Lesson Plans for Picture Books

Nova's Ark

Title: Nova's Ark
Author: David Kirk
Published: New York: Scholastic, 1999
Suitable for: (Age/Grade Level) 4-8 years, K-3
Length: 32pp.
Reading Level: 3, Interest Level 4-8 years
Genre: science fiction/humor
Plot:
Nova is a robot. He has a collection of wooden animals that have been passed down in his robot family for one thousand years. Nova dreams of flying in space like his father. His teacher says, "Exploration is in your wiring." Nova was looking at the controls of his dad's ship when he pulls the lever and takes off. He finally figures out how to control the ship. After four months he runs out of fuel and lands on a planet. He makes another robot dog to be a companion. Then he makes other animals that look like his collection of wooden animals. He even built a robot elephant to trumpet an S.O.S. Nova's dad comes to the rescue but his ship crashes. Nova's robot animals all offer a spare part to help rebuild his father. Nova gave his heart valve to his dad. Then they discover that the planet they have landed on is Zyte, and has crystals of unlimited energy. Nova and his dad come home as heros.
Characters:
Nova, the young robot explorer
Taspett, his father
Trumpet, the robot elephant
Use: Individual especially gifted readers
Discussion Questions:
Why did Nova take his fathers ship?
What was Novas most favorite possession?
What is Zyte and why is it important?
Do you think explorers have a lonely life? Why?
How did Nova save his father?
Related Activities:
The art in this book is made on a computer. Compare David Kirk's art to his brother's art in 'Hush Little Alien'.
Build some robot animals for your ark. You can use scrap materials.
Have a class discussion on where their parents work. Make a graph of how many have parents that travel a lot.
Related Works: Hush Little Alien
Censorship Issues: none

Worst Band In The Universe

Title: Worst Band In The Universe
Author: Graeme Base
Published: New York: Abrams, 1999
Suitable for: (Age/Grade Level) 4-8 years, K-3
Length: 32pp.
Reading Level: 3, Interest Level 4-8 years
Genre: science fiction/humor
Plot:
Sprocc, a space musician, wants to write his own music. The rule was everyone had to play the same song all the time. No one could change anything. Sprocc fights this tradition by entering the Worst Band in the Universe contest. The book has a CD of the author singing the song and playing the instruments.
Characters:
Sprocc a young Splingtwanger-player
Use: Individual especially gifted readers
Discussion Questions:
What planet does Sproc live on?
What was the only song he is allowed to play?
Related Activities:
Make your own instrument.
Make your own song.
Research music censorship.
Related Works: Hush Little Alien, Nova's Ark
Censorship Issues: none

The Robobots

Title: The Robobots
Author: Matt Novak
Published: New York: DK. Inc.
Suitable for: (Age/Grade Level) 4-8 years, K-3
Length: 32pp.
Reading Level: 2, Interest Level 4-8 years
Need Addressed: Differences
Genre: science fiction/humor
Plot:
The Robobots family is different than their neighbors. They are blue and talk to things such as mailboxes and fire hydrants. The people are a bit afraid of them. They would not hire D.A.D for a job or let M.O.M shop in the market. Widget and Toggel were not allowed in the school. Finally the neighbors came over to ask the Robobots to move. The Robobots showed them their flying furniture and their talking kitchen appliances. Soon the neighbors acted more friendly. The Robobots were happy even if they thought their neighbors were strange.
Characters:
M.O.M., the mother robot
D.A.D., the father robot
Widget, the boy robot
Toggel, the girl robot
Use: Large group discussions of how people discriminate, Individual.
Discussion Questions:
What is different about the Robobot family?
Why does D.A.D. think he can't get a job?
Why does M.O.M. think they won't let her in the market?
Why do Toggle and Widget think they can't go to school?
Why do the neighbors not like the Robobot family?
What changes the neighbors minds about the Robobot family?
Related Activities:
Draw an alien family and their house.
Make robots out of scrap paper, metal and other things.
How is your family different from your neighbors?
Related Works: Nova's Ark
Censorship Issues: none

Moon Dogs

Title: Moon Dogs
Author: Daniel Kirk
Published: New York: Putnam, 1999
Suitable for: (Age/Grade Level) 4-8 years, K-3
Length: 32pp.
Reading Level: 3, Interest Level 4-8 years
Need Addressed: Lonliness, Loyalty
Genre: science fiction/humor
Plot:
Willy Joe Jehosephat wants a pet, but not any pet -- a moon dog. He builds a space ship to fly to the moon. A starving Earth dog stows away on the ship. Willy feeds the dog because it is so thin. When the Man on the Moon grabs Willy, Scrappy bites him. The moon dogs tell Willy that he already has the perfect dog.
Characters:
Willy Joe Jehosephat
Scrappy, the dog
Use: Individual
Discussion Questions:
Why should Willy have a dog?
Does Dad beleive in moon dogs? How do you know?
What does Willy do with the dog that ate his food?
Which moon dog in the picture would you want? Why did you pick it?
What did the man on the moon say he would do with Willy?
How did Scrappy save Willy?
Related Activities:
Draw a picture of a moon dog.
Draw a picture of the man on the moon.
What creatures live on the moon. Check other cultures' stories about the moon.
Related Works: Hush Little Alien
Censorship Issues: none