Kitten's First Full Moon



Last updated Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Author: Kevin Henkes
Date of Publication:
ISBN: 0060588284
Grade Level: Kindergarten    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Jul. 2006

Synopsis: (from the publisher) What a night! The moon is full and Kitten is hungry and inquisitive and brave and fast and persistent and unlucky... Then lucky! What a night!

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  What does the moon look like to you? What different shapes does it make?
•  Have you ever imagined the moon to be different things, depending on its phase? What kinds of things have you imagined?
•  Do you know what a ?gibbous? moon is? It?s the moon between half and full, either waxing or waning. (Waxing means getting bigger; waning means getting smaller.)
•  How far away does the moon look? Does it sometimes look closer or farther?

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  What happens to Kitten each time she tries to reach the moon?
•  What was the bigger bowl of milk Kitten saw in the pond?
•  Why was Kitten finally lucky?
•  Have you ever chased after something without finding or reaching it?

Craft ideas:
•  Draw a chart showing the phases of the moon: crescent, half, gibbous, full.
•  Make a cat mask out of construction paper, with ears and whiskers.

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don't have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!