If You Give a Moose a Muffin



Last updated Monday, November 30, 2015

Author: Laura Numeroff
Illustrator: Felicia Bond
Date of Publication: 1991
ISBN: 0060244054
Grade Level: Kindergarten    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Dec. 2015

Synopsis: If a big hungry moose comes to visit, you might give him a muffin to make him feel at home. If you give him a muffin, he'll want some jam to go with it. When he's eaten all your muffins, he'll want to go to the store to get some more muffin mix. In this hilarious sequel to If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, the young host is again run ragged by a surprise guest. Young readers will delight in the comic complications that follow when a little boy entertains a gregarious moose.

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  Have you ever eaten a muffin? What kind?
•  Have you ever seen a moose? Where?
•  Do you think moose's eat muffins?

Vocabulary

•  Homemade: made at home, rather than in a store or factory
•  Chilly: uncomfortably cool or cold
•  Scenery: a view of natural features (such as mountains, hills, valleys, etc.) that is pleasing to look at
•  Antlers: one of the branched horns on the head of an adult (usually male) deer, which are made of bone and are grown and cast off annually
•  Clothesline: a rope or wire on which washed clothes are hung to dry

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  What do moose's like on their muffins? What do you like on your muffins?
•  What kind of puppets does Moose like to play with?
•  What does Moose want to be for Halloween? What were you for Halloween?

Craft ideas:
•  Make your own moose antlers to wear. Cut a long strip of paper for a headband & attach ends with tape. Cut out antler shapes to the headband with tape & add ornaments.
•  Check out our December craft ideas on Pinterest! https://www.pinterest.com/readingtokids/december-2015-crafts

Special activities:
•  Sing Christmas carols

*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!