Pistes d'exploration

Browse a few alphabet books. What conventions do they share? What can you expect when you read an alphabet book? Start an anchor chart on alphabet books.

Make predictions about the occupations listed on each page based on the letter and illustrations.

Draw yourself as a pea, doing a job you would like to do when you grow up. Explain your thinking.

Make a class Alphabox about the occupations listed on each page. Add other occupations that you know about to complete your chart.

Identify and discuss different ways of organizing words (occupations with people, sports or leisure activities, etc.). Apply one of the systems to the words in the book.

Create your own version of a pea poster. Use words from the text and the class list to represent yourself. Present your poster to partners in a cooperative inside outside circle.

Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street, Madlenka, When Mama Goes to Work

Mots-clés

Picture book , alphabet , first-person narration , occupations , stories in rhyme , vegetables

Commentaire descriptif

“We’re acrobats, artists, and astronauts in space.” Working its way through the alphabet, this book offers all sorts of fun vocabulary to exemplify each featured letter, while describing different roles that people (or peas) can fulfill in life. Large-size spreads feature capital letters in cheerful colours and painterly textures. Around these monoliths, sweet little pea characters act out scenes to illustrate the vocabulary. From the top curve of a sky-blue G, a tiny pea trims the grass with large shears. On the cross-stroke, another pea tickles a friend with a feather. On the ground, a circle of peas hold wrapped gifts: “We’re gardeners, gigglers, givers and takers.” The giant Z is nestled in a zoo-like display among plants, caterpillars, and other creatures: “zoologists—that’s who!”) Altogether, these spreads offer young readers a fascinating array of poetic and prosaic roles to explore while reviewing the alphabet: “We are peas from A to Z. Now tell us please … WHO ARE YOU?” The delightfully silly author profile is recommended reading for young and old alike: “he hopes that someday there will be peas everywhere on Earth.”