 Tupelo Rides the Rails by Melissa Sweet About the book: “Everyone belongs somewhere,” she said to Mr. Bones. “We’ll find a place.” She picked him up and trotted off. So begins the brave journey of a small dog named Tupelo. Together with her sock toy, Mr. Bones, she searches for the right place: Will it be with a bevy of birds or aden of rabbits? Or perhaps roaming with a pack called the BONEHEADS? Maybe the stars will guide her? With brilliant mixed-media illustrations, Melissa Sweet celebrates all dog heroes, past and present, and shows how home is sometimes found in the most unexpected places. About the author/illustrator: After reading Chet Raymo’s 365 Starrry Nights, Melissa Sweet became intrigued with Sirius, the Dog Star. After seeing the movie, The Station Agent, she became intrigued with trains. The next day, driving along with her dog, who is a shelter dog, she became intrigued with the idea of a train carrying dogs to their new home, like a traveling shelter. “It was somehow combining these things: stars, dogs, and trains (and all three I feel passionate about),” she writes, “ and the notion of a journey… that Tupelo came.” The illustrator of many fine children’s books, Melissa Sweet is 357 dog years old. She fervently believes that dogs are “benevolent, exalted, earnest, and doggedly sublime.” She lives in Rockport, Maine, with her family—and sublime dog Rufus and exalted Sheltie Nellie, who was recently rescued from a Louisiana shelter (and looks just like Lassie). Pre-reading: Who do you think Tupelo is? What are rails? Have you ever ridden on rails? What do you think is his story? What does Tupelo want? Questions to consider:
Projects: Language arts: Write a letter to your pet (or dream pet) about the life you promise to give them. Think about all a pet’s needs and some of their wishes, too. Sign your letter of promise and have it notarized by a parent (and perhaps stamped by your pet’s paw!) Math: Study the timeline at the beginning of the book. Now create a timeline of your own life being sure to put in important historical events. Music: Sing the ballad that Garbage Pail Tex sang to the Boneheads, of course! Art: Inspired by Melissa Sweet’s art create a portrait of your pet (or again, dream pet). Sketch your pet first and then add color with paint or markers. Also, take a photograph of your pet so you have it in case he gets lost! Science: Locate Sirius, the dog star in the night sky. Research upcoming galactic events that you may be able to witness from your location. |
Cousins of Clouds
Tracie's NEW BOOK!
Showing posts with label Melissa Sweet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Melissa Sweet. Show all posts
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Tupelo Rides the Rails
River of Words
A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams
by Jen Bryant
Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
About the book:
When he wrote poems,
he felt as free
as the Passaic River as it
rushed to the falls.
Willie’s notebooks filled up,
one after another.
Willie’s words gave him freedom and peace but he also knew he needed to earn a living. So when he grew up, he went off to medical school and became a doctor—one of the busiest men in town! Yet he never stopped writing poetry.
In this picture book biography of William Carlos Williams, Jen Bryant’s engaging prose and Melissa Sweet’s stunning mixed-media illustrations pay homage to the amazing man who found a way to earn a living and to honor his calling to be a poet.
About the author:
Jen Bryant has written several books for young readers, including Music for the End of Time (Eerdmans), Pieces of Georgia, and the acclaimed novel-in-verse The Trial (both Random House). Jen lives in Glenmoore, Pennsylvania. For more information please visit www.jenbryant.com
About the illustrator:
Melissa Sweet has illustrated The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon, Girls Think of Everything, and Carmine: A Little More Red (all Houghton Mifflin), which was given the New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award. Melissa lives in Rockport, Maine. For more information please visit www.melissasweet.net
Pre-reading:
Have you ever heard of William Carlos Williams? Have you red or heard his poems “This Is Just to Say” or “The Red Wheelbarrow?” His poems are famous. What do you think makes a writer famous? What types of poems do you like to write? Who decides if something is poetry?
Questions to consider:
- What does it mean to “make something of yourself?” What will you make of yourself? Is this different than having a job? How?
- Where did Willie like to better than anywhere else? Where is your favorite spot? Why? What do you like to notice?
- Mr. Abbott was an important teacher for Willie. Why? Who has been your most important teacher? When do you see pictures in your own mind’s eye?
- How did Willie imitate other writers? Is this the same as copying? Whose work would you like to imitate?
- Why does Willie decide to write about ordinary things? Make a list of ordinary things you would like to write about.
- How does Willie break out of traditional poetry? What experiments does he make with words? How can you experiment with words?
- Why did Willie decide to become a medical doctor? Why do you think poets don’t earn a lot of money?
- Who were Willie’s friends at the university? How did they influence his writing? How do your friends influence your own thoughts and work?
- Describe Dr. Williams medical practice. How is it different than today’s doctors? Would you like to practice medicine or not? Why?
- Which illustration is your favorite? Why do you think Melissa Sweet decided to use the colors and papers that she did?
Projects:
Language arts:
After reading dozens of William Carlos Williams poems try your hand at a poem that is inspired by his river of words. Williams believed that poems should be “not in ideas but in things.” So study, observe and take notes on ordinary things to get your topic and images for your poems. Try to use fresh comparisons and pare down your words until only the most important images remain.
Art:
Inspired by the collage of Melissa Sweet, illustrate your own William Carlos Williams poem. Use a variety of papers and create a palette that matches the mood of your piece.
History:
Research the life of another important writer and create a timeline of their life.
Science:
Poetry is good training for a scientist because observation is important to both. Choose a natural subject (like a leaf, tree, or pond) and take detailed notes about what you see, hear, smell, feel and notice. Create a sketch about it and then after one week revisit it and create a new set of notes and sketches. Write a short journal about what you learned.
Music:
Sing to “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
Write, write, write a poem
Try one every day
Study the most ordinary—
it’s a kind of play!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Chicken Joy on Redbean Road
Chicken Joy on Redbean Road
A Bayou Country Romp
By Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Author Interview:
- What was the initial inspiration for the book? How did Miss Cleoma two-step into the story?
- How do you know when you’ve met a good idea?
- What is your favorite part of the writing process? Do you have any advice for young writers?
Illustrator Interview:
- How do you decide your palette for each book?
- What’s your favorite part of the illustrating process?
- What advice do you have for young artists?
Pre-reading Activity: What is your favorite type of music? Do people in different parts of the country (or even the world) listen to different kinds of music? What changes in the music from place to place? Have you ever heard of the bayou? What type of music do you think is popular in Louisiana?
Discussion Guide:
- Joe Beebee’s music “set empty shoes to dancing.” What do you think this means? What music makes you want to dance?
- Describe how the day gets started on Mrs. Miser Vidrine’s place.
- How does blue-headed roo lose his voice? Why does this lead to conflict?
- Mrs. Miser Vidrine is described as “nothing bur practical.” How is someone practical? What is the opposite of practical? Which one are you?
- What strategy do the chickens come up with to save blue roo? Who can make a difference? Why?
- Explain how Miss Cleoma shares the story about roo to the residents of Redbean Road. How is important news shared on your street?
- Miss Cleoma doesn’t hold out much hope that Joe Beebee will play for a bunch of chickens. Why? Have you ever felt like something was impossible?
- What is a bal de maison? Did you have to look up the words in a dictionary to figure out the meaning? What should a reader do if they don’t have a dictionary handy?
- What does Joe Beebee’s music do for people? What do they forget about when he plays? Are there songs or musicians who have the same effect on you?
- Where do the ducks, roosters and hens live in the end? What plans does Mrs. Miser make? Why?
Across the curriculum:
Language Arts:
There are terrific new words in Chicken Joy on Redbean Road. Have children choose two new words to explore with this vocabulary graphic organizer.
Possible words (or allow children to pick from unknown words as they read or listen): parish, sonorous, glorious, gratifying, practical, strategy, two-step, bal de maison, bons temps, beaucoup, laissez les bons temps roulé.
Music:
Collect some songs mentioned in the author’s note and share with your students. Have children rate the various pieces from 1-10 (10 as their favorite). Discuss how the music changes according to its instrumentation, rhythm, lyrics, and mood.
Junk Band-
Have children create their own instruments out of common household items: spoons, coins in various containers, a homemade fiddle (like Joe Beebee’s), etc. Experiment with sound by playing along with the recordings or on your own.
Cajun Music Hall of Fame:
Have children research one of the musicians from the author’s note to create a Cajun music hall of fame. Each child should illustrate a portrait of the artist with information about their background printed neatly beneath. This will make a great bulletin board or hallway display.
Sing this song about the book to the tune Freré Jacques (then try it in a round or use junk band instruments to add dimension!)
Joe Beebee
Joe Beebee
Played his fiddle
Played his fiddle
Redbean worries were forgot
He saved the rooster from the pot
Pim, pam, pum!
Pim, pam, pum!
Art:
Read about Melissa Sweet on the back flap. How did she prepare to illustrate this story? Are you surprised by the care she took with the details? What does it mean to be authentic in art? Pretend you are writing a story about your own region. Take pictures (or find them in local newspapers and publications) to find details of the architecture, flora and fauna, residents, typical animals, and landscape (city or country, etc.) and then create at least ten sketches that would help you illustrate a local story. Write one inspired by your art.
Mathematics:
Figure out these word problems based on the book:
If Mrs. Miser’s soup pot will serve up 60 bowls of soup and 30 people attend the bal de maison, then how many bowls of soup can each person have?
If Mrs. Miser sold every last bit of soup how much money would she have in her pocket if each bowl cost ten cents?
Mrs. Miser figures out that next year, if she plants five extra rows of vegetables, she can make two pots of soup instead of one. How many more bowls of soup would that be? How much more money would she make at the next bal de maison?
Science:
Explore the science of music (through the National Science Foundation). Fabulous interactive site!
Carmine a Little More Red
Teacher’s Guide for
Carmine: A Little More Red
By Melissa Sweet
Pre-reading:
What do you think the subtitle means? Looking only at the cover: Does this character remind you of any other? Why? How do you think it might be similar to that story? How might it be different?
Questions to consider:
- Describe Carmine. For example, what does she love?
- What does it mean to dilly dally? Do you like to dilly dally? When? Where?
- Why are some words in the story written larger than others?
- Compare Carmine’s story to another version of Little Red Riding Hood. How are they similar? How are they different? (Create a Venn diagram if you like).
- Choose your favorite word from the book and your favorite illustration. Why did you pick these?
- Create a list of facts you know about Carmine, Rufus, the wolf and Granny.
- Create a list of opinions about the same characters. How are these two lists different? How are they similar?
- Do you think Carmine will go straight to her granny’s house the next time? Why or why not?
- Write your own haiku about your own granny!
- Can you explain what must have happened at Granny’s house?
Across the Curriculum:
Language Arts:
Make an ABC list of your favorite words and then try to write a story with them. You might even try retelling another classic fairytale as Melissa Sweet did.
Interview the wolf about his part in this story. What questions will you ask? How will he answer? You can work with a partner if you like (one reporter, one wolf).
The wolf knows exactly what the dog is saying. Do you know what your own animals are saying when they speak? Make a list and identify their meanings. For example, my dog says “Ahhhhhhroooooo= I’m lonely!” If you don’t own a pet, make one up. What sounds might your dragon make if he were hungry?
Art:
Create a map between your house and your “granny’s” house. What things would you stop to sketch along the way? Paint, sketch or draw a picture for your own Granny (or other older person you adore and give it to them).
We never see a picture of Carmine’s mom. Create one.
Take a picture during a time of day that you think has “exquisite light.” In a brief journal describe why you picked this location and tell what other conditions existed that contributed to the light.
Cut a heavy piece of white paper out in the shape of an artist’s palette. Then, around the edge research as many names for your own favorite color that you can find (like Melissa Sweet does on the endpapers of Carmine). Next, using your paints or found objects, identify the colors- mixing your own shades if you need to.
Mathematics:
Solve these Carmine math riddles (or make up one of your own!):
If the wolf filches a dozen bones from Granny’s house and he has six pups how many will each pup get? What if Pop Wolf keeps one? What if he keeps two?
In each bowl of Granny’s alphabet soup there are 100 letters. Each spoonful gets ten letters. How many spoonfuls will it take to make all the letters disappear?
If it is two miles to the woods and another mile to Granny’s then how many miles does Carmine travel? What if she forgets Rufus back at Granny’s and has to return when she’s in the woods?
Science:
Research the true nature of wolves. How are they similar to their depictions in fairy tales? How are they different? Research the answer to these questions: Where are wolves naturally found? What foods do they eat? How many pups are usually in a pack? Why have wolves been hunted (and villianized) for so long?
History:
Take an oral history from your own granny. What stories did her mother (your great grandma) tell as a little girl? Did she ever hear a version of Little Red Riding Hood? How did it go?
Music:
Sing this song about Carmine to the tune of “Mulberry Bush” or make up one of your own to another common tune.
Carmine is going to Granny’s house
Granny’s house
Granny’s house
Carmine is going to Granny’s house
Oh, please don’t dilly-dally!
Carmine stops to paint the poppies
paint the poppies
paint the poppies
Carmine stops to paint the poppies
on her way to Granny’s.
Rufus reckons there is a wolf
is a wolf
is a wolf
Rufus reckons there is a wolf
on the way to Granny’s.
The wolf makes trouble at Granny’s house
Granny’s house
Granny’s house
the wolf makes trouble at Granny’s house
and not a neighbor knows it.
Carmine’s been told a zillion times
zillion times
zillion times
Carmine’s been told a zillion times
not to dilly dally.
Carmine makes a promise to keep
a promise to keep
a promise to keep
Carmine makes a promise to keep
not to dilly-dally!
This guide created by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer, a reading specialist and author of the poetry book: Sketches from a Spy Tree. Visit her site and find dozens of other guides to children’s literature.
Compare these Little Red Riding Hood stories and fill in the chart:
The setting is… | Describe Little Red Riding | What happens to Granny is… | In the end, the wolf… | Granny is saved by…. | Different from a tradition story… | |
Carmine A Little More Red By Melissa Sweet | ||||||
Ruby by Michael Emberley | ||||||
Lon Po Po By Ed Young | ||||||
Bridget and the Gray Wolves By Pija Lindenbaum | ||||||
No Dinner! By Jessicaa Souhami | ||||||
Any traditional retelling Title: |
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