Books for Boys

Garcia, E (2010) Tap Tap Bang Bang. New York: Boxer books.


ISBN # 978-1-907152-00-9


“Tap Tap Bang Bang” by Emma Garcia is a book for little helpers to learn about different tools, their functions, and the fun sounds they make. It’s a great way to introduce tools to children who are curious about woodworking or just as a way of showing how different things can be made by using these tools. The googly eyes on each tool make them come to life as they show off their skills hard at work. I would choose this book for 3-5 year olds as the large, clear pictures of each tool would be very amusing and exciting for young children to look at and learn about. They would be able to experience how these tools are used in real life and may even be able to make connections to where they might have seen some of these tools before.


To present this book and provoke interest and knowledge in children for this story “Tap Tap Bang Bang”, I would bring in a box of tools that include a Saw, Chisel, Hammer, Nails, Drill, Screw Driver, Bolts, Nuts, Pliers, Glue Gun, Wrench, Vise, Level, Tape Measure, Mallet, Jack, Sander, and a Paintbrush. The children would be able to touch and feel the different sizes of the tools and compare how heavy or light they are. They will also be able to wonder about how each tool functions. To provoke interest in the book when reading it for the first time I would show them the first page of the book which asks “Look at all these tools! What can we do with them?” I would let them wonder about each tool letting them think about how each tool works, what they might sound like and what they could make with each tool or tools combined.


I would stop at the first page for the children to wonder about how they might think each tool functions as it’s important to see the different perspectives of each child. I would ask them what else these tools can do. Have you seen these tools before? What can we make with these tools?


  Three ways to present Tap Tap Bang Bang

-I would have the tool box with all the necessary tools in the box and while reading the book show them to the children allowing them to be curious and wonder about them.

-I would set up a felt story with the 18 separate tools made by felt and I would present it to the children while reading the book giving them an opportunity to look and understand the story in a different aspect.

-I would ask each child to be the tool that I read out and engage them in role play so that while reading the book they can act out how each tool looks like, what sounds they make, and how they move. This will give each child the opportunity to act out their favorite tool allowing them to be creative and imaginative.


              Three possible extensions


-Have a carpenter come in and show the different tools and talk about his job as a carpenter giving the children an opportunity to see how these tools are used in a day by day lifestyle.

-Organize field trips to construction sites, hardware stores, or woodworking shops where children will be able to see the tools at work and be able to explore more options and ideas that wouldn’t be available in the classroom setting.

-Let the children draw or paint their favorite tools on paper and use them during story time allowing them to be creative and being able to express themselves and their thoughts.



 
Mitton, T., & Parker, A.(2005).Tough Trucks (Amazing Machines).
            New York: Kingfisher. (Original work published 2003)

ISBN # 978-07534-5600-2


“Tough Trucks” by Tony Mitton and Ant Parker is a fun rhyming book about different trucks that we see on the roads every day. It shows the different functions of trucks such a big rig with a semitrailer, a garbage truck, a concrete mixer, dump truck, a tanker, and a forklift. It’s a great book for children interested in the different parts of a truck and how they function together. The characters used in this book are all of different animals driving the trucks which make the book very unique and exciting for children.

I would use this book for 3-5 year olds as this is the stage when they begin to be curious about their surroundings and there are always different trucks on the roads that spark their interest. The book also uses very interesting, colorful and clear images to show how the trucks work that children would be easily able to look at and understand clearly as to what’s happening and how each truck works, while the story is being read.

To present this book and provoke interest in the children for “Tough Trucks”, I would take the children for a walk on a nice day and see if they can point out any trucks they see on the roads that they are curious about. I would set up puzzles of different trucks that children can put together and this would help them with visually understanding the different parts of a truck by joining pieces together.


I would stop at the page that states that “driving trucks is tiring, but you need to be awake” and ask the children why they think it’s important that drivers take a break from driving all day? This will also show them the safety aspects of driving and working and help them to be curious about different things related to driving.


Three ways to present Tough Trucks:

-I would use a magnetic board and attach pictures of the different trucks onto little magnets and move them around while reading out the book as this would give the children a visual and be more exciting for them as they would be able to see the trucks move.

-I would stop at each page and ask the children if they know the names of each truck giving them an opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings.

-I would use a felt board to present the story as this will give them a better visual as to what the truck looks like and how it functions.


Three possible extensions

-I would set up an activity for the children to make their own trucks with recyclable boxes, milk cartons, and cardboard for the wheels and straws for exhaust pipes.

-I would teach the children to sing the song named “Toot Toot Beep Beep” by Madeline L Pots which shows how driving and fixing trucks is much more exciting than other means of transportation. The rhythm is very upbeat and great for children to dance to as well.

-I would let the children draw or paint their favorite truck after reading the book, allowing them to be creative and imaginative.






Niemann, C. (2007). The Police Cloud. New York City: Schwartz & Wade.


ISBN # 978-0-375-83963-4

“The Police Cloud” by Christoph Niemann is about a cloud that wants to be a police officer and so he asks the police department if he could join them in helping people in the city. They accept him and make him a policeman but the cloud soon realizes that he’s not much use as a policeman. For instance when trying to catch a burglar he runs right through the cloud, and when he’s assigned to direct traffic at a busy intersection the vehicles go right through him. The cloud gets very upset as all he’s ever wanted to be was a police cloud and he realizes he’s not any use as one. While moving along the city he begins to cry so hard that he doesn’t realize a house on fire and his tears unknowingly wash away the fire. The cloud saves the day and he is accepted as a fire fighter.


The illustrations are very simple, clear and colorful making the book very interesting to look at and read along. Children would enjoy this book as the story evokes different moods and feelings and the illustrations depict these moods very clearly.

To present this book and provoke interest about the book for children, I would show them a book or get resources about policemen and firefighters and how they work each day to protect the city. I would invite anyone that has any books on policemen and firefighters to bring them in as well. To provoke interest on this topic for children it would be good to find songs or rhymes with actions that involve the occupation of police and firefighters.

I would stop at the page where the burglar runs right through the cloud. I would ask the children why they think the burglar could run through the cloud. Where do clouds come from? Allowing them to wonder about these questions.


Three ways to present The Police Cloud:

-Setting up a felt board story with the characters of the cloud, policemen, firefighters, a burglar, and a few other people would be a great way to present the story.

-Setting up a magnetic story on a 4 sided cookie can would be good in showing the different emotions the cloud feels and by showing the different time of day on each sides of the can.

-After reading out the story a couple times and presenting it in other ways I would involve the children in the story and have them take on the roles of the cloud, the policemen, firefighters, the burglar, and people in cars. This would deepen their understanding of what each person does.



Three possible extensions:

-Allowing children to make clouds out of wool and drawing or painting the clouds on a sunny day, clouds on a rainy day, etc. It would help to take the children out on these days and ask them how they see the clouds in the sky.

-Arranging a field trip to a police station or museum where children can explore and learn more about the duties and tasks of a policeman.

-Taking children for a walk to an area where there is a fire extinguisher and show them how firefighters require them in order to get rid of a fire.