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Bad Kitty School Daze



Last updated Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Author: Nick Bruel
Date of Publication: 2013
ISBN: 1596436700
Grade Level: 4th    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Sep. 2014

Synopsis: Kitty and Puppy are out of control! They're screaming, fighting, hissing, and drooling all over the house, and all of the commotion is upsetting Baby. Time for school—obedience school, that is. Can Kitty learn to follow the rules and make friends with the other students, or will she bring chaos to the classroom? Find out in Bad Kitty's hilarious, new (mis)adventure!

Note to readers:
•  This graphic novel is part of a series with which some of the kids may already be familiar.

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  Do you have any pets? What kind? How well do they behave?
•  How do cats and dogs behave differently?

Vocabulary:
•  drooling (p. 15) - to have saliva flow from the mouth
•  bandanna (p. 21) - a large handkerchief usually with a colorful design printed on it
•  bred (p. 24) - to produce offspring; to be born of a specific type of dog breed
•  diabolical (p. 44) - of, relating to, or characteristic of the devil
•  extraordinaire (p. 53) - so unusual as to be remarkable
•  supremacy (p. 59) - the quality or state of being supreme (the best); supreme authority or power
•  efficacy (p. 59) - the power to produce a desired result
•  nemesis (p. 70) - a formidable and usually victorious rival, opponent or enemy
•  clones (p. 71) - the whole collection of offspring produced asexually from an individual (as a plant increased by grafting)
•  fiendish (p. 71) - an extremely wicked or cruel person
•  wrath (p. 71) - violent anger

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  How did Bad Kitty handle it when Petunia the dog says he doesn't like cats?
•  Have you ever pretended to be something you are not (like when the kitty says he's a cow)?
•  Do you have story time, show & tell, arts & crafts, or a sharing circle in your classroom?

Craft ideas:
•  Make a Hello Kitty-style drawing (like "Love Love Angel Kitten")
•  Make your own own graphic novel about your family and the first day of school. Draw some black & white cartoons like in the book.
•  Use the provided copies for games or sheets to color & cut out.

Special activities:
•  Make the following cat sounds. meow & mee ooo www
•  check out http://www.badkittybooks.com/a-note-from-nick-bruel/

*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!