Children's Book Express
Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly
by Alan Madison and Kevin Hawkes
Summary
Lesson Plan Ideas:
It's hard to be Velma entering first grade. That's because everyone has marvelous memories of her two older sisters, who were practically perfect first graders, and no one even notices Velma. But all that changes on a class trip to the butterfly conservatory, a place neither of her sisters has been. When a monarch roosts on Velma's finger and won't budge for days—no one will ever forget it . . . or her!
Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature)
When Velma Gratch enters first grade, all the teachers have marvelous memories of her two practically perfect older sisters. Poor Velma struggles to find a subject in which to excel. A visit to the Butterfly Conservatory with her classmates becomes a field trip neither Velma nor her classmates will forget and is the vehicle which Velma needs to prove she is way cool. As she walks through the exhibit, the timid girl desperately want a butterfly to touch her and she holds her breath as one gentle monarch lands on her finger. There it stays on the bus ride home, all the next day in school, even through ballet and soccer. Velma proudly parades her butterfly to the park with the whole class and principal following to release the monarch for its long trek to Mexico. Velma has done something as marvelous as her sisters. This celebration of one child overcoming her timidity and undergoing her own metamorphosis is nicely balanced with butterfly information from metamorphosis to migration. It does take a stretch of imagination to believe the butterfly would stay of Velma s fingers for several days but her joy is so infectious it is easy to cheer her on. The bright, energetic illustrations move the story along. You cannot help but like Velma; she is way cool. 2008, Schwartz & Wade, $16.99. Ages 5 to 9.
(PUBLISHER: Schwartz & Wade Books (New York:), PUBLISHED: 2007.)
Review
Book Talk
Audiobook Excerpt
This lesson guide includes pre-reading activities, a song to promote music and movement, a crossword, and online resources to butterfly information. It even includes tools to incorperate poetry and dramatic play into the lesson as well as other subject areas.
Citations: Summary from Google Books, Review from CLCD, Lesson Plan from Teachingbooks.net
Audiobook Excerpt: http://readinginaction.org/bookcast/velma-gratch-and-way-cool-butterfly