Summary: A simple, graceful text and illustrations infused with warmth and love make this story of a day a boy and his dad spend together a special reading experience. Young boys and their fathers will relish this book that celebrates the ordinary things dads and kids can do together. Full color. Kevin feels excitement, pride, pleasure, and love as he spends an entire day working and playing with his father.
Motivational Activities: Write the heading How We Have Grown on chart paper attached to an easel. Read the heading aloud to the class and invite students to list the grown-up things they can now do. As you write each student's activity on the chart paper, say the words slowly, stretching out the sounds, so that students can help you spell the words. If possible, have students write letters or parts of words they know.
When all students have contributed to the list, review it by having the class read it aloud. Point out initial consonants, various letter patterns, and other concepts of print to help students connect with the text.
Provide small squares of construction paper and ask each child to draw a picture of an activity on his or her square. Glue these around the list to illustrate how the class has grown
Discussion Questions:
• Why do you think the dog is on this cover?
• Whose dog do you think it is?
• What do you think the dog might have to do with this story?
Personal Comments:While Mom's away one Saturday, Kevin and his dad spend a companionable day together. First, they clean the house, then they have a little batting practice in the park, and, finally, the guys enjoy an action movie followed by a snack and a walk home. The simple language and unobtrusive rhyme of the text is well matched by the soft, realistic illustrations in oils, which show an African-American father and son quietly savoring their time together. Good humor-and a bit of lighthearted silliness that transforms ordinary chores into something special and enjoyable-is shown in such recognizable bits of action as using a feather duster on the nose of their golden retriever, who manages to involve himself in every activity. Soft, sunny tones and large areas of color, applied thinly enough to show the texture of the canvas, convey the action, yet allow readers to focus on the affectionate interaction between father and son rather than only on the tasks being performed. With its easy, rhythmic language and readily recognizable activities, this is a good choice for storytime. And, of course, young dog lovers will follow everything that the golden retriever does.
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