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The Adventures of Taxi Dog
Last updated Sunday, May 31, 2015
Author: Debra and Sal Barracca
Illustrator: Mark Buehner
Date of Publication: 1990
ISBN: 0803706715
Grade Level: Kindergarten (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Jun. 2015
Synopsis:
Maxi, a homeless mutt in New York City, has always fended for himself. Then one day a kind taxi driver named Jim offers him friendship, a home, and a place in the front seat! From that moment on, Maxi and Jim revel in the sights and sounds of the city, and share all sorts of wild adventures-from rushing two clowns and a chimp to the circus, to singing duets with an opera diva! These and other adventures are brilliantly depicted in Mark Buehner's witty, detail-packed oil paintings.
| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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Have you ever ridden in a taxi cab? Where were you going?
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Have you been to New York? (use a map/globe in the room or your phone to show the kids where it is in relation to where they are)
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Do you have a dog or pet? Does your pet travel with you?
Vocabulary
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Pound-a place where lost dogs and cats that are found are kept until their owners come and get them
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Gritty-harsh and unpleasant
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Wagged-to move something from side to side repeatedly
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Roam-to go to different places without having a particular purpose or plan
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Sights-a famous or interesting place in an area
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Fare-the money a person pays to travel on a bus, train, boat, or airplane or in a taxi
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Pro-short for professional-someone who has a lot of experience or skill in a particular job or activity
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Passenger-a person who is traveling from one place to another in a car, bus, train, ship, airplane
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Boss-the person whose job is to tell other workers what to do
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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What was Maxi doing before Jim found him?
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How does Maxi feel now that he has Jim?
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What do Jim and Maxi do all day?
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Where have Jim & Maxi visited in the taxi?
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What places would you like to visit in a taxi?
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| Craft ideas: |
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Create a postcard in the shape of a taxi or other NY landmark.
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Draw/cut out your perfect taxi/cab and who would ride along with you. Link to a taxi cab template: http://www.papertoysart.com/2012/09/taxi-new-yorkais/.
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Make your own taxi dog paper bag puppet.
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Use construction paper to make a collage of NYC skyscrapers
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Make a Father's Day card.
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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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