Wild About Books
on Goodreads (4,867)
What’s inside...
It started the summer of 2002, when the Springfield librarian, Molly McGrew, by mistake drove her bookmobile into the zoo. In this rollicking rhymed story, Molly introduces birds and beasts to this new something called reading. She finds the perfect book for every animal--tall books for giraffes, tiny ones for crickets. 'She even found waterproof books for the otter, who never went swimming without Harry Potter.' In no time at all, Molly has them 'forsaking their niches, their nests, and their nooks,' going 'wild, simply wild, about wonderful books.' Judy Sierra's funny animal tale coupled with Marc Brown's lush, fanciful paintings will have the same effect on young Homo sapiens. Altogether, it's more fun than a barrel of monkeys! OVER HALF A MILLION COPIES SOLD! Winner of the E.B. White Read Aloud Award
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
2-7
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Why do you think the animals in the zoo were so excited about the books?
Which animal's book choice surprised you the most, and why?
How do you think reading books changed the animals’ day-to-day life in the zoo?
If you could pick a book for one of the animals, which animal and book would you choose and why?
What did you learn about the importance of reading from this story?
Tip: Role play these questions
Before starting the book, ask your child what their favorite animal is and what kind of book they think that animal would enjoy.
Use different voices for different animals while reading to make the story more engaging and to help differentiate the characters for your child.
After reading, encourage your child to draw a picture of their favorite scene or create a zoo map showing where each animal might like to read in the zoo.
Discuss the rhymes and rhythms in the book with your child, and maybe come up with your own silly rhymes about books or animals together.
Connect the story to your child’s experiences by discussing any times they felt excited about reading or discovering a new book, just like the animals did.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The Joy of Reading
Explanation: In 'Wild About Books,' animals discover a library and experience the excitement of choosing books. The story demonstrates how engaging reading can be.
Real-World Application: Children learn to appreciate books and develop a habit of reading regularly, which can enhance their literacy skills and academic performance.
Example Lesson: Respecting Differences
Explanation: The varied interests of the animals in the book showcase how each character has unique preferences, mirroring the diversity of readers.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to understand and respect individual differences among their peers, promoting a more inclusive environment.
Example Lesson: The Power of Curiosity
Explanation: The animals' eagerness to learn more about books fuels their curiosity throughout the story.
Real-World Application: Children are reminded of the importance of being curious, exploring new topics, and discovering new interests, which can lead to lifelong learning.
Example Lesson: Sharing Knowledge
Explanation: As the animals share books with each other, they also share knowledge and stories.
Real-World Application: This lesson highlights the value of sharing information with others, which can help foster community bonds and collaborative learning.