Pistes d'exploration

List the Do’s and Don’ts of sharing. For example, Do share books and toys, Don’t share toothbrushes and hats.

Did Amanda and Jeremiah follow the rules? Why was the teacher upset? What sort of chaos ensued? List the rules you had to follow in kindergarten. Create your own set of classroom rules.

Survey the class: Are Amanda and Jeremiah troublemakers? Justify your answers.

Learn the key elements through realia or pictures. 

As the story is read aloud by the teacher, join in for the recurrent passages. 

Act out the story in teams of three while the story is reread by the teacher. 

Discuss situations where you share or don’t share your toys or activities. 

Alphabetter, Boris Starts School, ThePigeon Finds a Hot Dog!, Sidney, Stella, and the Moon

Mots-clés

Picture book , cooperation , kindergarten , onomatopoeias , recurrent language , school life , sharing

Commentaire descriptif

It is the first day of kindergarten and Jeremiah and Amanda have a problem. They want to read the same book, play with the same blocks, paint with the same paint. When the teacher insists they share everything, they decide to take her advice literally, and the whole class is in for a surprise. The repetition of the key phrase – “In kindergarten, we share everything” – supports readers in their understanding of the story and begs for choral reading. Reactions of the main characters as they scream at each other (“Aaaaaaaahhhhh!!”) or get a book stuffed into their mouths (“Gawck!”) are visually appealing. Cartoonish watercolours capture the hilarity and chaos that ensues in the classroom as the children refuse, and later, in a comical twist, agree to share. Block towers tumble, paint splatters and children screech while the frazzled teacher tries to keep her wits about her. With its important message about sharing and cooperation, this is a welcome story during the first days of school.