.jpg) |
| Narrative Fantasy |
The exciting storyline continues with Stellaluna acting like a bird to survive along with the baby birds attempting to act like Stellaluna as well!
The adventures continue throughout the book and it concludes with Mother Bat seeing a bat hanging by its thumbs, rather than upside down, like all bats do! Stellaluna tells her story about an owl attacking her and Mother Bat is most interested, smells her fur and realizes she has found her lost baby! The ending is very touching with lovely words about friendship and being "different and the same" in many ways, but still able to be great friends. The beautiful illustration below shows Stellaluna and her friends perched in the tree just how they are "supposed" to rest!!
This is an outstanding narrative fantasy book with very organized thoughts which will be enjoyed by children ranging from preschool to the early primary grades. Personification is depicted throughout the book with the bats and birds talking and acting human and Mama bird even tells Stellaluna to "promise to obey all the rules of this house." The author incorporated a wonderful simile into the storyline when the owl attacked and knocked Stellaluna in the nest--"Her baby wings were as limp and useless as wet paper." Children will also enjoy many fun words, such as "Eeeek, Flump and Plop!"
The story is full of beautiful and entertaining illustrations using the media/techniques--graphite/colored pencils and acrylics. The full-page detailed pictures so wonderfully enhance the text and children will love the softness, textured appearance and the characters' expressions and emotions!
I so enjoyed this book and read it last week to a few 5-year-old children at our preschool and they absolutely loved it! While reading the story, I had a great time changing my voice to "fit" the characters and had such fun saying all the super cute words like, "Eeeek and Flump!!" as the adventures unfolded. Also, at the end of the book, there is a great little "science" lesson--two pages of "Bat Notes" which tell children about bats; for instance, how many species there are (170!!), what they eat and where they live!
Class Activities:
- Talk about the part in the book when Stellaluna was embarrassed when she couldn't land gracefully on the branch like her baby bird friends. Ask children to tell about a time when a friend could do something, but they couldn't and how that made them feel? Give an example, saying that my one daughter could do her front walkover, but her twin sister could not and she felt sad and discouraged. However, with a lot of practice, the next week she could do the stunt as well as her sister!
- Tell the children that Stellaluna was a "fruit bat" and they eat fruit, flowers and nectar and have a great sense of smell and outstanding night vision. Place different types of fruit on a tray and blindfold the children, having them take turns smelling the fruit to see if they know what kind it is!
This award-winning, exciting book will be enjoyed by all and teach children about respecting each other for the varying capabilities, strengths and challenges and that everyone can be friends, even though we are all unique!
Other outstanding books by Janell Cannon:
- Little Yau: A Fuzzhead Tale
- Pinduli
Reference
Cannon, J. (1993). Stellaluna. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company.
Other Response Activities:
ReplyDeleteAsk if the children's feelings about bats have changed since reading this book. How do they feel about owls, typically? Discuss the owl's role and image in this story.
Talk about stereotyping and how the seemingly bad actions of a few can lead to labels for a whole group. Remind the children to keep this in mind when they hear negative things about any group.
In cooperative groups pick an animal that is often thought of negatively (snakes, rats, owls, bats). Tell the students that they must tell or draw a story that will change people's feelings about this animal.