Elicit Prior Knowledge and Build Background
Initiate a discussion with students about moving to new places. Ask if they have ever moved to a new place, or if they know someone who has. Talk about the experiences they have had. Ask how they felt when they first found out they had to move, when they first moved, and how they feel about moving now. 

Introduce words from the vocabulary list during the discussion. You can bring the words into the discussion in an informal way. Alternatively, you might list the following words on the chalkboard and have students predict how these words might be related to the situations in the countries you have been discussing: adorned, detachment, gloss, incessantly, laden, mayhem, patois, quirks, reprieve, savory, stupefied, vigil 

Skim and Scan
Hand out the book and have students skim through it, looking at the illustrations. Ask them what they think might be happening. Suggest that they might want to revise or add to their predictions now that they have looked at the illustrations. 

Note any words in bold-faced type and discuss any words that you feel students might have difficulty with. Remind them to use context clues to understand unfamiliar words. Encourage them to jot down any words they have trouble with and discuss them after reading.