We Are in a Book!

 Willems, M. (2010). We Are in a Book!. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. Grades: Pre-K-1
Written by: Mo Willems
Awards: Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Reading/importance of re-reading
Subject Area: Language Arts

Summary: Gerald the Elephant and Piggie the Pig realize that they are in a book and that readers are reading them! They also realize that they can make the reader say anything that they want them to say, like "banana." They think this is hilarious until they realize the book must, at some point, end, so they encourage readers to re-read the book after the book is over.


Initiating Questions and Activity:
Questions:

1. What animals do you see on the cover?
2. What is the Pig doing?
3. How does the elephant's face look?
4. Looking at the title, what do you think might happen in the story?

Activity:
Have the children sit with a partner. Have them whisper to each other what book they would like to be in. Why would they want to be in that book? What would they do if they were in a book? Then have the children share what book they would like to be in and why.

Extending Questions and Activity:

1. What made Gerald and Piggie laugh?
2. What type of words would you have a reader say that are appropriate?
3. What was your favorite part of the book?
4. Would you want to re-read the story?
5. What stories do you like to read over and over again?

Activity:
Have the children close their eye and imagine if they were in a story with Piggie and Gerald. What would they have a reader say? After discussing this with the class, have the complete this worksheet:
We Are in a Book Activity! (Page 12). Have them draw themselves with Gerald and Piggie on the worksheet, then when the whole class is finished make a class book to add to the class library.