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Beegu
Last updated Friday, June 29, 2007
Author: Alexis Deacon
Date of Publication: 2003
ISBN: 0374306672
Grade Level: Kindergarten (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Jul. 2007
Synopsis:
From School Library Journal:
Kindergarten-Grade 2-Children will sympathize with Beegu, a cuddly, yellow extraterrestrial, when her spaceship crashes and strands her far from home. While looking for some friends, the lost alien thinks she hears her mother calling and is led into a big city where, instead, she finds a box of puppies that welcome her; she curls up with them to sleep. Then a man from the stray dog shelter finds her in the box and turns her out. Forced to continue her sad journey, Beegu comes upon a playground filled with happy children and joins them in play until another adult rejects her, sending her out once more to wander in the strange world. Finally, her parents arrive to rescue her and she tells them of her experiences, speaking fondly of the small Earth creatures who were so friendly and full of hope. The quirky, economical illustrations aptly reflect the lonely mood of this touching story. Beegu, with her floppy ears and three little eyes, is an appealing character who conveys a message about the importance of accepting those who are different and of remaining hopeful.
| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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What is Beegu? (human, animal, something else?)
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Have you ever been lost before? How did you feel? What did you do?
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Where do you think Beegu lives? Where did she come from?
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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Why don’t the leaves and trees talk to Beegu?
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Who does Beegu find to be friends with?
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If Beegu came to your school, would you be friends with her? Why or why not? Would your teachers? Why or why not?
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How do the adults treat Beegu differently than the animals and children do? Why do you think they treat her differently?
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Why do you think the puppies and the children like Beegu? Why does she like them?
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How does Beegu communicate with the people on Earth? Who understood Beegu? Who didn’t understand Beegu?
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When you get lost, do you hear someone you love calling you? Are they happy to see you?
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When Beegu went home, did she miss the friends that she made on Earth?
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Do you ever feel sad or alone like Beegu? What do you do to help yourself feel better?
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What did the children give Beegu to remember them? Have you ever gotten a gift from someone special?
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| Craft ideas: |
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Make a picture of Beegu
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Make Beegu mask
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Make a flying saucer. Bring ahead option: two paper plates/bowls.
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Make a card/present for someone special.
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Draw a picture of you and your friends
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Draw your own imaginary friend/outer space creature.
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Draw a picture of what you think another planet would look like
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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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