Build Background
Read the title of the book. Ask students to share what they know about rabbits. Discuss why a rabbit might make a good pet.

Discuss poetry's rhymes and rhythms. Write the word pet on the board. Invite students to identify words that rhyme with pet. Write these words on the board.

Explain that rhyming poetry follows a beat that is based on syllables. Have students practice clapping the syllables in each word on the board. Ask volunteers to come to the board and put a slash mark between syllables in each word. If necessary, remind students of the rules for dividing words into syllables (VCV: between the consonant and vowel; VCCV: between the two consonants; compound words: between the two words).

Preview the Poem
Show students the front and back covers of the book. Discuss the pictures. Turn to the title page. Discuss the picture and the information on the page (title of book, author's name, illustrator's name). Ask students to explain what the poem might be about based on the pictures and what they already know about different places. Explain to students that thinking about what they already know about the topic will help them understand and enjoy the book.

Remind students about the rhyme that is present in some poetry. Read page 3 and ask students to tell you the two rhyming words at the ends of the second and fourth lines (white night). Remind students that not all ending sounds of rhyming words are spelled the same.

During Reading
Have students listen as you read the poem. Tell them to clap or raise their hand whenever they hear the second word of a rhyming pair. Read the book expressively and emphasize the words that rhyme in each pair of sentences. 

Use think-aloud strategies to remind students to use what they already know to help make sense of the poem. React to parts of the poem with facial expressions and gestures.

Allow students to stop and ask questions during reading, especially if they do not understand something. Invite students to share how they connected to prior knowledge while reading or listening to the poems.

After Reading
Reader Response
Ask students what they thought of the poem. Have volunteers describe their favorite part of the poem.

Comprehension
Ask specific questions that allow students to demonstrate their understanding of the poem.

• Why might a rabbit make a good pet?
• What do you think is the author's purpose for writing this poem? Why?
• How did the words used in the poems create images in your mind of the rabbit and its actions?