Teaching with … Kevin Henkes: introduce or revisit this favorite author with great language-arts activities and an exclusive mini-poster

Instructor, Oct, 2004 by Liza Charlesworth

ACTIVITIES

Word Family Fun: Use Kevin's mice stories as a catalyst for studying the -ice word family (as in mice, dice, rice, etc.). To begin, write each -ice word on a pair of cardstock mouse shapes. (For a pattern, go to www.kevinhenkes.com/meet/fun.asp.) Then, invite kids to play concentration or a game of their own design. When everyone has had a turn, affix the mouse shapes to oaktag for a literacy-boosting -ice word wall.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The Mouse and Me: Over the course of a week or two, read several of Kevin's wonderful mouse tales. Then invite children to compare themselves to one of the characters by creating a mouse-shaped graphic organizer. On the left ear, kids write traits about themselves; on the right ear, kids write traits about the mouse; and, on the face, they write traits that they both share. (Tip: Non-proficient writers can dictate responses.) Display finished work on a bulletin board entitled "Mice Comparisons Are Very Nice!"

What's in a Name?: Chrysanthemum, a furry Henkes protagonist, gets teased because her name is so unusual and so long. Develop word-building skills by inviting children to write her name on a sentence strip, then cut apart the letters into separate squares. What words can they create from these 13 letters? Have students work in pairs to record each word. For an extra challenge, set a timer.

Chester's Way-Out Snack: In Chester's Way, Lilly awes Chester by showing him how to "build" a silly, face-shaped snack from bread, jam, strawberries, carrots, and Cheerios. First, draw a simple diagram of this snack on chart paper. Then, top off a reading of the tale by inviting kids to recreate Lilly's inspired snack from bowls of these ingredients. Isn't it scrumptious?

For More Activities: Pick up a copy of Teaching With Favorite Kevin Henkes Books, by Immacula A. Rhodes (Scholastic Professional Books, 2002).

About Kevin:

Believe it or not, this Wisconsin native found success at the tender age of 19. How? Portfolio in hand, he hopped on a plane bound for New York and knocked on the door of a top children's book editor. She loved what she saw and promptly bought his first picture book, All Alone. Before he knew it, Kevin had a rich body of work spanning picture books, kid's novels, and a line of beloved mouse tales starring Wemberly, Chrysanthemum, Chester, Wendell, the indomitable Lilly, and more. Yes, these mouse tales are simple, but so closely observed--and true to the lives of young children--that most kids will see pieces of themselves reflected in the furry, funny exploits.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Kevin Henkes' Web site (www.kevinhenkes.com) is simple enough for many kids to navigate on their own. Click on "Mouse Books," then "Fun and Games," to discover downloadable coloring pages, puppet patterns, word searches, and recipes--all courtesy of Lilly and her friends.

Using The Mini-Poster:

* Post the mini-poster as the centerpiece of a bulletin board with kids' work all around it.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

* Slip it into a plastic sleeve and display it for children to read along with their favorite Henkes books.

* Use the mini-poster as the cover of a class-made book about the author.

* Display it! Look for next month's collectable mini-poster on Todd Parr.