Word-napped with Egg-napped! Word Play at Work...

HarperCollins Publishers, 2002

This week's READ-4-LUCK pick (the feature that acts as a recommendation, review, teaching tip, and writing lesson) is Egg-napped! by Marisa Montes and illustrated by Marsha Winborn.

Gabbler and his wife are thrilled with their first egg and horrified when it disappears.

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Year: 2002
Word Count: 628
Book Level: 3.2

RATINGS
CHILDREN:   Well, kids love animals. And rhymes. This book has both! My favorite illustration is the owl with the eye patch. Very cute.

PARENTS:  If you feel like going all out, you could read it in lots of fun voices. It could open up a discussion about honesty and friendship.

TEACHERS:  Could use in Kindergarten or 1st grade to introduce an egg unit, or a rhyming unit, or combine the two! A fun read aloud.

WRITERS:  Can you say WORD PLAY? Super fun! Makes it more fun for children, parents, and teachers, too! Alliteration: "he was puffed up with pride," "the Egg tipped and tottered and tumbled away." Onomatopoeia: with a PISH! and a POP!" Assonance: "his wife by his side...trying to hide." Internal rhyme: "Kit tripped and she slipped." Powers of three: "who laughed, jeered, and sneered." And plenty more mixed into the action and adventure. YOUR TURN: Try incorporating some of these awesome literary techniques into your own stories, rhyming or not.

Keep on keepin' on...