What you need:
- Duck on a Bike, by David Shannon
- Crayons and/or markers (optional)
- Paper (optional)
Reading tips:
- Encourage your child to "read" Duck's lines with you. ("Hello, dog." "Hello, cat.") The predictable, repetitive nature of the text in this book makes it ideal for pre-readers.
- Use different voices for the different animals as you read.
- When the children leave their bikes by the house, ask your child to predict what happens next.
- After you finish reading, talk about what is real in the story (animals that live on a farm, the sounds they make) and what is pretend (riding bikes, talking).
To extend the reading:
- A duck riding a bike is silly. Can your child think of other silly things an animal might do? A cow driving a car? A sheep building a sand castle? This is also another chance to emphasize the difference between real and pretend.
- Encourage your child to draw a picture of the silly things he or she has thought of.
- Act out the book as a play. Friends and family can play the parts of different animals. You might even want to create costumes, sets, and programs!