How to Teach a Slug to Read

Title: How to Teach a Slug to Read     
Author: Susan Pearson   
Illustrator: David Slonim  
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Children  
Publication Date: 2011   
Genre/Format: Fiction/Picture Book   
Summary: A little boy explains to his Mama slug friend how she can teach her little slug to read.  He gives step by step slug-friendly instructions!  
What I Think: The beginning of the school year for me is all about discussions of reading: what we're reading, where we read, how we read, how we choose books to read. I spend a lot of time getting to know my students and what they are into reading. Some of my students I have had in previous years but I still talk to them about what they want to read because their interest change from year to year.
I love the idea of getting kids thinking about their reading and reading habits so they are more aware of what good readers do and how they are examples of good readers. This book is so cute because it gives ideas for how to learn to read that I think students might not realize they will do or have done. Pearson does a great job of applying information all to slugs and their slug life. It reminded me of Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin. Before reading this book I might brainstorm what students know about slugs and have them list everything the know about slugs to help them make connections with the suggestions the boy gives the slugs in the book.
This book can be used as a great discussion starter for what helps students read or what makes a great read aloud. I'm going to ask students to tell me if they agree with the suggestions the boy gives in the book and if they have any other suggestions that make being read to great. This year, one of my main focuses is continuing to encourage parents to read to and with their children at home at any age. My students will make their top ten list of what they suggest their parents do when reading aloud to them. They'll illustrate and take them home to share with their parents. I'm excited to hear what they come up with! Maybe I'll get some read aloud ideas!
Read Together: Pre-K - 5
Read Alone: K - 3 
Read With: Miss Brooks Loves Books (And I Don't) by Barbara Bottner, Wild About Books by Judy Sierra,  How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills, The Read-Aloud Handbook: Sixth Edition by Jim Trelease, Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever by Mem Fox,  Diary of a Worm and others in the Diary series by Doreen Cronin, Hey, Little Ant by Phillip and Hannah Hoose, How to Potty Train Your Monster by Kelly Dipucchio
Snatch of Text: 

"9. Read your slug's favorite poems with him as many times as he wants. Read him other books too!

The Poky Little Slug

Slug for President

Slug and Snail Are Friends

The Snail in the Hat

Go Slug, Go!

...to where the wild slugs are." 

Reading Strategies to Practice: Activating Background Knowledge, Making Connections, Making Predictions 
Writing Strategies to Practice: Expository, Personal Narrative
Writing Prompts: Write your own list of suggestions to your parents for when they read to you or help you learn to read. Write about your favorite memory of reading with an adult or when you first learned to read.
Topics Covered: Reading, Family 
Translated to Spanish: No