The Wave (by Tyler Charlton)

Title:  The Wave

Author:  Tyler Charlton

Illustrator:  Tyler Charlton

Target Ages: 5 and up

Genre: Fiction Picture Book

Summary:  A young boy describes his experience with a wave of sadness that he must learn to navigate to get back to shore.

First Lines:  

“The last time it happened I was building a fort.  

Sometimes…

I lose my joy and I don’t know why…

…and the wave takes me away.”

Memorable Moment: 

“And even though the wave still has me…I can get to my feet.”

Evaluation: 

I pulled this book for a symbolism activity, but I felt it was worthy of a post on its own. In college, I took a course called Bibliotherapy.  It made me realize the power books can have to help someone deal and heal.  If I were teaching that course, I would use The Wave as an example book for educators to support their students and counselors to help their patients.  

I like this book because it illustrates and discusses depression in a concrete way that children can understand. The wave symbolism aptly captures how someone depressed feels–alone, joyless, overpowered.  The book extends beyond that though.  

The protagonist shares what he does to help him reach the shore (i.e. get through the depression and back to himself).  Even when the wave has him, he can get to his feet and keep moving.  He can protect himself from further hurt–emotional, mental, and physical.  He can look for (and move toward) the shore.  Just as a person caught in a wave will fight to protect himself and to gain his footing again, so should a person caught in a wave of sadness. The narrative shows these positive principles in the text and illustrations.

The story provides hope.  First, as mentioned previously, depressed people can do things to help them survive and eventually get back to themselves. Second, the story reminds readers that a wave eventually ends and makes it to the shore.  Similarly, the pain of depression will end for most.  Finally, the shore is hopeful because there are loved ones there waiting to support the protagonist.  In the same way, the reader has people wanting to help them.  The extended wave metaphor gives readers hope that the sad feeling can subside or end.  

For those experiencing depression, the wave captures what they are going through.  For those who do not experience depression, the wave illustrates what some of the peers and loved ones struggle with.  

The book is geared for children.  However, picture books like this one can be used with all ages–middle schoolers, high schoolers, adults–to help them identify their feelings or to build empathy for others.

Activities and Extension Ideas for Lesson Plans:

• Bibliotherapy:  Read the book with someone experiencing depression.  Use it as a starting point to discuss how he/she feels and how to cope with the feelings and symptoms. 

• Character Education:  Use this story to discuss how to show empathy for others. 

• Comparison:  Compare on a graphic organizer how a wave acts to how the character is feeling.  

• Figurative Language:  Use this book as a springboard to teach or to discuss symbolism and/or extended metaphors.  The wave is a powerful symbol for depression and its impact on a person.  

• Project Board:  Brainstorm ways to support someone struggling with depression.  Then, use a project board to educate others how to help people with depression.

• Poetry:  Older readers can study Atwood’s poem “Up” which describes in more depth what depression feels like. Use the poem to further the discussion of depression or compare it to the descriptive details in the book.

Looking to dive deeper into literary symbolism with your readers? Check out my Teach Symbolism Through Picture Book Analysis Activity—a flexible, discussion-rich resource that pairs perfectly with this book and many others. It's designed to build critical thinking through accessible texts and guided analysis that can be used with a broad range of school levels including middle, high, and even college. Find it now on TpT!

The Good Egg (Jory John)

Title:  The Good Egg

Author:  Jory John

Illustrator:  Pete Oswald

Target Ages: 4 and up

Genre: Fiction Picture Book

Summary:  The Good Egg is helpful. The Good Egg is kind. The Good Egg is responsible. The Good Egg tries to make everyone else act the right way too.  His do-good mantra is taken to an extreme which has an unwanted outcome.     

First Lines:  

“Oh, hello!

I was just rescuing this cat.

Know why?

Because I’m a good egg.

A verrrrrry good egg.”

Memorable Moment: 

“For once, I found time for me. And guess what! Little by little, the cracks in my shell started to heal.  My head no longer felt scrambled.”

Evaluation: 

A “good egg” is an archaic way of saying someone is a kind person. The term began as a contrast to the slang term “bad egg” to characterize a person who is not nice.  Author Jory John brilliantly builds on these terms to create a story about perfectionism, mental health, and letting go.  

The Good Egg is the second book in his creative and thought-provoking food series. The first is The Bad Seed, which I enjoyed so much that I purchased it. 

The Good Egg isn’t just a kind person. He has taken it to an extreme.  He has become a perfectionist, and with it, he is driven by a need to control. The text says, “I tried to take charge.  I tried to fix their bad behavior.  I tried to keep the peace.  Because I am a good egg.” His desire is noble: He wants everyone to act right and to do good.  Jory’s characterization resonates with many people.  

Little does the Good Egg realize, but the added pressure to control his surroundings is causing his shell to crack. He is literally cracking up (nice pun).  This situation is more reflective of the experiences of many older children and adults, but there are some young children who are perfectionistic and/or controlling. This story illustrates in a concrete manner where those tendencies lead.

The Good Egg leaves the chaos to take care of himself.  He walks, reads, relaxes, paints, and writes. He gets some spa time in. The text states, “Little by little, the cracks in my shell started to heal. My head no longer felt scrambled. (another good pun) I started to feel like myself again.”  The story illustrates many positive examples on how to deal with stress and mental exhaustion.  Overall, it shows the importance of making good personal choices.  

When the Good Egg returns to his home, he deals with the pressure better.  He doesn’t try to change others and control everything.  His shell heals to reflect how he has healed internally.  This story is a springboard for discussing healthy choices and boundaries.  

Illustrator Pete Oswald helps keep the serious topic lighthearted.  Whether it is the Good Egg walking an old lady piece of bacon across the road or the egg receiving a yolk IV, each watercolor illustration is a delight.  

This story will speak to people of all ages.  It may just be more meaningful for older children and adults than the target ages of a typical picture book.  I highly recommend The Good Egg.

Now, Prove It! — Theme with Evidence
Students analyze key ideas, gather supporting quotes, and use structured sentence starters to explain how the evidence proves a theme. This resource helps readers practice moving from what happens in the story to what it means. Get your copy of Now, Prove It: The Good Egg.

Activities and Extension Ideas for Lesson Plans:

• Art: Download a free egg template. Students can create their own egg character.

• Character Education: Use this book as a springboard for discussion on healthy boundaries in relationships as well as on self-care.

• Comparison:  Compare how the Good Egg interacts with his fellow eggs in the beginning and at the end of the story.  Or compare The Good Egg to The Bad Seed.  How are these 2 stories similar and different?

• Creative Writing: Teach or review the plot diagram.  Then, have students pick a food item to write a story about in which they must incorporate all the parts of a story–exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. 

• Figurative Language:  Use the story to teach about puns and/or symbolism. 

• Literature: As a class or family, read the whole fruit series by Jory John and  Pete Oswald.

• Math: There are 12 eggs in a dozen. There are 12 egg characters in the story.  Learn or practice how to count by 12’s.  Do some math story problems using the term “dozen.”

• From TPT: Differentiated Book Study Companion Activities.

• Symbolism:  This book is ideal to use when teaching symbolism for all ages.  Grab my Teaching Symbolism with Picture Book Activity.

• Theme: Teach theme with this picture book: The Good Egg.

Spotlight on Friendship and Compassion in Books by Cori Doerrfeld

Today, I am highlighting two amazing picture books by author-illustrator Cori Doerrfeld.  The first title, The Rabbit Listened, has been on my to-review list for a while.  When I discovered Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend! I decided to discuss these books together.  While they are diverse in their subject matter, they have some noteworthy commonalities. 

The Rabbit Listened 
Publisher Summary 
When something sad happens to Taylor, all the animals think they know how to help.  One by one they come, but nothing they say makes Taylor feel better.  Until the rabbit arrives…and the rabbit knows just what to do. 

Evaluation 
This book can be read on multiple levels.  On the one hand, it is a simple picture book about a child’s experience with pain.  However, it resonates as an allegorical tale for adults as well.  

Out of nowhere, life often comes crashing down. This idea of the unexpected in life and sense of things falling apart is a universal experience at all ages.   In the story, this idea is illustrated when a pack of black birds knock down an elaborate building the protagonist, Taylor, has built.

Various animals attempt to “comfort” Taylor.  Each animal parallels the types of people we encounter in life.  These people are often more concerned with their own agendas rather than genuinely helping someone.  In the story, the chicken just wants to talk, talk, talk about it. The bear wants to dwell on angry feelings while the elephant tries to fix it.  When their approach doesn’t work, they walk away.

The rabbit in the book is the only one concerned with just being present.  He is true to his nature:  He sits and listens.  Everyone needs someone just to be present sometimes.  The rabbit allows the protagonist to go through all the emotions he feels.  The rabbit represents what a true friend acts like—compassionate, supportive, and selfless.    

Goodbye, Friend!  Hello, Friend! 
Publisher Summary 
Every goodbye brings a new beginning.  Goodbye to snowmen means hello to stomping in puddles!  Goodbye to the sun means hello to the stars!  Sometimes goodbyes are especially hard, and sometimes new beginnings take time but tomorrow always comes. 

Evaluation 
Several life experiences are represented through this straightforward text all while exemplifying the saying: When one door closes, another one opens.

Initially, Stella is reluctant to go to school.  She learns to make friends and to follow a new routine.  Another aspect of change is having to transition from an activity she enjoys to another one.  

Stella deals with loss.  Her pet dies.  Later, her best friend Charlie moves away.

With each potentially negative experience, Stella learns to see the rainbow on the other side of the storm.  Sometimes optimism is a relatively easy choice,  like having to come inside when it gets dark or having to go to bed during a sleep over.  Other times, she learns this lesson in more challenging experiences like falling down while trying something new or losing a loved one.  

Goodbye, Friend!  Hello, Friend! illuminates the importance of resilience and optimism no matter the circumstances.  The story reminds us that a closed door isn't the end.  Instead, there is an opportunity for a new beginning.

Cori Doerrfeld demonstrates exceptional skill in both picture books.  She shows the complexities of life and friendship while keeping it all on a concrete child’s level. The Rabbit Listened and Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend! are must-reads for home and the classroom.  They illustrate the importance of compassion, friendship, feelings, and optimism in challenging times. 

5 Fabulous Read-Aloud Picture Books

There Might Be Lobsters

Carolyn Crimi, author

Laurel Molk, illustrator

Publisher Summary:  

Sukie is afraid of everything.  But with her faithful girl, Eleanor, and her beloved stuffed monkey by her side, maybe—just maybe—she can overcome her fears.

Why It’s Fabulous:

Eleanor helps her dog Sukie overcome her fears—both rational and irrational.  Sukie realizes she is much braver than she realizes.

Escargot

Dashka Slater, author

Syndney Hanson, illustrator

Publisher Summary:

Bonjour!

I am Escargot.

I want only two things:

1.      To be your favorite animal.
2.      To get to the delicious salad at the end of the this book.

Are you ready?

On your mark…Get set…Go!

Why It’s Fabulous:

Witty and interactive, readers will fall in love with Escargot the snail.  The soft watercolor paintings and French phrases add to the charm. Escargot lays out several arguments why snails should be the reader’s favorite animal, using the audience’s anticipated objections. Teachers can use this story as a mentor text for teaching argument.   Finally, the story illustrates the importance of self-acceptance.

The Rabbit Listened

Cori Doerrfeld, author and illustrator

Publisher Summary:

When something sad happens to Taylor, all the animals think they know how to help.  One by one they come, but nothing they say makes Taylor feel better. Until the rabbit arrives…and the rabbit knows just what to do. 

Why It’s Fabulous:

The sweet illustrations and poignant storytelling reveal what people often need when they are feeling sad.  A wonderful story to teach children about their and others’ feelings. 

How to Find an Elephant

Kate Banks, author

Boris Kulikov, illustrator

Publisher Summary:

What to do on a dull gray day? Head into the wilds and look for elephant.  You will need a pair of binoculars, a blanket, a flute, some food, a little imagination, and a lot of curiosity.

Why It’s Fabulous:

A typical backyard becomes an imaginary romp through the jungle.  At every turn, readers catch a glimpse of a camouflaged elephant in the lush mixed-media illustrations. 

The Scariest Book Ever

Bob Shea, author and illustrator

Publisher Summary:

Boo!  This is the scariest book EVER, narrated by a ghost who lives near a scary dark forest. The woods are probably crawling with hungry monsters with smelly breath, sharp fangs, and pointy claws.  If you want to check them out, go ahead and turn the page.  Just don’t expect the ghost to join you.

Why It’s Fabulous:
Retro graphics, colorful pictures, and clever text make this book a humorous ghoul time.  The ghost narrator interacts with the readers, inviting them onto a scary journey that is everything but frightening.  Ironic twists and an unexpected ending make this book a read-aloud favorite for Halloween or anytime.

Back to School: First Day Anxiety

This time of year, many families are getting ready to send their youngsters to school for the first time.  For some children (and parents), there is a mix of emotions—ranging from excitement to apprehension.  Books are wonderful springboards for discussing these feelings and building up enthusiasm for the big day.   Local public libraries have a large selection of books for this important milestone as well as other related areas.  Topics to search in the card catalog are First Day of School, Nursery Schools, Schools, School Buses, and Kindergarten. 

It is tough to divide the books available into categories because there is so much overlap.  For this post, the focus is on the anxiety related to the first day, such as separating from parents, experiencing a new place/routine, avoiding embarrassing moments, and making new friends.   Most of these stories can be used with either preschool and kindergarten children. 

My First Day at Nursery School (by Becky Edwards)

The narrative opens with a young girl eating breakfast and thinking about the very important day ahead of her.  It is her first day of nursery school.  When she arrives at school though, she has second thoughts about staying.  Despite the colorful environment and warm people, only one thing is on this young girl’s mind: “I want my mommy.”  She becomes distracted by the various new toys all around her.  After a while, she begins missing her mommy again—but not for long.  Painting with her classmates quickly and positively redirects her attentions.  Her longing for mother continues to creep up, each time with less intensity as those feelings are replaced with the wonder and energy of classroom exploration.  When her mommy comes to pick her up, the young girl has one thing on her mind:  “I want to stay at nursery school.”  This book beautifully depicts those mixed emotions that many children feel during this vital transition into independence.  The colorful pictures are appealing and active.  My First Day at Nursery School is the perfect way to prepare your preschooler for this new adventure. 

What Did You Do Today? (by Toby Forward)

Mother and son pack their lunches together on the first day of school.   After one last hug, they separate.  The narrative shows the corresponding experiences of the pair.  While the child is learning his classmates’ names, his mother is greeting her co-workers by name.  As the boy practices his letters, his mother is at her computer typing and working.  During clean-up at school, mother is washing up her coffee cup in the break room.  As their routines come to a close, the mother rushes to pick her son up.  They walk away hand-in-hand, talking about the day.  The narrative is general enough it can apply to either preschool or kindergarten. The parallel activities make this story an enriching read.  The child listener can see that his/her routine has many similarities to the adult work world.  Also, it is clear that even though they are apart, the mother often thinks of her son and she can’t wait to be reunited with him.  This depiction assures children that they remain close in heart, if not in proximity. 

I Am Too Absolutely Small for School (Lauren Child)

Lola does not believe she is big enough to go to school.   Besides, she could hardly find the time to go with everything there is to do at home.  Charlie, her older brother, attempts to entice her with the idea of school by sharing with her everything she will learn, such as her numbers up to 100 (which she does not need to know because there is no reason to have to count further than 10) and her letters (which she does believes is unnecessary because she can call people on the phone instead of writing).  Charlie creates entertaining scenarios for why she needs to learn these skills.  Then, she expresses her fears on what to wear, making friends, and eating in the cafeteria.  Lola’s fears are evaded with a little big brother wisdom.  She has a successful first day…she even brings home a new friend.  I Am Too Absolutely Small for School tackles many first day anxieties with sensitivity and humor.

Dinosaur Starts School (by Pamela Duncan Edwards)

The format of this picture book is different from all the others I reviewed.  The roles are reversed.  A young boy receives some "coaching” on how to prepare his dinosaur friend for his first day of school.   Hypothetical questions are asked and answered.  For example: 

“What if you got to the school gates, but Dinosaur wrapped his sharp claws around the fence and said in his timid dinosaur voice, ‘But it’s too big.  I’ll get lost.’ 

You’d say, ‘Don’t be silly!  You can’t get lost because our classroom is just the right size for dinosaurs.’”

Several common fears are addressed in a similar manner with a positive outlook and entertaining illustrations portraying typical school preparation and activities.   Dinosaur Starts School effectively uses humor and a child “expert” to help navigate the first day nervousness felt by many children. 

Further Reading:

I Am Not Going to School Today (by Robie H. Harris)

I Don’t Want to Go to School! (by Stephanie Blake)

My First Day of School (by Nancy Skarmeas)
Tinyflock Nursery School (by Suzy-Jane Tanner)

Will I Have a Friend? (by Miriam Cohen)