Teaching with … introduce this popular author/illustrator with great language-arts activities and our exclusive mini-poster

Instructor, Nov-Dec, 2004 by Liza Charlesworth

ACTIVITIES

Hair-Power Bulletin Board: Read aloud Todd's super-silly book, This Is My Hair. Kids will surely giggle at this kooky tale that includes the lines "This is my hair at a rock concert" and "This is my hair with spaghetti and meatballs." Next, pass out speech-balloon shapes and invite children to alter the sentence in any way they choose. (For example, a child might write, "This is Megan's hair with macaroni.") They can then use yarn, pasta, beads, and other art supplies to illustrate their statements with whimsical hairdos on paper-plate faces. Celebrate your diversity on a colorful bulletin board titled "This Is Our Hair."

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Favorite-Books Graph: Over the course of a week or more, share several Todd Parr stories with your students. What words would kids use to describe his distinctive style? Make a list. When your unit is complete, invite students to vote on their very favorite title. Then, boost numeracy by displaying the results in the form of a cheery bar graph.

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Otto-the-Dog Big Book: One of Todd's most memorable characters is loveable Otto the Dog. In each story about Otto, our canine hero has a kid-friendly adventure, such as going to camp, going to the beach, or simply going to bed. Share a few of Otto's tales, then work together to collaboratively write an original Otto story--complete with student-drawn illustrations--to add to your big-book library. Ideas include Otto Goes to Gym Class and Otto Goes on a Field Trip.

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Todd Parr/Keith Haring Comparisons: Todd considers the upbeat, primitive images of pop-artist Keith Haring a primary influence on his own work. Expose kids to Keith's amazing art--and build classifying skills--with this engaging activity. Borrow a compendium of Keith's paintings from the library (or download pictures from the Web) and share these with students. Then create a Venn diagram, labeling one circle "Todd's Art," one circle "Keith's Art," and the overlapping circles "Todd and Keith's Art." Invite students to brainstorm attributes that belong in each section. How is the work of these two artists alike? How is it different?

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About Todd:

Todd Parr's eye-popping, primary-color, feel-good picture books will bring smiles to everyone's face. A former flight attendant, Todd was determined to become an illustrator. Today he has more than 20 joyful titles to his credit--each featuring a rainbow of quirky characters and the messages that it's okay to be different and definitely okay to believe in yourself.

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Todd's lively Web site, www.toddparr.com, is easy for young students to explore all by themselves. Children can click on "Todd" to read a list of the author's favorite things, from sea lions to macaroni, and on "Fun" to download cool coloring pages and to send Todd an e-mail!

Using the Mini-Poster:

* Post the mini-poster on a bulletin board with kids' drawings or stories surrounding it.

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* Slip it into a plastic sleeve and display it along with students' favorite Todd Parr titles.

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

* Build a collection. Post with last month's Kevin Henkes mini-poster. Next issue: Barbara Park!