Synopsis
Professor Wormbog collects Beasties. He has a wall of pictures which is found on the second and third page of the story. On this wall is an illustrated picture of every beast he has found from A to Y. However, he has yet to find Zipperump-a-Zoo. The short story chronicles his search for the missing Zipperump-a-Zoo. He knows what it looks like, but he has not found one yet.

Activity
- Before reading the book, I cover any illustrations of the Zipperump-a-Zoo so the children do not see Mayer’s depiction. After reading the story, I have the students draw their version of the Zipperump-a-Zoo. As with all of Mayer’s books, the pictures are large, bright and vibrant. The children’s work embodies the 4 Bs of my art program: big, bright, bold and background. When their creative ideas are well developed then I share the actual Zipperump-a-Zoo.

- Students can design a Zipperump-a-Zoo trap to catch it alive.

- At the beginning of the book is the beasties’ wall with one beasties for every letter of the alphabet. Have the students build their own class alphabet wall of beasties. Each student can take a letter of the alphabet and design a new beastie with a new name. Habitat profiles could be written for each beastie.

- Linda Miller

There’s an Alligator Under My Bed
There’s Something in My Attic
There’s a Nightmare in My Closet
by Mercer Mayer

Synopsis
These delightful books, tell the stories of a little boy who has an alligator living under his bed; of a little girl who has a nightmare living in her attic, and a little boy who has a nightmare living in his closet. In each book, the parents do not believe their child and the child faces their monster and comes out victorious.

Activity
- Students can share things they fear now and in the past. Discuss strategies to handle fear. Discuss ways that fear can be helpful. Compare adult and children’s fear.
- Illustrate the something in the attic and the closet before sharing Mayer’s depictions.
- Write the next story evolving from each book, "There’s an Alligator in My Garage" "Another Day with the Monster in My Attic", etc.
- Design other ways to capture or get rid of these creatures.
- Students write and publish their own storybook, "There’s a *** in My ***"

- Linda Miller

Sometimes I Feel Like a Mouse
by Jeanne Modesitt Published by: Scholastic ISBN: 0-590-44836-6

Synopsis
This is a wonderful picture book about feelings. Each page follows the same pattern "Sometimes I feel like a (animal) (verb describing animal action) (adjective describing feeling)." An example is "Sometimes I feel like an elephant, stomping, bold". Each adjective is in a colour that corresponds with the feeling. For example, the "bold" for the elephant is in a brilliant purple. The illustrations are wonderful examples of colour expressing feeling, showing the main character interacting with the animal that represents the emotion. This book opens a door to many mini studies that will help you integrate your writing, grammar, computer and art lessons.

Introducing the Book
Begin by reading the book to the class. Re-read it several times, each time drawing the student’s attention to different aspects of the book. Discuss what kinds of words are being used, the colours, the painting technique, etc. Brainstorm several examples that the students create. Work together to find the best adjectives and verbs to go with certain animals.

Activity - "Creating Personal Passages"
After creating several examples together, turn the students loose to create their own ideas. Have them write several on rough paper and share them with friends to find their best one. Have students type their selection in WordPerfect, being sure to have them put the last word (the feeling) in a colour that best represents the feeling. Print each student’s work with a colour printer.

Activity - "Class Book Making in Art"
Next, revisit the story paying close attention to the illustrations. Discuss what kind of painting technique is being used (blending colours with water together) and which colours represent which feelings (e.g. red for anger, yellow for happiness, blue and black for sadness). Create a list together. Have students paint their own picture that goes with their personal passage. Add the typed passages to the illustrations and create a class book.

Activity - "Personal Book Making"
Have students go back to their page of examples and begin to compile their own ideas for a personal book of feelings. This book-making activity could take several days while they paint or colour many illustrations for their books.

Extension "Moving Beyond Animals"
Soon after my students began brainstorming their own ideas, they came up with some that went beyond animals to represent their emotions. For example, one student wrote "Sometimes I feel like a hand, writing, tired." Another had "Sometimes I feel like a brain, thinking, excited." As an extension, your class could choose a different topic and create more books. An example might include incorporating this activity with your weather unit - "Sometimes I feel like a cumulus cloud, floating, calm." or "Sometimes I feel like a storm front, rumbling, mad." The extensions are endless! Have fun!

- Shayni Tokarczyk

Wanted!

A really fun activity to do with any novel study is to complete a Wanted! poster for one of the characters. I have a template that I use all the time. Students refer to the text to gather information about ...   - the last known address of the character - a physical description of the character - special things you should know about the character - other important information - who to contact if the character is seen

A picture of the character is then added. The kids get very creative with these and the more we do it, the better they get! For fun, have your kids try Templeton from Charlotte's Web or Searchlight from Stone Fox (see sample). This is also a neat activity to do with picture books for younger students. Another extension is to have your students do a Wanted poster for a character from their own story writing. This is a great way to get them thinking about including detail in their writing!

- Shayni Tokarczyk