I Spy With My Boxer Eye
on Goodreads (1)
What’s inside...
I Spy With My Boxer Eye is a poem that tells the story of a Boxer dog named Ginger as she explores various landscapes in Texas with her family. The family goes through life transitions including retirement, experiencing an empty nest, and their children moving, getting married, and having children of their own. The poem is accompanied by extraordinary illustrations that bring Ginger's adventures to life.
Age
3-12
Length
30 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the boxer dog might see next and why?
Can you describe how the boxer dog felt when it found something new?
Why do you think it’s important to pay attention to details around us, like the boxer dog does?
What was your favorite part of the adventure and why?
If you were the boxer dog, what would you like to spy next?
Tip: Role play these questions
Utilize a gentle and curious tone to encourage your child to think deeply about the story and its elements.
Relate the dog's adventures to your child's own experiences, asking them about times they've discovered or noticed something new.
Emphasize the importance of observation and detail by discussing the surroundings in the book and comparing them with your own environment.
After reading, encourage your child to play their own 'I Spy' game, either indoors or during a walk, to connect the theme of the book with real-world activities.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Observation Skills
Explanation: Through the playful 'I Spy' game depicted in the book, children learn to observe and identify various objects and animals around them.
Real-World Application: Enhances a child's ability to notice details and improves their focus in everyday environments like school or at the park.
Example Lesson: Patience
Explanation: As the characters in the story wait for their turn to play the game, it teaches children the importance of waiting patiently.
Real-World Application: Helps children develop patience while waiting their turn in games, in class, or even when having a conversation.
Example Lesson: Imagination
Explanation: The book encourages children to use their imagination as they guess what the boxer might be spying, based on clues.
Real-World Application: Fosters creativity as children use their imagination to picture scenes and objects in their minds, which is beneficial in both play and learning scenarios.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: The interaction among children playing the 'I Spy' game shows the value of teamwork as they work together to solve the riddles.
Real-World Application: Promotes collaborative skills that are essential in group tasks at school or in extracurricular activities.
Example Lesson: Language Skills
Explanation: Descriptive language and rhyming clues throughout the book enhance vocabulary and phonetic skills.
Real-World Application: Improves children’s verbal skills and aids in language development, critical for effective communication and reading proficiency.