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My Brother Dan's Delicious



Last updated Friday, July 20, 2007

Author: Steven L. Layne
Date of Publication:
ISBN: 1589800710
Grade Level: 3rd    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Jan. 2006

Synopsis: When he finds that he is home alone for the first time, a bright eight-and-a-half-year-old boy informs any monsters that might be lurking in the house that his older brother Dan is worth the wait.

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  Have you ever been home alone? How would you feel if you had to stay home by yourself? What would you do?
•  Do you have any brothers or sisters? Describe them.
•  Do you believe in monsters? What is the scariest monster you can imagine? What would you do if there were monsters in your house?

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  What three steps does Joey say he would take if there were monsters in his house?
•  As you read, ask the students to point out where the monster is hiding in the house. What other changes can they see in the house (i.e., pictures, statues, etc.)?
•  What are some reasons that make Dan tastier than Joey? Why would Dan be easier to capture than Joey?
•  What are some synonym for "delicious"? Can you think of other synonyms?
•  How does the phrase "My brother Dan is delicious" change in the end?

Craft ideas:
•  Make a monster paper bag hand puppet. On the top flap of the bag, paste a scary face. You can paste a tongue or teeth underneath the flap and add arms and legs to the body. Bring ahead option: small paper lunch bags.
•  Make a pop up monster using a paper cup and a popsicle stick. Cut out the shape of a monster and glue it on the popsicle stick. Decorate the paper cup. Then cut a hole on the bottom of the cup to slide the popsicle stick in. When you push the stick up, the monster will pop out of the cup.
•  Draw a picture of a room in your house with a monster in it.

Special activities:
•  Brainstorm other alliterative phrases (i.e. Dan is delicious) with names of family members.

*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!