A Sick Day for Amos McGee



Last updated Friday, February 8, 2013

Author: Philip C. Stead
Illustrator: Erin Stead
Date of Publication: 2010
ISBN: 1596434023
Grade Level: 1st    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Feb. 2013

Synopsis: Amazon.com Review
Friends come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. In Amos McGee’s case, all sorts of species, too! Every day he spends a little bit of time with each of his friends at the zoo, running races with the tortoise, keeping the shy penguin company, and even reading bedtime stories to the owl. But when Amos is too sick to make it to the zoo, his animal friends decide it’s time they returned the favor.

Note to readers:
•  This book is on the shorter side, so we recommend doing a "picture walk" with your students before reading. Ask the students what they think about the illustrations, what they think might happen during the story, etc.

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  What is Amos doing on the cover?
•  Who is Amos playing cards with?

Vocabulary:
•  Uniform- an outfit worn by members of a particular group
•  Amble- to walk or stroll at a slow pace
•  Tortoise- a reptile that is shielded from its predators by a shell. Some can live as long as 150 years!

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  What games do you like to play with your friends?
•  What are your favorite animals? What do these animals like to do? If they could play games what would they play?

Craft ideas:
•  Make little puppets of the 5 zoo animals using construction paper and Popsicle sticks
•  Draw your favorite animal playing your favorite game
•  Make a mask of your favorite animal using construction paper!
•  Make your very own tortoise using a paper plate for a shell and construction paper for the head, feet, etc.
•  Make Valentine's Day cards for your friends and family!

*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!