PPBF: Giraffe Problems

Today I'm feeling grateful for my final author visit of the school year.

And since I was invited to read to the Whitcomb Giraffes,

I brought Junior, the giraffe, along to help me out.

Fun fact: As an author, I have fun writing puppet scripts. In this exchange, Junior has decided he wants a shorter, zippier nickname like JuJu. 

So when I try to introduce him as JuJu the Giraffe, he shakes his head no and says, Just JuJu. So I try again, this time telling the crowd that I'd like them to meet Just JuJu.

Their laughter filled the room ... and it was contagious.

The more they cackled, the spunkier Junior, I mean JuJu, got;

the spunkier he got, the more engaged they became.

So I let him read the part of Mipps in Birdie & Mipps.

What a fun slide into summer that Meet 'n Greet was.

Now, on to today's PPBF.

Title: Giraffe Problems

Author: Jory John

Illustrator: Lane Smith

Publisher: Random House Studio

Birth date: September 25, 2018

Suitable for: ages 4-8

Themes: animals, differences, humor

Brief synopsis: Try as he might, Cyrus just does not like his neck. 

Could their possibly be a use for such a long, bendy thing?

Opening page: I feel bad about my neck. 

I do. 

I can't help it.

Resources: Enjoy a read-aloud {here}.

Check out two reviews {here} and {here}.

Enrich with these activity ideas {here}.

Why I like this book: Plain and simple, it's hilarious. Like so SO funny.

But there are also a few lessons hidden in its pages.

A lesson about comparison being the thief of joy.

A lesson about self-awareness.

A lesson about acceptance.

Even a lesson about serving others. Yay.

After reading it aloud, find out what your students would do with 

a giraffe neck, then ask them to rewrite the ending or write a sequel.

Ask them to create a giraffe.

This one is crocheted from thick yarn.

But theirs could be made from anything.

Papier mâché anyone?

Compare and contrast with Jory John's Penguin Problems. 

Wanna dig deeper? Ask what they would change if they could

about who they are and what they're able to do. Maybe they

want to run faster? Maybe they wish they were stronger?

Use it as a springboard for goal-setting and acceptance.

Then have them reflect on what it means to stick your neck out.

I'd love to read their responses and see their creations!

Now, check out today's other PPBF picks at Susanna Hill's blog.