Happy April Fools' Day.
And Perfect Picture Book Friday {PPBF}.
Title: Bartholomew Quill: A Crow's Quest To Know Who's Who
Author: Thor Hanson
Illustrator: Dana Arnim
Publisher: Little Bigfoot
Date: April 5, 2016
Suitable for ages: 4-8
Themes: knowing yourself, belonging
Brief Synopsis: Join Bartholomew as he takes flight to find out where he belongs.
Opening page:
Bartholomew Quill was a crow long ago,
when all of the world was anew.
Resources:
Visit Sasquatch Books {here}.
Why I like this book: This sweet story is the perfect pick for Poetry Month; its wonderful illustrations beautifully complement the rhyming text. Because the author is also a biologist, this tale includes interesting facts about the birds and animals, bugs and slugs that Bartholomew meets as he tries to find birds of his feather. The last page offers activity ideas and a link to the teacher's guide.
In addition to the publisher's suggestions, here are four ways that I can see infusing this book into an elementary-school classroom:
1. Have students compare and contrast the call of crows with ravens. How is their call similar? How is it different? Challenge them to close their eyes and try to identify them. What other bird calls do your students know? It might be fun to host a bird-calling contest!
2. Encourage your students to process aloud or in writing how, if at all, the adage "Birds of a feather flock together." might connect to Bartholomew's quest to find his kind.
3. Read Is Your Mama A Llama? by Deborah Guarino and Are You My Mother? by PD Eastman aloud; have your students compare and contrast the one they think is most similar using a double-bubble map.
4. Finally, use this treasure to encourage your students to do some self-awareness exploration. How are they like their families? Their friends? How are they different? What do they like most about themselves? Then extend it beyond human borders to have a little fun: If they could be a bird or an animal, which one would they choose to be? Why?
Check out this newbie; I think it'll leave you cawing for more.
no foolin'!
