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Little Blue Truck



Last updated Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Author: Alice Schertle
Illustrator: Jill McElmurry
Date of Publication: 2008
ISBN: 0152056610
Grade Level: Kindergarten    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Mar. 2016

Synopsis: Beep! Beep! Beep! Meet Blue. A muddy country road is no match for this little pick up--that is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck. Luckily, Blue has made a pack of farm animal friends along his route. And they're willing to whatever it takes to get their pal back on the road. Filled with truck sounds and animals noises, here is a rollicking homage to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others.

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  What animals do you see on the truck? Who is driving?
•  How many animals are on the truck?
•  Have you ever seen any of the animals on the cover?

Vocabulary

•  muck - dirt, rubbish, or waste matter.
•  mire - a stretch of swampy or boggy ground.

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  Do you know anyone who has a farm? What animals do they have on it?
•  Have you ever been to a farm?
•  How did the animals get the trucks out of the mud?
•  Could this really happen? What parts of the story could be true? What parts are made up fantasy?

Craft ideas:
•  Make a truck with cut out shapes - rectangle or square for body & circles for tires. Paste onto a sheet of construction paper & draw animals in the truck. Add lots of splattered brown color, if you want to draw the truck stuck in the mud. (see examples on pinterest)
•  Check out our March craft ideas on Pinterest! https://www.pinterest.com/readingtokids/march-music-2016-crafts/

Special activities:
•  Have each kid pick a favorite animal & ask them to make the sound. Or make the sound of different animals & have the kids guess the animal.

*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!