Pistes d'exploration

Discuss what happens at the end of the story. What is the moral?

Select one aspect of the story and write a response. Be sure  to explain your thinking.

Make a character map of M. Bibot.

In your journal, explain what you would do with the figs. To whom might you give one and why?

Discuss how M. Bibot treats the old woman and Marcel the dog.

Discuss what happens after M. Bibot eats the first fig. What is his plan for the second fig? Does Bibot deserve what happens to him? Why?

Make a story map that includes the characters, setting, problem, solution and ending.

Decide on the moral of the story.

Inferring from the illustration of the man on the front cover, start a list of vocabulary you might add to his character map.

As you read, revise your character map.

Select one aspect of the story and write a response. Be sure to explain your thinking.

In pairs, decide what the moral of the story is. Write a similar story with a different main character, pet and setting. Share your stories as a class.

The Polar Express, The Stranger

Mots-clés

Picture book , dogs , dreams , greed , magic , retribution , surprise endings

Commentaire descriptif

This great read-aloud tells the story of M. Bibot, a cruel and selfish dentist in Paris who receives a lesson in karma. When an elderly woman comes to his office without an appointment he agrees to treat her, seeing it as an opportunity to make some money. When the woman pays him with figs, he brusquely ushers her out the door without any medication for the pain caused by her treatment. Yet he later discovers they hold the power to make dreams come true. He decides to keep the last fig until he has learned to control his dreams so he can become rich. Just when he thinks it is the moment for his perfect dream to come true, his plan goes awry and he gets a taste of his own medicine. Simple language and short sentences provide a matter-of-fact tone and give space to the beautiful crayon drawings. The authorillustrator’s use of neutral colours and high contrast emphasizes M. Bibot’s misanthropic view of the world, where even the stunning city of Paris appears grey and dull. The surprise twist that leads to his comeuppance at the end emphasizes the importance of kindness.