Suryia & Roscoe



Last updated Monday, March 26, 2012

Author: Bhagavan Antle and Thea Feldman
Illustrator: Barry Bland
Date of Publication: 2011
ISBN: 0805093168
Grade Level: 1st    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Apr. 2012

Synopsis: Who can imagine an orangutan being friends with a dog? Is it even possible? With Suryia and Roscoe it is! Dogs and orangutans rarely meet, and when they do, they are naturally shy around each other. But when Suryia the orangutan first meets Roscoe, a stray dog, they become best friends from the start. Set on a preserve for rare animals, The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S.) in South Carolina, here is a true story of a remarkable friendship between two unforgettable animals.

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  Have you ever heard of a wildlife preserve?
•  Do you know what endangered animals are?


Vocab:
•  wildlife preserve: a natural habitat where animals can live where they are safe from hunters and other things that can hurt them.

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  What animals aren't usually friends? (cat and mouse, cat and dog, lions and zebras, horses and snakes,etc.)
•  Why do you think Suryia and Roscoe are friends?

Craft ideas:
•  Create Suryia orangutans from the template provided.

*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!