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Yoko's Show-and-Tell
Last updated Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Author: Rosemary Wells
Illustrator: Rosemary Wells
Date of Publication: 2011
ISBN: 142311955X
Grade Level: Kindergarten (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: May 2011
Synopsis:
From Book List:
Yoko may be a Japanese kitty, but once again she is Everychild in a story that will remind readers of their own impulses and emotions. In anticipation of her grandparents' visit, Yoko receives an antique doll named Miki. Girls' Day, complete with a doll festival, is a Japanese holiday, and Yoko thinks she should bring Miki to Show-and-Tell to help explain it. Her mother says no “in her Big No voice.” Kids will anticipate the rest: Yoko takes Miki to school anyway, and the doll is tossed around until she breaks. In a heartrending scene, Yoko must confess to her mother. Then it's on to the doll hospital, where Miki is fixed so well, even Grandmother can't tell the difference. The thoughtful depictions are simply rendered but pack a wallop: the horror and helplessness on Yoko's face as Miki is thrown about, the relief that an impulsive act hasn't led to permanent damage. Relatable story, endearing characters, and oh, those kimonos!
| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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Have the kids look at the cover of the book, and have them describe what they see.
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Does anyone know what it is that Yoko is wearing?
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Does anyone have a pet at home?
If so, what?
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Has anyone ever had to a part of a Show-and-Tell?
If so, where?
If so, what item did you bring?
Vocabulary Selection:
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JAPAN -- a constitutional monarchy on a chain of islands off the E coast of Asia: main islands, Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. 125,716,637; 141,529 sq. mi. (366,560 sq. km). Capital: Tokyo.
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KIMONO -- a loose, wide-sleeved robe, fastened at the waist with a wide sash, characteristic of Japanese costume; a woman’s loose dressing gown.
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OBAASAN -- grandmother in Japanese culture
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OJIISAN -- grandfather in Japanese culture
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PEACH-BLOSSOM -- the flower of the peach tree: the state flower of Delaware.
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LOTUS FLOWER -- In general, the lotus flower represents life and beauty. To Buddhist, it represents spiritual awakening and reality. In Japanese culture, the lotus flower is considered a sacred symbol. The lotus flower can represent enlightenment and purity.
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RUINED -- ruins, the remains of a building, city, etc., that has been destroyed or that is in disrepair or a state of decay: We visited the ruins of ancient Greece. A destroyed or decayed building, town, etc.; a fallen, wrecked, or decayed condition: The building fell to ruin.
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SURGERY -- the branch of medicine concerned with treating disease, injuries, etc, by means of manual or operative procedures, esp. by incision into the body; the performance of such procedures by a surgeon; ( Brit ) a place where a doctor, dentist, etc, can be consulted; ( Brit ) an occasion when an MP, lawyer, etc, is available for consultation; ( US ), ( Canadian ) an operating theatre where surgical operations are performed
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SILK -- the very fine soft lustrous fibre produced by a silkworm to make its cocoon; a. thread or fabric made from this fibre. b. ( as modifier ): a silk dress; a garment made of this; a very fine fibre produced by a spider to build its web, nest, or cocoon; the tuft of long fine styles on an ear of maize;
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SPRINGTIME -- Also called: springtide the season of spring; the earliest, usually the most attractive, period of the existence of something
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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Explain “GIRLS DAY” -- March 3 in Japan is Girl’s Day, called Hina Matsur, the Doll Festival. Parents display hina dolls in their homes to wish their daughters good health and happiness.
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Explain “BOYS DAY” -- May 5 in Japan is Tango no Sekku, the Boys Festival. On this day parents fly or hang carp kites, a symbol of courage and strength, to celebrate their sons.
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Before turning the last page of the story, stop and ask all the kids who they thought it was going to be outside, scrubbing the steps, raking all the peach blossoms, and pulling up the weeds.
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| Craft ideas: |
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Step By Step Instructions to make ORIGAMI HINA DOLLS
1. Make a triangle. Using the origami paper, fold one corner to the adjacent corner. The color is now on the outside of the paper.
2. Open the triangle fold. Fold the two corners, you just folded, to the center. The paper will be shaped like a traditional diamond, with the bottom half being colored and the top half being white. Turn the paper over to the colored side.
3. Fold the outer corners to the center. Turn the paper from landscape to portrait for a better folding angle. The paper will still be diamond-shaped, but there is less white and more color.
4. Fold the bottom up. Leave some folding space by folding the paper 1/4 an inch below the center. The paper will look like two in-congruent triangles pressed against each other. The top triangle will be smaller than the bottom one.
5. Fold the top triangle down then fold the bottom triangle down. Turn the hina origami over. There will be a triangle pointing up on the back.
6. Fold the sides (sleeves) of the origami paper. For an Ohina Sama, fold the top to square off the head. Leave the top pointed for an Odairi Sama. The finished figure will be a hexagon with a head on top.
7. Complete your origami Hina doll. To make him/her authentic, draw fans in the hina doll's hands, draw their faces and their hair.
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*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!
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