My Pet Zoo (A Predictable Word Book)
Dominie Readers Series
What’s inside...
Dominie Readers are captivating books for K-2 children that combine delightful rhymes, humorous stories, exciting plot lines, and beautiful illustrations to promote early reading success. These books feature uncomplicated text, bright illustrations, and language repetition to reinforce fundamental reading skills. With engaging characters and storylines, the books offer a good mix of humor and rich vocabulary development, appropriate for young readers. They are excellent for small group and independent reading, as well as whole-class instruction, supporting key skills in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and text comprehension as highlighted in the Reading First initiative. The series includes a story about a group of animals who each volunteer to be a young elephant's pet.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-6
Length
21 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What was your favorite animal in the zoo and why?
How do you think each animal feels living in the zoo?
If you could create your own zoo, what animals would you choose and where would they live?
How do the predictable words in the book help you guess what comes next?
What do you think are the most important things we can do to take care of animals in a zoo?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about each animal by relating it to their own experiences. Use the predictable pattern of the text to help your child anticipate and read along, boosting their confidence and reading skills. Discuss the responsibilities involved in caring for animals, reinforcing empathy and stewardship. Consider visiting a local zoo or watching a documentary about zoos to deepen your child’s understanding and connection to the topic. Always validate your child’s feelings and thoughts, and encourage them to ask questions and make connections throughout the story.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Children learn about responsibility through the care and attention the characters provide to their zoo animals.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply this lesson by taking care of their own pets or helping with chores at home.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: The book fosters empathy by showing the importance of understanding and catering to the needs of each zoo animal.
Real-World Application: Children can use this understanding to be more considerate and understanding towards the feelings and needs of others.
Example Lesson: Learning about Animals
Explanation: This book provides educational content about different animals, their habitats, and behaviors in a fun and engaging way.
Real-World Application: Kids can expand their knowledge and curiosity about wildlife and nature during family visits to zoos or nature reserves.
Example Lesson: Word Recognition
Explanation: By using a predictable word pattern, the book helps children in early literacy stages to recognize and predict words.
Real-World Application: This skill helps in improving reading fluency and confidence, aiding them in their academic journey.