|
Elf Dog and Owl Head
Last updated Monday, July 7, 2025
Author: M.T. Anderson
Illustrator: Junyi Wu
Date of Publication: 2023
ISBN: 153622281X
Grade Level: 5th (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Jul. 2025
Synopsis:
Clay has had his fill of home life. A global plague has brought the world to a screeching halt, and with little to look forward to but a summer of video-calling friends, vying with annoying sisters for the family computer, and tuning out his parents' financial worries, he's only too happy to retreat to the woods. From the moment the elegant little dog with the ornate collar appears like an apparition among the trees, Clay sees something uncanny in her. With this mysterious Elphinore as guide, he’ll glimpse ancient secrets folded all but invisibly into the forest. Each day the dog leads Clay down paths he never knew existed, deeper into the unknown. But they aren't alone in their surreal adventures. There are traps and terrors in the woods, too, and if Clay isn't careful, he might stray off the path and lose his way forever.
| Discussion topics for before reading: |
| • |
This book takes place when “a virus all across the country … everything was shut down.” This is
referring to the Covid-19 pandemic of 5 years ago. What do you remember about it? If you were old
enough for school, what do you remember about completing your schoolwork?
Vocabulary
|
| • |
petrified forest: an area where organic material, especially trees and other plant life, have been replaced by minerals turning the plant material into stone. A place where fossils of long dead creatures are found.
|
| • |
Duke/Duchess: a nobleman or woman of the highest rank in a kingdom; second only to the king/queen. The ruler of a duchy.
|
| • |
cavern: a large extensive cave in the side of a hill or cliff.
|
| • |
Frisbee: a plastic disk used for tossing between people and animals. A toy trademarked by Wham-O in 1959.
|
| • |
scout: a person or object sent out to secure first-hand information about a situation.
|
| • |
virus: a group of infectious agents that cause disease in humans, animals and plants.
|
| • |
GPS (Global Positioning System): an electronic system that uses satellites and radio signals to locate a
person or object to a specific location.
|
| • |
glitzy: flashy, glittery, extravagant showiness.
|
| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
| • |
If you were going to get a pet, what would you get? Who would take care of it most of the time?
|
| • |
Clay lives in the woods outside of a near by town. He has lots of time to explore since his school is closed. What did you do with your free time during the lock-down? Clay sometimes has trouble getting along with his siblings because of the lock-down. How did you manage?
|
| Craft ideas: |
| • |
Draw a picture of a pet, real or imaginary. You can draw a picture of you doing something with it.
|
| • |
The book mentions a number of interesting creatures. Use your imagination to draw your own idea of what they look like. The Owl Head people in pages 40-42; the sheep-sweater and shirt-o-saur on pages 52-58. Or draw a picture of some mythical creature you have seen in books or movies like a unicorn or
dragon. Or make up your own creature.
|
| • |
Draw a picture of something you have done or plan to do before school starts again.
|
| Special activities: |
| • |
Do the word search.
|
| • |
REMINDER: if you don’t have air conditioning, on a very hot day your public library has AC to help
keep you cool.
|
*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!
|
