Falling Up



Last updated Thursday, March 9, 2017

Author: Shel Silverstein
Illustrator: Shel Silverstein
Date of Publication: 2006
ISBN: 0060248025
Grade Level: 3rd    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Mar. 2017

Synopsis: Millie McDeevit screamed a scream So loud it made her eyebrows steam. She screamed so loud Her jawbone broke, Her tongue caught fire, Her nostrils smoked... Poor Screamin' Millie is just one of the unforgettable characters in this wondrous new book of poems and drawings by the creator of Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic. Here you will also meet Allison Beals and her twenty-five eels; Danny O'Dare, the dancin' bear; the Human Balloon; and Headphone Harold. So come, wander through the Nose Garden, ride the Little Hoarse, eat in the Strange Restaurant, and let the magic of Shel Silverstein open your eyes and tickle your mind.

Note to readers:
•  Go through the book beforehand. You might want to select at least 10 poems or pictures you like ahead of time. Examples: No Thank You (page 21), The Toy Eater (page 77), People Zoo (page 80).

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  Have you read any other books of poems by this author or other author?
•  What is a poem? (a piece of writing that partakes of the nature of both speech and song that is nearly always rhythmical, usually metaphorical, and often exhibits such formal elements as meter, rhyme, and stanzaic structure.)

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  Which was your favorite poem we read today?
•  Depending on the poem you read:
•  Is that too silly, strange, or mean?
•  How does the drawing fit with the picture?
•  Could this really happen that way? (ex: Diving Board, page 24)

Craft ideas:
•  Write a short poem and draw a picture to go with it.
•  Draw a silly picture using black ink or pencil.
•  Check our music in March craft ideas on Pinterest!
https://www.pinterest.com/readingtokids/march-2017-music-entertainment/

*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!