Spotlight Friday - Little Fox in the Forest and other wordless picture books 3.10.17

Time to get ready for the weekend!

Kick up your feet and find a good place to read.

Sharing #booklove for your classroom or library.

Spotlighting a book or two because these books deserve the spotlight!

I love the power of a wordless picture book.  It opens up so many possibilities for all readers.  

I have a new favorite wordless picture book....

Little Fox in the Forest

by Stephanie Graegin

published by Schwartz & Wade Books

I find this book so interesting to read and talk about with other readers.  As I read the book I couldn't help myself from saying "awwwww" over and over.  I immediately passed it along to the other teachers that work in my department.  After reading it, it was interesting to hear reactions to the ending.  Some liked the conclusion, others were hoping for a different one.  I won't spoil the ending, you'll have to come back after reading it and let me know your thoughts. 

In the meantime, check out the many uses of this book.  It can be used in so many mentor text purposes!

• Don't miss the end pages - look at the books on the bookshelf.  What can you tell about a character by looking at the books on their bookshelves?
• What does the author do to create the mood or feeling within a wordless picture book?  
• Along with that, note how the author uses color as the characters move between fantasy/reality.

Reading moves:

• By looking at the illustrations, what do we know about the main character? (she takes care of her belongings, is giving, has good friendships, is loyal, imaginative...)
• Find the turning point of the story
• Thinking about point of view - look at the story from one of the other characters (human or animal!), how does the story look from their perspective?
• Pick a theme, show the evidence (friendship, helping one another, being selfless, wanting what someone else has and how they go about it, imagination vs. reality....)

I hope this book finds a way into your classroom or library!  And don't forget to let me know your thoughts of how it ended!

Here are some more of my recent favorite wordless picture books:


Bee & Me
by Alison Jay


Skunk on a String
by Thao Lam


Mirror
by Jeannie Baker


Spot, the Cat
by Henry Cole


Wolf in the Snow
by Matthew Cordell