Nuts to You!
By: Lois Ehlert
Interest Level: K-2
Reading Level: 1.7
Genre: Informational/Non-Fiction
Have you ever encountered a pesky squirrel in your backyard? Have you ever wondered about where squirrels live? What they eat? or Why they have such bushy tails? Then this book is for you! In the picture book, Nuts to You! by Lois Ehlert experience the life of a squirrel while getting lost in Ehlert's breathtaking illustrations.
This rascally squirrel just can't seem to keep his paws to himself! In Nuts to You! a city squirrel manages to make his way to Lakeside Apartments. He digs up flower bulbs, steals bird seed, and brushes his bushy tail all over the plants on the window sill. This squirrel even manages to make it inside of the house due to the tear in the screen. Luckily, at the end of the book he makes his way out of the apartment after following a trial of nuts on the sidewalk.
This informational book is organized in a poetic format. Ehlert presents the poetry in a large font to express the squirrel's adventure. Throughout each page of the book, Ehlert uses small print to label everything the squirrel encounters too. For example, the squirrel ruins the "impatiens plant" and takes bird seed from the "American Goldfinch". This rich language is great for students to be exposed to, especially since the illustrations coordinate so beautifully. The end of the book is labeled with "Squirrel Talk." This part of the book provides the factual information about the classification of the squirrel, as well as its prominent features, such as the tail, teeth, feet, nest, and food.
My only concern about this design regards the "Squirrel Talk". All of the factual information about squirrels is left for the last two pages of the book. I believe it's helpful for students to see the poetic story separate from the information, but I also believe saving it for last isn't the best option either. The information is in a very small print as well, and students may just skip over it once they've read the rhyming story. It's important for students to retrieve the factual information and it's my job to make sure they comprehend it, especially if they want to know about squirrels.
This informational book is great addition for any classroom. There isn't a large variety of informational picture books on the market, and Lois Ehlert does a fantastic job at making information fun to read because of the illustrations; They truly make this picture book so intriguing. The water colors and textures in this book are exactly why I love reading all of her books. The pictures illuminate the words and it's very friendly for the younger readers. The style she uses is a great tool that will allow students to enjoy reading an informational text.
Even though the book doesn't provide where Ehlert received the information from, it seems very accurate. It's very straight forward, and isn't watered down. For example, she uses the word "rudder" when describing the squirrel's tail. She also uses the terms, "mammary gland" and "incisors". Ehlert is very precise with her word choice, and even talks to the reader when she reminds him or her that squirrels can bite and to never let one eat out of your hand. I like how she provides valid information while keeping the reader involved.
Overall, I love Lois Ehlert. All of her books have unique designs and this one happens to be presented in a poetic form. Her books offer readers beautiful images, rhyming words, story content, and valid information all in one. Although I may not agree with leaving all of the information until the end of this book, she still has many more informational book published that all have a different format for presenting the information. I think she is an author all students will benefit from reading.
Reading Level: 1.7
Genre: Informational/Non-Fiction
Have you ever encountered a pesky squirrel in your backyard? Have you ever wondered about where squirrels live? What they eat? or Why they have such bushy tails? Then this book is for you! In the picture book, Nuts to You! by Lois Ehlert experience the life of a squirrel while getting lost in Ehlert's breathtaking illustrations.
This rascally squirrel just can't seem to keep his paws to himself! In Nuts to You! a city squirrel manages to make his way to Lakeside Apartments. He digs up flower bulbs, steals bird seed, and brushes his bushy tail all over the plants on the window sill. This squirrel even manages to make it inside of the house due to the tear in the screen. Luckily, at the end of the book he makes his way out of the apartment after following a trial of nuts on the sidewalk.
This informational book is organized in a poetic format. Ehlert presents the poetry in a large font to express the squirrel's adventure. Throughout each page of the book, Ehlert uses small print to label everything the squirrel encounters too. For example, the squirrel ruins the "impatiens plant" and takes bird seed from the "American Goldfinch". This rich language is great for students to be exposed to, especially since the illustrations coordinate so beautifully. The end of the book is labeled with "Squirrel Talk." This part of the book provides the factual information about the classification of the squirrel, as well as its prominent features, such as the tail, teeth, feet, nest, and food.
My only concern about this design regards the "Squirrel Talk". All of the factual information about squirrels is left for the last two pages of the book. I believe it's helpful for students to see the poetic story separate from the information, but I also believe saving it for last isn't the best option either. The information is in a very small print as well, and students may just skip over it once they've read the rhyming story. It's important for students to retrieve the factual information and it's my job to make sure they comprehend it, especially if they want to know about squirrels.
This informational book is great addition for any classroom. There isn't a large variety of informational picture books on the market, and Lois Ehlert does a fantastic job at making information fun to read because of the illustrations; They truly make this picture book so intriguing. The water colors and textures in this book are exactly why I love reading all of her books. The pictures illuminate the words and it's very friendly for the younger readers. The style she uses is a great tool that will allow students to enjoy reading an informational text.
Even though the book doesn't provide where Ehlert received the information from, it seems very accurate. It's very straight forward, and isn't watered down. For example, she uses the word "rudder" when describing the squirrel's tail. She also uses the terms, "mammary gland" and "incisors". Ehlert is very precise with her word choice, and even talks to the reader when she reminds him or her that squirrels can bite and to never let one eat out of your hand. I like how she provides valid information while keeping the reader involved.
Overall, I love Lois Ehlert. All of her books have unique designs and this one happens to be presented in a poetic form. Her books offer readers beautiful images, rhyming words, story content, and valid information all in one. Although I may not agree with leaving all of the information until the end of this book, she still has many more informational book published that all have a different format for presenting the information. I think she is an author all students will benefit from reading.
ELA STANDARDS:
PRE-K-2
14.1 Identify a regular beat and similarities of sounds in words in responding
to rhythm and rhyme in poetry.
GRADE 3-4
For informational/expository writing:
19.11 Write brief summaries of information gathered through research.
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For example, students plan a mini-encyclopedia on birds. As a group, they generate a set of questions they want to answer, choose individual birds to research, gather information, compose individual illustrated reports, and organize their reports for a classroom encyclopedia.
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19.12 Write a brief interpretation or explanation of a literary or informational text using evidence from the text as support.
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19.13 Write an account based on personal experience that has a clear focus and sufficient supporting detail.
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