Tiny Little Fly (Michael Rosen)

Summary of Tiny Little Fly (Michael Rosen)

As Tiny Little Fly dashes through the jungle, he encounters various large animals (elephant, hippo, and tiger).  Each animal becomes annoyed by the fly and determines to squash him.  However, each time “My, oh my, Tiny Little Fly” darts away.  In a last attempt to catch the fly, the enormous animals are left in mayhem and mud (shown in a 4-page fold out).  The fly wizzes off with a self-assured wink of the eye and a “Bye, Everyone, Bye.”  

Evaluation

In this whimsical narrative, a fly (tiny and ordinary) out smarts and gets the better of large African animals, which is sure to delight young readers. The illustrations are appealing. The muted background and minimal accents of the digitally enhanced pencil-and-gouache pictures focus on the exotic animals and fly.

This book is full of enjoyable, educational opportunities. There are several repetitive phrases like “My, oh my, Tiny Little Fly!” and “I’m going to catch that fly!” Children will quickly catch on and want to “read” along with you each time the phrases come up in the cyclical narrative.

Next, when each animal is introduced, the reader only sees part of it, giving children the opportunity to guess each one.  When you turn the page, a large-scale view of the animal spanning the two-pages is revealed. Guessing the animals is great for interaction, but it is also teaching an essential critical reading skill—prediction—that pre-readers will need later. 

Also, each sequence involves rhyming.  For instance, “Tiny Little Fly sees great big toes…Tiny Little Fly sits on Elephant’s nose.”  Children can practice saying and identifying the words as rhyming, but also it allows for children in later readings to predict what word comes next when they hear the first one, both reinforcing rhyming words and prediction skills. 

There are vivid action words in each sequence, such as “Swoop! Snatch! Swoop!”  These words are repeated twice in the story corresponding to the same animal each time.  Listeners can anticipate and participate in saying them with the prompts in the book. 

Tiny Little Fly is an ideal read-out-loud book for pre-school to kindergarten-aged pre-readers.  Children may also move from being active listeners to eventual readers with the simple, repetitive vocabulary and large print of this endearing picture book.

Extension Activities

• Reading:  Prediction, rhyming, and sight words.
• Science:  Learn about African Animals or insects such as the fly.  Discuss the differences between the mammals and insects. 
• Geography:  Identify Africa on a map and learn some additional facts about the continent. 
• Art:  Draw with pencil and then paint a large picture of one of the animals (older children) or give a stencil or cut out pieces to create a large scale version of an animal (younger).
• Story Retelling:  Give several children a part to practice in the story.  Then act it out. The audience can act as a chorus repeating the key parts. 

5 Steps to Make Reading More Meaningful

I recently came across an incredible literacy-related video at the blog Mom with a Lesson Plan called 5 Steps to Make Reading More Meaningful.   It is by a guest poster, Kim from Little Stories.  She uses one of my favorite series:  Little Quack by Lauren Thompson.   

I love how Kim encourages interaction and participation.  I was amazed at how quickly the toddler-listener picked up the pattern of the story and began to interact verbally and physically.  I hope you enjoy this video and become inspired by it.  Click HERE to watch it on youtube.  I would love to hear your response to it.  

Lola Loves Stories (by Anna McQuinn)

Summary of Lola Loves Stories: 

On Saturdays, Lola’s daddy takes her to the library.  Lola always finds and checks out some excellent books.   Each day, her parents read her one of the library books, prompting imagination and adventure!  After reading a book about a fairy princess with her daddy, “Lola wars a fancy dress and sparkly crown.”  She spends her daypretending she is a “fabulous fairy princess.”  The next day, her mommy reads to her about an amazing journey. As a result, Lola takes her friends (stuffed animals), on exciting trips to foreign lands like Paris and Lagos.  

Sometimes she acts out her imaginative explorations with friends, like taking care of babies with Ben and running through "the jungle" with Orla.  On Friday, her daddy creates an original story about magic shoes.   Lola has her own magical shoe experience--all the way to library!  Stories and books fuel Lola’s brain and send her on amazing adventures. 

Evaluation: 
I love Lola Loves Stories by Anna McQuinn!   The book reminds me of the power of books and storytelling.  Lola has a richer and fuller life because of the books she experiences from her weekly trips to the library.  

Both her parents are actively involved in reading to her and fostering her imagination. Rosalind Beardshaw’s adorable illustrations depict the text beautifully.   They show her parents interacting and reading with her as well as her imaginative exploits.  Lola Loves Stories is ideal for ages 2-7.  

Using Cows Can't Jump to Teach Children Essential Literacy Skills

Reading aloud to babies, toddlers, and preschoolers is essential.  Interacting with the books during story time is even better.  Mem Fox, literacy advocate and children's book author, states:

Because words are essential in building the thought connections in the brain, the more language a child experiences—through books and through conversation with others, not passively from television—the more advantaged socially, educationally, and in every way the child will be for the rest of his or her life (17-18).

Reading aloud not only contributes to language and social development, but it also prepares children for reading independently in grade school. During the early childhood years, books that have recurring phrases/lines and repetitive sentence patterns are especially beneficial because they build several foundational pre-reading skills, such as word recognition, predicting skills, vocabulary development, and grammar/sentence models. 

Use your reading aloud experiences as natural spring boards (no lesson plan or teaching degree required) for talking about language and character.   Each time you read the same book together, you can repeat prior concepts, expand them, or cover different areas as they are developmentally appropriate for your child.  

Dave Reisman’s Cows Can’t Jump is an excellent book with a repetitive sentence pattern.  It begins with a perplexed cow eyeing a hurdle.  The sentence states: 

Cows can’t jump… (turn page) …but they can swim. 

Across from the swimming cow, there is a gorilla looking terrified at the idea of swimming in a lake.  The next sentence states:

Gorillas can’t swim… (turn page)…but they can swing.

Until the final page, this same sentence pattern is followed with various other animals.   

Illustrator Jason A. Maas uses lively creatures and soft, uncluttered backgrounds, perfect for youngsters.  As they listen and interact with Cows Can’t Jump, on a basic level they are learning to identify animals in the pictures.  Also, children are expanding their sight and oral vocabulary of animals and verbs.  The book offers an excellent opportunity to talk/ask about what other animals can swing, fly, swim, hop, scurry, and so forth.   

Next, there is the reoccurring sentence pattern.  (Animal/noun) can’t (verb), but they can (verb).  This sample sentence can stimulate fun word play important in speaking and writing development.  Create your own sentences, and allow your toddler or preschool child to fill in the blank.  For instance, say, “Birds can’t slither, but they can _____.”  (A follow up question can be:  What animal does slither?) Or you can switch it around and say, “Birds can’t ________, but they can sing.”  Challenge your child to fill in one of the verbs from the book or from his own vocabulary.

You can also just begin with the first part.  Say, “Cats can’t ________.”   Child fills in the blank.  Together, brainstorm several things he can't do--cook, make a bed, drive a car, and so forth.  As his language develops, challenge him to finish it.  Cats can’t talk, but they can ______ (purr, stretch, sleep, cuddle).  Prepare your child for filling in the blank by labeling the cat’s activities throughout the day.  “Aww, look at Fluffy stretching.”  “Do you hear her purr?”  “What is Fluffy doing?  She is sleeping.”  Then, when the child encounters this sentence pattern, he will have several words to put into it.  Continue this amusing word play (at home, in the car, or while waiting in line) with other familiar animals or objects. 

Also, there are some key sight words being repeated: can’t, but, they, and can.  Reading these words over and over again will prompt your child to start recognizing them—first auditorily and, eventually, visually.  It is excellent preparation for independent reading. 

Another aspect I love about Cows Can’t Jump (and other books with repetitive sentence patterns) is the opportunity to practice language and predicting skills.  Older children listening to this book for the first time can be encouraged to guess what the animals CAN do.  (Give lots of praise even for incorrect answers.)  After reading the book a couple times, children (particularly younger ones) can anticipate and verbalize what is on the next page. 

Finally, this book teaches a valuable character lesson: individuality. Each animal is created to do certain skills or tasks. They are unique creatures.  Similarly, God made each person in a special way.  Teach your child that he doesn’t have to be like a sibling or a friend who may do a skill or task better.  Instead, he just needs to be true to how he is fearfully and wonderfully made.  As a result, children can be encouraged to respect individual differences. 

I challenge you to read aloud three stories a day—one favorite, one familiar, and one new.  Add Cows Can’t Jump to your home or school library which is sure to become both a familiar and a favorite.  It is available as a board book (ideal for babies and toddlers) and as a paperback. 

Works Cited

Fox, Mem.  Reading Magic:  Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever.  Harcourt:  San Diego, 2001.