Before Reading
Building Background
Ask children if they have a sleeping bag or a tent, or both. Have them describe what their sleeping bag looks like (at this age, some children will have special sleeping bags that look like animals or Disney characters, etc.) and when they use them. If some children and their family have a tent, ask questions like, How big is your tent? When do you use it? Have you gone camping? Where? Have you ever put the tent outside in your backyard to sleep in with a friend or a brother or sister? Encourage children to share their experiences. For children who do not have a tent or have no concept of a tent, draw a picture on the chalkboard and explain that a tent is a form of shelter. It is made of canvas or other materials that is stretched over poles and attached to the ground with stakes. Explain that some tents are small and other tents are very large. To continue the discussion, ask: If you had your sleeping bag and a tent, what would you do? If it were night, what would you need to have with you in your tent? Could you have snacks in your tent? Would it be fun? Engage children and build interest for the book they will read.
Introducing the Book
Direct the attention of children to the cover of the book. Ask: What is the picture telling you? What expressions do the boys have on their faces? Do they look worried or surprised? Where do you think they are? What are they sleeping in? Point to the title of the book and read it aloud. Ask: Does the title help you to understand the look on the boys faces? What do you think the book is going to be about? Point to the author and illustrator names and read aloud. Turn to the title page. Have children read the title as you point to each word. Ask: Does the picture on the title page give you more information? Why do you think there are crooked lines around the boys’ faces? Do they "tell" you something? Explain how the lines are used to accentuate an expression, in this case, surprise or concern. Once again have children predict what they think the book is going to be about. Point to the author and illustrator names and explain that these names are always on the front cover and the title page. Turn to the back cover and explain that the picture is from one of the pages in the book and that the back cover is the end of the book.
Book Walk
Begin with the cover and the title page. As you walk through the book, call attention to the illustrations and any unfamiliar vocabulary—for example, on page 3. Ask children what they see in the picture. Reinforce the concept of tent you discussed in the Building Background section. Ask: Do you think the tent is large enough for two boys or will they need a bigger tent? Say: Let’s find out and turn the page. Point to the boys’ names, Manuel and Jason. Say the names aloud and ask children to repeat them. As you read pages 4 and 5, ask children to comment on what the boys are doing in the tent. Ask: Do you think they are having fun? What are they doing? What are they eating? On page 6, model a Think-Aloud. Say: I think the tent must be very large because there are so many friends in the tent. I wonder how big it is. Have children estimate how big they think the tent must be to hold so many people. Ask: Do they look like they are having a party? What did their friends bring to the tent? Point to the word brought and say it aloud. Have children repeat the word. Then, guide them to say that they brought toys and they brought a fish in a bowl, etc. Read to page 9. Ask: What do you see in the pictures? What do you think the boys are going to do? On page 10, say: I think something is happening—what do you think? Call attention to the picture on page 11 (the look on the boy’s face and the crooked lines). Ask: What do you think the lines mean? Do the lines make the boy look frightened? Is there a noise? Continue reading to page 14. Ask: Why do you think the boys have a flashlight? What do you think is happening? Read on to page 17. Have children comment on what they think the boys are going to do with the baseball bats. Ask: Do you think they are trying to find out what is making the noise? When you turn to page 18, ask: What is happening? Are the dog and the man making a noise? Do you think that is why the boys were worried? Have you ever heard someone snore? You may need to explain what the word snore means.
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