuries on the Earth, the flashbacks reveal that Fafnyr experienced  many of the same inner conflicts as the humans.  The tale is clearly instructional with lessons for the characters and readers in sharing, honesty, responsibility, courage, and resourcefulness.  There is also an underlying thread about the lack of compassion and understanding of humans.  For instance, in the Mei-lan story, a man shoots and injures the dragon as it benignly flies through the sky.  In addition, a few remarks are made about humans taking up all the space on the planet.  The narrative plays it safe.  Author Rebecca Rupp uses direct presentation and popular plot conventions—summer in a large, old house, a mysterious box, and a secretive place.  As a result, there is nothing profound in the plot or characterization.  Nevertheless, the realistic setting with fantastical experiences and stories will appeal to many young readers who want to escape for the afternoon.  I recommend this middle grade fantasy novel for children ages 8-11.   

Picture Book: Otto Runs for President by Rosemary Wells

Story Summary of Otto Runs for President: 

Excitement fills the building as election time at Barkadelphia School is announced.  Tiffany, a popular poodle, and Charles, an all-star bulldog, are both certain they will be the next student body president.  Tiffany’s and Charles’ parents eagerly provide them with expensive signs and advertising. Their campaigns are run on their personal preferences.   Tiffany pledges to provide more mirrors in the girls’ room, barkaloungers instead of desks, and preferred seating in the cafeteria.   Charles promises skateboards in the halls, soda in the water fountains, and more meat for lunch.  They assume everyone will vote for them because they are popular and attractive.  Otto, a pensive and quiet student, decides to run for class president as well.  When he asks his classmates about their preferences, he finds out they want watermelon at lunch, a homework helpline, blankets for the kindergartens,  drums for the music time, and a class field trip.  As Charles beefs up his campaign promises, Tiffany and her friends begin to fight dirty.  They place sticky notes all over the lockers and school  making accusations that Charles is a cheater.  Charles is furious by this personal slander, so he retaliates by calling Tiffany a thief.  They are so busy fighting each other that they don’t notice Otto and his friends handing out cookies and showing concern for their classmates’ priorities.  When the election results are finally in, Otto wins.  He quickly works to follow through with his campaign promises to his classmates. 

 

Evaluation:

Accompanying the prose effectively are bright illustrations highlighting adorable animals in action, often in multiple events on a two-page spread.  While on the surface Otto Runs for President (by Rosemary Wells) is about elections, the values it illustrates are timeless.  First, the characters demonstrate how people in elections and in life rely on superficial qualities, such as popularity, beauty, or athletics.  While it wins Tiffany and Charles some friends, it alienates many people because they never show genuine concern for their classmates.  Second,  it exemplifies how a person can be successful with hard work and the proper priorities.  Otto keeps his campaign simple, focusing on listening to everyone in the school—even the kindergartens.  He makes campaign cookies with key words like “hotline” and “blankets” to let everyone know he is listening and he cares.  Also, this tale shows the importance of integrity.  Otto makes sure to fulfill his promises.  Shortly after the election, many of the items arrive—blankets, watermelon, and drums.  Even the field trip is planned.  Finally, this book is ideal to use during local, state, national, or even school elections.  Students receive a glimpse of the campaign process and learn an essential lesson on how to win with honor. 

Best Dog Picture Books (Series) for Primary to Intermediate

I wanted to put the LaRue books in my Top 5 Dog Books (series).  This series by Mark Teague has some unique qualities though that deserves its own entry.  Also, since it is geared more from older students, I am including a few other dog series for that audience. 

Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School (ages 6-12).  While Ike LaRue is in obedience school, he sends letters to his owner, Mrs. LaRue.  Each letter has a two-page spread with a black & white picture and a color picture.  Students should be challenged to critically evaluate:  Which ones do you think really portray what is going on?  How do you know? The character of LaRue is complex.  While he is clearly imaginative and clever, he is also mischievous and melodramatic.  It makes for an interesting discussion on characterization and plot.  The most common activity promoted for this book is letter writing which I have posted links for below.  It may also stimulate a discussion on article writing.  Students may practice writing an article about a real or make-believe event.  Finally, students will find it amusing to imagine an obedience school for children.  They may draw pictures of what it looks like, write a story about it, or compose a letter home about their experience.  Motifs to explore are cleverness, creativity, imagination, honesty, and persuasion.

Lesson Plan Extension Ideas & Activities for Dear Mrs. LaRue

Dear Mrs. LaRue Discussion Guide

Teaching Ideas from Scholastic

A Detailed Lesson on Letter Writing from an Education Major

Computer Activities for Dear Mrs. LaRue

Writing Lesson #1 Dear Mrs. LaRue

Writing Lesson 2: Dear Mrs. LaRue (see left-hand column)

Detective LaRue: Letters from the Investigation (ages 6-12).  This book is my favorite of the series.  Left alone while his owner is on vacation, Ike LaRue is accused of being responsible for a duo of missing cats.  Everyone thinks the cats are innocent victims, but, in fact, they are responsible for a string of disappearing small birds and critters.  Only Ike (and the reader) knows the truth...or do they? The story is told through letters, newspaper articles, and pictures.  Many educators use this book to teach letter writing to younger children.  I like this book for older children, though, because of its more complex characters and plot as well as its use of irony and humor.  Finally, use this book as a spring board (or as part of a unit) on the study of the mystery genre.  Motifs to explore are cleverness, perseverance, creativity, imagination, equality, fairness, and justice.

Lesson Plan Extension Ideas & Activities for Detective LaRue
*  Discuss the three types of irony:  verbal, dramatic, and situational.  Then, together identify examples of irony using the letters, articles, and pictures. 
*  Discuss the difference between the black & white pictures and the color pictures.  What is there purpose?  What is learned about the character and the plot through them.
*  Discuss point of view.  Who is telling the story?  How reliable is the character?  Can we trust him?  How does the point of view impact the reading of the story?  How would this story be different if it were from the cats’ point of view or police’s? 
*  Write a letter on one of the scenes from another characters’ point of view.

Detective LaRue

Teaching Ideas

Extension Activities:  Mystery Genre

Mystery Genre Activities

Exploring the Mystery Genre

Write a Mystery Workshop

Free Mystery Plans & Units

LaRue for Mayor: Letters from the Campaign Trail (ages 6-12).  In this installment in the series, Ike LaRue is up to more mischief.  To clear his name (and help out all dogs), he runs for mayor.  It follows the style of the previous books and lends to similar discussions (irony, humor, fantasy vs. reality, personification, letter writing, and so forth).  There are lots of fun activities that students can do that are specific to this book, such as making campaign posters or holding mock elections.  Also, social studies connections can be made about elections and voting.  Motifs from this book are cooperation, teamwork, leadership, honest, community, good manners, and responsibility. 

Lesson Plan Extension Ideas & Activities for LaRue for Mayor

Compare/Contrast Worksheet on Cats vs. Dogs

Links to Lesson Plans on Elections & Voting

More Links to Lesson Plans on Elections & Voting

Your Vote Counts Lesson Plan

Honorable Mention

Marley (ages 5-10).   Using inspiration from his Marley & Me books, John Grogan has written two series of picture books on his energetic dog.  The first book I read was Bad Dog, Marley. I was put off with the constant “Bad Dog, Marley” repetition.  The end turned out happily though.  I was much more delighted with the other two stories: A Very Marley Christmas and Marley Goes to School.Marley’s character is a combination of a real dog and a fictional personified one.  There are times when he is just a normal puppy, like chasing a ball or cuddling up with his owners.  On the other hand, he is unrealistically portrayed (for humor and excitement) when he uses a copy machine or lets the mice out of their cages.  Thus, this series invites the discussion of fantasy vs. reality and the use of personification.  Also, check out Marley and the Kittens and the I Can Read Marley series.

An Odorous Mention

Walter, the Farting Dog.  I was shocked to see a series on a farting (a word I hate) dog.  On the other hand, I was curious about it.   I read two books in the series so far: Walter the Farting Dog: Banned from the Beach and Rough Weather Ahead for Walter the Farting Dog.  The stories are creative and, well, interesting (though I am not sure that is the right word—LOL). Some call it immature and vulgar while others find it humorous and entertaining.  Check it out to decide for yourself.  Other titles are: Walter the Farting Dog, Walter the Farting Dog Goes on Cruise, Walter the Farting Dog and the Windy Day, and Walter the Farting Dog: Trouble at the Yard Sale.