Wordless Picture Books

Varon, S. (2006). Chicken and Cat. New York: Scholastics Press.

ISBN#: 0-439-63406-7

This story is about two friends, Chicken and Cat who wander around New York City for the day. Cat is visiting from the country; they do all sorts of things and go to all sorts of places. The two friends realize the city needs some more color, and decide to go buy some seeds.

I think 3-5’s would find this book interesting because of the illustrations and the different animals you see wondering throughout the streets in the story. The illustrations in this story are really neat because the author shows where Cat is looking through the use of simple dotted lines. I also think that this would help the younger children understand what to look at.  

Provocations:

-          A small boat and toy fishing rods could be put out in the middle of the room after nap or snack time.

-          Seed packets and flowers in pots could be placed out on the since table either when they arrive that morning or after naptime. The children could look at the seeds and flowers and talk about how they think the seeds turn into flowers.

3 ways to present:

1.      Read the story and wonder

2.      Puppets: Puppets could be hand made by using the gingerbread man pattern. ­­­­Chicken and Cat could be made that way, while the background could be made many ways. With pictures from the internet or a calendar, the pictures could also be drawn as the story is being told on large paper.

3.      Story Vine: key photos to be photo copied and laminated. Those photos would include, but are not imitated to: Cat arriving at the bus depot, Chicken and Cat arrive at Chicken’s house, Chicken and Cat riding bikes, Chicken and Cat getting ice cream, Chicken and Cat riding their bikes home in the dark, Cat laying in bed, Chicken and Cat at the fair, Chicken shows Cat a flower in the window, Cat looking in the window at the flower, Chicken and Cat buying the seeds, Chicken and Cat planting the seeds, Chicken and Cat watering and looking at the seeds, Chicken and Cat looking at the flowers.  

Wonders:

-          I wonder where Cat was coming from(p.1)

-          I wonder where Chicken an­d Cat are going? (p.2)

-          I wonder what this building is? (p.5)

-          I wonder why cat is looking at that fence? (p.6)

-          I wonder what flavor ice cream they are getting? (p.11)

o   Say to the children: turn to your neighbor and tell them your favorite flavor of ice cream  

-          I wonder if Chicken and Cat will catch any fish? (p.19/20)

-          I wonder why Cat looks sad? (p.21/22)

Extensions

1)      Project: The children could plant flowers either in pots or outside if the center has a garden.

2)      Art Project: The children could draw or paint pictures of flowers from the book, their own gardens at home or even just their favorite flower. This could also be done after the flower planting project, children could paint pictures of before and after the flower grows, blooms or has any other changes.

3)      Outside Activity: The children could bring their bikes and have a bike parade (This may not work for all centers, also not all age groups. Children should be allowed to bring tricycles, scooters, wagons or anything with wheels.)