| Product: |
Elmer In The Snow - David McKee |
| Date: |
16/02/08 (91 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Colourful pictures and happy story
Disadvantages: Skating on ice
Elmer in the snow
Another story about the well known and well loved patchwork elephant, Elmer.
~~Story and Illustrations~~
Elmer is wandering amongst his friends who look quite unhappy, and when he questions them as to why they are sad they say it's because they are cold. With this cold spell of weather we are having right now, children are keen to talk about whether they like to be cold or not. Elmer suggests the elephants just need a walk and we see them taking a walk through the colourful and very warm looking jungle. They are soon warm but Elmer makes them keep walking. They notice that the trees are different, as do children, who realise that they are looking at fir trees.
At last they come to the snowy part and the elephants are delighted! They decide that it's "cold but fun". The picture really shows them having a good time, frolicking and rolling in the snow. Elmer shows them how to skate on the ice- this is one part of the book I don't really like because of the dangers of frozen lakes, and sometimes, if I can get away with it, I tell the story by using the pictures and not a frozen lake in sight! The elephants look as though they are really having fun sliding about the ice and it's something I don't want to be seen to be encouraging!
The elephants forget about Elmer until they hear his voice, shouting that he has been frozen solid (obviously not his mouth!) The elephants rush to Elmer and there he stands- a snow elephant! However, when they touch the elephant, they realise that Elmer has played a trick on them, and begin to follow his footsteps; great fun is had by all when they have a snow ball fight.
Eventually, it begins to snow quite hard and they decide it's time to go home. The elephants decide that snow is fun, but it's good to be warm again- and yes, the whole colour scheme has changed from cold greys and blues to all warm reds pinks and orange.
All of the pages are double page spreads with the text being written somewhere in the corner, either top or bottom. Because the pictures are bright and busy, it's easy to use the pictures to tell your own story. Apart from the lake bit, I like to do this sometimes, and rather than tell the story, let the children talk about what is happening in the picture; there is usually sufficient detail for them to do this confidently even if they have never heard the story before. The illustrations do show the elephants having a lot of fun, and children like to talk about the games they play in the snow. Those children who have "met" Elmer before will expect him to play a joke on the others and usually guess that the frozen elephant isn't really Elmer.
~~Other bits of information~~
ISBN: 0-86264-615-4
Publisher: Anderson Press, 1995
~~Other Elmer Books~~
There are lots of Elmer books, and we are almost getting to the stage where there is one for every occasion. Some of the Elmer books include:
Elmer
Elmer Again
Elmer on Stilts
Elmer and Wilbur
Elmer's day
Elmer's Friends
Elmer's Colours
Elmer's Bath
~~Verdict~~
A popular book with children in key Stage 1 and lower key Stage 2. The text is quite simple so children who are starting to read and have heard the story before can have a real go at "reading" the story, and so gaining in confidence.
The illustrations are jolly and colourful and show the elephants having a really good time. The whole book shows the elephants playing in the snow, which children usually love, and because they will usually have had some experience of snow play, it will generate discussion.
A good book to read on cold and snowy books. Lots of discussion, lots of questions and a fun book which children will enjoy.
Thanks for reading.
Daniela x
Summary: One of the Elmer books
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