Classroom Activities
I will use the following picture books, in no particular order, to teach the students about a character, one of the people or animals in a story; setting, the time and place in which a story occurs; plot, the action that makes up the story, following a plan called the plot line (problem, a conflict or dilemma facing the character(s)); solution, the outcome of a problem; conflict, a problem or struggle between two opposing forces in a story. A brief description of each book and its main characters will be given as well as identification of the illustrator.
Picture Books That are Valuable Resources
Charlotte's Web, 1952:
Author: E. B. White
Illustrator: Garth Williams
Main Characters and plot: Fern, the farmer's daughter who rescues Wilbur the runt pig from the being killed by her father. After she feeds him and he gains weight, she sells Wilbur to her uncle, Mr. Zuckerman, but she visits him everyday. Fern's uncle plans to take him to be slaughtered; Charlotte, a spider who has befriended Wilbur, works miracles with her web messages and saves his life. Charlotte dies after laying many eggs and Wilbur keeps his promise to her to look after her offspring. The conflict of the book is person-versus-society, as Fern saves Wilber from being killed, which is what happens to pigs on a farm.
The Jungle Book, 1894
Author: Rudyard Kipling
Illustrator: John Lockwood Kipling
Main Characters and plot: Mowgli is a human boy who is raised in the jungles of India with the help of Baloo, the bear and Bagheera, the panther, who fight the tiger, Shere Khan, to save the boy. The book, with its moral tone, is used by the Boy Scouts as a motivational book. The conflict in this book is person-versus-nature. Mowgli is pursued by the tiger.
Stuart Little, 1945
Author: E. B. White
Illustrator: Garth Williams
Main Characters and plot: Stuart Little is the second child born to the family of Frederick C. Little, and he appears to be no bigger than a mouse, just two inches high; he has the features of a mouse, so he must be a mouse. The family cat, Snowbell, does not like him. In spite of his small size, Stuart gets around fairly well and has many adventures. The conflict is this story is person-versus-himself, because Stuart struggles between his feeling of family responsibility and his longing for adventure.
The Wizard of Oz, 1900(The book has been in the public domain since 1956)
Author: L. Frank Baum
Illustrator: W.W. Dens low
Publisher: George M. Hill
Main Characters and plot: Dorothy and Toto, her dog, lived in Kansas, but were swept away during a great storm and ended up in the Land of Oz. Along the way she meets the Scarecrow who wants brains, the Tin Man who wants a heart, and the Cowardly Lion who wants courage. Dorothy meets many creatures along the way, including good witches and bad witches whom she destroys. Dorothy's wish is to return to her aunt and uncle in Kansas. The conflict in this story is person-versus-society. Dorothy has to overcome the forces of evil to get back to Kansas.
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears, 1975
Author: Verna Aarderna
Illustrator: Leo and Diane Dillon
The main characters are talking animals in a forest in West Africa. They are discussing why mosquitoes buzz in people's ears. The conflict would be person-versus-nature. It is a person whose ear the mosquitoes buzz in.
One Hundred and One Dalmatians (101 Dalmatians), 1961
Author: Dodie Smith
Illustrator: Ronald Kidd
Main Characters and Plot: Roger and Anita marry, and so do their dogs, Pongo and Perdita (Dalmatians), which and have 15 puppies. A friend of Anita's, Cruella De Vil, wants to buy the puppies so she can make herself a coat from the puppies' fur. Anita refuses to sell the puppies so Cruella hires two henchmen to steal them. Pongo and Perdita, with the help of their animal friends, must rescue them. They succeed and also free other animals captured by Cruella De Vil. The conflict is person-versus-nature. It really should be nature-against-person, since the animals (nature) are the protagonists and person is the antagonist.
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