CHRIS VAN DUSEN S

Three Fun-loving Picture Books

A Candlewick Press Teachers Guide for

Illustration copyright 2012 by Chris Van Dusen

CHRIS VAN DUSEN

Loaded with visual humor, dizzying perspectives, perfect pacing, and rollicking rhyme, Chris Van Dusens three fun-loving picture books beg to be used in the classroom. Here are some ideas for how you can share them with your students.

Candlewick Press Teachers Guide

Randy Rileys Really Big Hit

RandyRileylovestwothings:scienceandbaseball.While Randymaybeageniuswhenitcomestothesolarsystem, hestrikesoutonthebaseballdiamond.Butwhenhesees somethingshockingthroughhisSpaceBoytelescope,he summonsallhissciencesmartsanddevisesaplanthatwill savethedayinaspectacularway.

Discussion Questions
1. henRandytriestowarnhisparentsoftheimpending W doomhesees,theydontlistentohim.Doyoueverfeel likenooneislisteningtoyou?Insteadofarguingwithhis parents,whatdoesRandydo? 2. andyenjoysbaseball,butheisntverygoodatit.Doyou R thinkRandyshouldhavegivenupplayingbaseballbecause hewasnteverabletohittheball?Whyorwhynot? 3. owisRandyabletocombinehistwofavoritethingsin H ordertohelpsavethetown?
HC: 978 - 0 -7636 - 4946 -3

A Ride on Mars
Randylovesouterspaceandthinksitwouldbegreattoridea bikeonMars.Challengeyourstudentstoacreative-writing exercisebyaskingthemwhattheythinkitmightbeliketoride abikeonMars.Youngerchildrenmaywishtodrawapicture toaccompanytheirstory,whileolderchildrenmaypreferto researchtheconditionsonMarstomaketheirstorymore realistic.FeelfreetoguidetheclassbysharingfactsaboutMars thatwouldaidstudentsintheirwriting.

From Stargazing to Constellations

Randyknowsabouttheplanets,rocketships,andconstellations andlikestolookthroughhistelescope.Startaclassdiscussion aboutgroupsofstarsthatformconstellations.Explainthat peoplelongagonamedtheseclustersbecausetheythoughtthe starpatternslookedlikevariousobjects,animals,orpeople. Trytofindvisualexamplestoshowtheclass,showingsuch constellationsastheBigDipperorOrion.Forhomework, havestudentslookforconstellationsinthenightsky.Askthem torecordwhattheysee.Discussthefindingsasaclass.Then distributeblackconstructionpapertoeachstudent.Provide themwithitemssuchasbuttons,sequins,orjustawhitepiece ofchalkandinvitethemtocreatetheirownconstellation.Ask themtonametheirconstellationandwriteafewsentences aboutit.

A Shapely Robot
Randybuildsarobottobattlethefireballthatthreatensthe town.Havestudentscreatetheirownrobotusingvarious householditems(suchastissueboxes,paper-towelrolls,juice lids,andsoon).Challengethemtouseitemsofmanydifferent shapes(square,rectangle,cylinder,oval,andsoon).Have themwriteadescriptionofhowtheymadetheirrobotandwhat materialstheyusedforeachshape.Invitethemtonametheir robotanddiscussitsattributes.

Randys Big League

OneofRandysfavoritepastimesisbaseball.Whynothavethe classcreatetheirownoversizebaseballcards,usingthemselves astheplayers?Invitechildrentobringinaphotographof themselves.Handoutsheetsofwhitepaper,andhavestudents glueortapetheirphotoatthetop.Thenhavethemfillinthe bottomportionofeachcardwiththeirnameandvariousstats, suchasheight,hometown,school,age,andfavoritesportor hobby.UsethecardstocreateabulletinboardcalledMajorLeagueReaders.
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Chris Van Dusens Teachers Guide

Candlewick Press

Hugoisatinykingwithaverylargeego.Butwhenhemistreats avillagerwhoalsohappenstobeasorceress,thespellshecasts causeshisheadtoliterallyswell.Afteravaluablelessonislearned, Hugoandthesorceressenduplivinghappilyeverafter.

Discussion Questions
1. skstudentsiftheyknowwhatthewordegomeans.Youmay A helpdefineitbyexplainingthatanegocentricpersonis someonewhoisinterestedonlyinhim-orherselfandthat someonewithahugeegoisusuallyboastfulandconceited. 2. sbraggingeveracceptable?Doesanyonelikeapersonwho I constantlybragsabouthimself? 3. hatistheoppositeofbragging?Isitpossibletobeahero W andalsobehumbleandmodest?Canyouthinkofsomereallifeexamplesofpeoplewhofitthatdescription?

HC: 978 - 0 -7636 -5004 -9

Lesson Learned
AfterstudentshavereadKing Hugos Huge Ego,explainthatsome storiesimpartamessage,calledamoral.(TheBoyWhoCried Wolfisagoodexample.)Askthechildreniftheythinkthere isalessontobelearnedfromKing Hugos Huge Egoandifso, whatitmightbe.Responsesmayincludedontbesofullof yourselfordontmistreatpeople.Invitestudentstocomeup withamoralthattheywouldliketosharewiththeclass.Then challengethemtowriteamini-storytoconveytheirmessage.

Valuable Vocabulary
AuthorChrisVanDusenoftenusesavarietyofwordsthatare similarinmeaningsuchasspout/spit/sputter, bobbed/dipped,and toppled/tumbled.Discusswhyhemightusesimilarwordsinthis way.Introduceyourclasstotheconceptofsynonymsandthe purposeofathesaurus.Drawacircleontheboardandwrite thewordegotisticalinside.ThenrereadKing Hugos Huge Egowith theclass.Challengechildrentolistenforwordsthatmeanthe samethingasegotistical.Writedownthewordsastheycallthem out.Then,whenyourefinishedreading,reviewthewords suggested;somemayneedtobedefinedordisputed. Challengestudentstothinkofawordandcomeupwith synonymsforit.Youcouldalsoexpandtheactivitytoinclude antonyms.

Story Structure
Holdaclassdiscussionaboutstorystructure.Explainthat storiesarepeopledbycharactersandthatmoststoriesfeature aproblem,asolution,andfinallyaconclusionorresolution. Usesomewell-knownfairytalesasexamples.Createafivecolumnedchartdisplayingthetitle,characters,problem(s), solution(s),andresolutionforeachtale.Thendistributesheets ofpaperandaskstudentstocreatetheirownchartforKing Hugos Huge Ego,identifyingthestoryscharacters,problems,solutions, andresolution.

Humble Hugo
Whenthehuge-headedHugomeetsupwiththesorceressa secondtime,shetweakshisears,whichcausesanexplosionof allthehaughtythingshehaseversaid.Hisheadthendeflates likeagiantpinkballoon.Playaversionofhotpotatowith yourclass,usingapinkballoon.Blowuptheballoonand decorateitwithpermanentmarkertolooklikeKingHugo. Havestudentssitinacircleandinstructthemtopassthe balloontothepersonontheirrightandgivethatpersona compliment.Oncethegameisinprogress,youmaysuggest thatkidsswitchthingsupbyreversingdirections,orbyhumbly statinggoodqualitiesoftheirown(forexample,Ihelpmy momdothedishes).

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Illustration copyright 2011 by Chris Van Dusen

The Circus Ship

WhenacircusshiprunsagroundoffthecoastofMaine,the circusanimalsstaggertotheshoreofanearbyisland.Theysoon winoverthewarytownspeoplewiththeirkindandcourageous ways.Sowhenthegreedycircusownerreturnstoreclaimthem, thevillagersconspiretooutsmarthim.

Discussion Questions
Before Reading: 1.Howmanyofyouhaveeverbeentoacircus? 2. asedonthecoverofthisbook,canyoupredictwhatit B maybeabout? After Reading: 1. iscusswhosepredictionwasclosesttotheactualstory. D Diditsurpriseyoutofindoutthattheboatsankandthat theanimalshadtoswimtoshore? 2. hydidthetigerjumpintotheblazingfiretorescue W EmmaRose? 3. oyouthinkMr.Paineshouldhavebeenallowedtotake D hiscircusanimalsback?(Afterall,theydidbelongtohim.) Whyorwhynot? 4. othBostonandMainearerealplaces,sodoyouthink B thisisatruestory?
HC: 978 - 0 -7636 -3090 - 4 Big Book: 978 - 0 -7636 -5593 - 8

In the Center Ring

The Circus Shipfeaturesavarietyofanimals.Askstudentswhichof theanimalsfeaturedmightactuallybeseeninacircus.Then invitethemtoplaycircusbyusingtheanimalsfromthestory. Designatethecenteroftheroomasthecenterring,andplay thepartofringmasterbyintroducingeachanimaltothe center.Veryyoungchildrenmaywishtoactliketheanimalof choice,makinganimalsoundsandwalkingliketheiranimal whileparadingintothecenterring.Olderstudentsmayprefer toteamuptoresearchanimalfactstosharewiththerestofthe classwhilestandinginthecenterring. YoucouldalsoturnthisactivityintoagameofWhoAmI?by havingstudentsoffercluestotheiridentity.Somesuggestions: I am the tallest animal (giraffe). I am the largest land animal (elephant). I have stripes (zebra). I am the tallest bird, but I cannot fly (ostrich).

Fact? Fiction? Or Both?

ReadaloudtheauthorsnoteattheendofThe Circus Ship.The childrenmightbesurprisedtolearnthattherereallywasa shipcarryingcircusanimalsthatsankoffthecoastofMaine. Discusshowabookcanbebasedonarealeventyetstillbea workoffictionatypeofbookthatiscalledhistoricalfiction. Askstudentswhattheythinkwasrealandwhatwasmade uptocreateanentertainingstory.Ifpossible,researchthe actualshipwreckoftheRoyal Taranddiscusswiththeclassthe similaritiesanddifferencesbetweentherealeventsandChris VanDusensstory.

The Amazing, the Stupendous, the Greatest

Explaintostudentsthatindaysofold,thecircuswasamain formofentertainment.TherewerenotelevisionsorInternet, sotheonlywaytoadvertisethearrivalofacircuswaswith postersthatweredesignedtocreateexcitementaboutthecircus actsandvariousattractions.Havestudentscreateaposter promotingaspecialcircusperformanceoranimaltrick. Challengethemtouseadjectivesandlivelydescriptionsaimed atattractingpeopletotheshow.

Animated Alliteration
InbothThe Circus ShipandKing Hugos Huge Ego,ChrisVanDusen usesalliterationtoenhancethestory.Explainthatalliteration istherepetitionofsoundsinneighboringwordsusuallythe beginningconsonantsound.ShowexamplesfromThe Circus Ship (suchasDottie DaileyandFannie Feeney)andfromKing Hugos Huge Ego(suchasmighty and magnificent, gleaming gold,androbes of ruby red). Challengestudentstousealliterationbyputtingtheirname togetherwithadescriptivewordorwords.(suchas:Brainy BrianorJumpingJillian.)

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Play the Rhyme-Time Game!

AllthreeofChrisVanDusensbooksdiscussedhereuserhyme.Pointoutsomeexamplestoyourclass.Then dividetheclassintotwoteamsandhavetheteamstaketurnstoseewhocancomeupwiththemostrhymes. Givethefirstteamawordandhaveeachplayerontheteamthinkofanotherwordthatrhymeswithit.For everyword,theteamgetsapoint.Whenaplayercantthinkofarhymingword,theotherteamgetsaturn withadifferentword.Attheendofadesignatednumberofrounds,theteamwiththemostpointswins.

Can You Find the Rhyme?

Firstsolvethesemathproblems.Undereachanswerisaletter.Writethe lettersinthematchingnumberedspacesbelowtorevealarhyme.

3+ 2 = A 5+ 9 = K 16 10 = N

20 10 = B 10 2 = L 4 +3= M

7+2= I 64= O 7+4= P !

2 14

10 2

2 14

About Chris Van Dusen

Inadditiontobeingtheauthor-illustratorofRandy Rileys Really Big Hit, King Hugos Huge Ego,and The Circus Ship,ChrisVanDusenistheillustratorofthebest-sellingMercyWatsonbooksby KateDiCamillo.Ofthehumorinhisbooks,hesays,Ivealwaysenjoyedagoodjoke,andI wasabitofaclassclownallthroughschool.Ivetriedtodoseriousillustrations,butmystuff alwaysendsuplookingkindoffunny.SoItrytoputhumorinmybooks,whetheritsthrough wordsorfunnylittledetailsintheart.Whodoesntlovetodiscoverhiddenjokesinthe pictures?ChrisVanDusenliveswithhisfamilyinMaine.

TeachersguidewrittenbyKarenCardillo.
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Illustration copyright 2012 by Chris Van Dusen