Snow Lion

Snow Lion

Author: David McPhail

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: Grades 1-2

Year Published: 1982

Summary

This book is about a lion that lives in the jungle. This lion is very hot and sweaty one day in the jungle, so he decides to go away from the jungle to find somewhere cooler. He goes to the hills, and while there he discovers snow! He twice tries and fails to bring the snow back to his friends, due to the fact that it melts in the heat, and they think he is going crazy. Eventually, his friends follow him to the hills where they play and have fun in the snow, and thank lion for bringing them to this wonderful relief from the heat.

About the Author

David McPhail has been an artist since he was two years old! He grew up drawing on and about anything and everything. He grew up in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and currently resides there today. He is married and together they have four children. McPhail "says he has drawn his children so often that it just comes out in his characters!" He is best known for his characters that are animals. 

Interesting facts (taken from his website):

"After he finished high school, McPhail played in a rock and roll band. He writes and draws in a studio in his attic. He has been a member of the Riverview Pizza Bowling Team in Portsmouth, New Hampshire."

  

Source: http://www.eduplace.com/kids/tnc/mtai/mcphail.html

How to Use it

The main idea of this book involves a lion who just wants to share wonderful news with his friends, but when they don’t believe him, he has to find another way to teach them about the snow he found. It also contains the fact that snow cannot exist where it is to warm for it to keep its form, and how snow turns into water when it melts.

Pre-Reading: Discuss with the class what jungles are like, what type of animals normally live in jungles, and what would happen if snow was brought into the jungle.

Post-Reading: Have the students get into small groups and talk about the book. What did they learn from the book? If it is winter, have an experiment where they can bring some snow in a plastic bag from outside into the classroom, and watch it melt into water. This illustrates the processes that occurred during the story.

 

What do I Think?

I think that this is definitely an enjoyable book. It is a great story that children typically enjoy, and I think that it is entertaining. I like how you can tie science into the book, and illustrate the properties of snow. 

Waiting For Wings

Waiting For Wings

Author: Lois Ehlert

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: Grades Pre-K-2

Year Published: 2001

Summary

This is a story of caterpillar eggs and their journey through life until they become butterflies. It describes the eggs, the caterpillars, and the cocoon and butterflies in child-friendly language. The ending of the book also tells about the lifestyles of butterflies, and what their daily activities are. The illustrations throughout the book are vivid, and are attention-grabbing for any young child.  

About the Author

Lois Ehlert currently resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is the author of many children's books, and has become a beloved author in classrooms throughout the country. Some of her published books include Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Cooking Vegetable Soup, and Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf. Her book, Color Zoo, has won a Caldecott Medal. 

Source:http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Lois-Ehlert/1877089

How to Use it 

Pre-Reading: The teacher will discuss with the class where they have seen caterpillars and where they have seen butterflies, and will talk with the class about how caterpillars change into butterflies, and how the book they are going to read will explain to them how that happens, and what caterpillars do to prepare for the change, and what butterflies do after they emerge from the cocoon. The students could also, as a whole group, construct a KWL chart involving butterflies. 

Post-Reading: Something as simple as creating their own butterfly as an art center is an option for a post-reading activity.  A more in-depth option could be providing the class with  caterpillars, and watching the process of the caterpillars changing into butterflies. The kids would get a hands-on experience with the life cycle of butterflies.

 

What do I Think?

I think that this is a valuable book. The illustrations are beautiful, and I think it provides a simple illustration of the life cycle of a butterfly. It is definitely geared towards younger children, and its simple language is something that younger students can understand. I do know that the second graders in the school that I work in do a unit on butterflies. I think that this book would add to their unit, and also inspire students artistically.