Pistes d'exploration

Choose one of the inventions in the book and describe what happens next. For example, where does the space ship travel to and what does it find there?

Use an old box to create something, just like the rabbit in the story did, then label the parts.

Write about some additional inventions following the model set in the book.

Match pictures in the story with the corresponding word (e.g. race car, mountain, robot, pirate ship, rocket).

A Preposition Game: Use a box and a stuffed rabbit or picture of a rabbit and identify where the rabbit is placed. Use hand gestures and language to indicate when the rabbit is beside the box, on top of the box, under the box, etc.

Draw one additional way that rabbit can use the box. Write a word/sentence to explain your idea.

Choose another object (a pencil, a paper cup, a long string) and imagine how you could use it.

Clancy & Millie and the Very Fine House

Mots-clés

Picture book , cardboard boxes , games , illustrations (crayons) , imagination , questions

Commentaire descriptif

“Why are you sitting in a box?” This clever picture book portrays a simple dialogue between an imaginative young rabbit and someone—off-picture—of a more literal mindset. Each minimalist spread features a short line of dialogue with a streamlined graphic-sketch to illustrate it. This book is an excellent choice for beginning readers and graphic design aficionados alike. The language goes from humorous to hilarious as the young rabbit insists: “It’s not a box,” “I said, it’s not a box,” and “It’s NOT NOT NOT NOT a box!” The pesky voice remains unconvinced: “Now you’re wearing a box?” The bold line drawings are utterly charming and elegant in their simplicity. The imaginative play, depicted in red, surmounts the black lines of the rabbit and his toy. In one image he’s shown driving a tugboat, riding an elephant, standing in a pirate’s crow’s nest, and travelling in a hot air balloon. When the voice finally asks “Well, what it is then?” Young readers will appreciate the rabbit’s thoughtful pose. They may wish to propose some answers of their own, before turning to the last spread for the rabbit’s response: “It’s my Not-a-Box!”