The Wriggly Wriggly Baby

Last updated Thursday, April 22, 2004

Author: Jessica Clerk
Illustrator: Laura Rankin
Date of Publication: 2002
ISBN: 0590960679
Grade Level: 1st
Date(s) Used: May 2004

Synopsis: A round-headed baby wriggles against the pure white of the opening spread. But just wriggling on a rug isn't enough for this twitchy child. It wriggles out the door and into adventure, making stops at the zoo, the circus, and the beach.

Discussion topics for before reading:

• Do you have any younger siblings, or relatives? Do they wriggle all over? What do you do about that?
• Ever want to go and see a different place? Where? Why?

Discussion topics for after reading:

• What does it mean to wriggle/wiggle? Demonstrate.
• Name some of the places the baby goes, and the animals the baby plays with
• If you were the wriggly baby, where would you go?

Craft ideas:

• Make a place mat that includes a map of all the places that the baby went - a la Family Circus.
• Draw a scene from the story.

Special challenge:

• Write down all of the action words in the book (yodel, wiggle, wave, twist, tap feet), and play simon says with the kids using those action words.

*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!