(Image taken from Lexile.com)
Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures
DiCamillo, K., & Campbell, K. G. (2013). Flora & Ulysses: The illuminated adventures. Candlewick Press.
Reading Level: 520L
Why Should You Read This Book?
- The book utilizes a marvelous vocabulary selection.
- Graphics are inserted periodically which entice the readers.
- The graphics also convey part of the story. Thus introduction can be used in preparing the class for a graphic novel.
- The novel is humorous which will lead to a delightful read by most who read it.
- The book won the 2014 Newbery Award. This award can be explained to students, along with other awards, to guide them in their selection process of quality reads.
This book would make for a marvelous reading group read or read aloud.
Online Resources:- Graphics are inserted periodically which entice the readers.
- The graphics also convey part of the story. Thus introduction can be used in preparing the class for a graphic novel.
- The novel is humorous which will lead to a delightful read by most who read it.
- The book won the 2014 Newbery Award. This award can be explained to students, along with other awards, to guide them in their selection process of quality reads.
This book would make for a marvelous reading group read or read aloud.
Kate DiCamillo's website hosts a video interview that could interest the class. This video would probably be most interesting to an upper elementary class. The website also contains a backstory on the novel.
http://www.katedicamillo.com/books/flora.html
This video is an interview with DiCamillo about her writing process. The video also gives a tour of her writing space and can be a interesting glimpse for the students into the life of a writer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k8jP4Ivf18
Key Words
Comical, Animation, Action, Adventure, Relationships
Vocabulary:
Surreptitious: done in a secretive manner
Cynic: a person who sees humankind as selfish and does not believe in selfless acts
Malfeasance: something that is harmful and can ruin public trust
Audacious: bold and daring
Mundane: boring or monotonous
Positing: to place or set
Reading Strategy:
Before Reading: ask the students about the purpose of illustrations. Have them ponder why there are fewer illustrations as they advance in school. Also, mention how this book contains advanced vocabulary and encourage the students to use context to figure out the meaning of words.
During Reading: point out some of the author's word choice and have the students come up with meanings for the words based off the context.
After Reading: Present the students with a list of vocabulary words from the text and have them record the words and meaning in their vocabulary journals.
Writing Strategy:
Have the students search for new vocabulary words they want to introduce to the class. Have them utilize these words in a writing piece (can be geared toward any topic), in which context can aid in understanding the meaning of the new words. After the writing pieces are finished, have the students share what they wrote aloud and have the class guess the meaning of the new words.
Writing Strategy:
Have the students search for new vocabulary words they want to introduce to the class. Have them utilize these words in a writing piece (can be geared toward any topic), in which context can aid in understanding the meaning of the new words. After the writing pieces are finished, have the students share what they wrote aloud and have the class guess the meaning of the new words.
