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Back in August, I had the opportunity to review a special book written by a very special author. Haley Metzger co-authored a book called I Am Not Weird with RayeLynn Banks, her grandmother and writing guide.

Haley, never thought of herself as different because she has cerebral palsy. When a new classmate told her she was weird because she wore braces and walked funny, Haley was upset. She did not know what to do or what to say as a response. With help from her parents and grandmother, Haley decided to write a book explaining that she was not weird and cerebral palsy is not weird. In the book, Haley tells what cerebral palsy means and shares all that she can do anything, just like everyone else. Haley brought her book to school and it was read to the class to help the children understand. Haley is proud of herself and hopes her book will help others to understand cerebral palsy.

This past weekend, Haley and Rae Lynn gave a presentation about the book at the Jewish Book Festival in Atlanta.  Below is the video on the presentation. It’s long, but please check out a few minutes at least of Haley and Raye Lynn talking about their collaboration on I’m Not Weird at the Jewish Book Festival.

Haley and Raye Lynn – Atl MJCCA Book Festival 11-14 from Kevin Metzger on Vimeo.

To learn more about Cerebral Palsy visit Let’s Cure CP, an organization working tirelessly for a cure.

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

Melody is eleven years old and has never said a single word.  She also has a photographic memory so she remembers being a baby, remembers every show she has ever seen on TV, remembers the commercials too, remembers songs, factoids, everything.  All those words are trapped in her head, unable to be released.  Her parents know she is bright, but how could anyone know just how smart Melody actually is with her cerebral palsy being all that they can see?  At school she is in the classroom for those with special needs where the quality of instruction varies from year to year. One year she was subjected to the alphabet over and over again along with a CD of nursery rhymes.  Pure torture!  So when Melody realizes that she needs a computer to help her talk, everyone had better be ready to hear what she has to say!

This in-depth character study is beautifully done.  Melody is a character with charisma, brilliance and a sassy attitude that is integral to her personality.  Despite being unable to speak, Melody will speak deeply to any reader who takes the time to meet her.  Draper does not sugarcoat Melody’s disability.  She does not make the people around Melody too perfect and good.  Instead everyone is human, especially Melody. 

Draper brought me to tears several times in the novel.  From spectacular moments of Melody speaking to the cruelty of other children, this book offers such highs and lows.  And through it all, living it all, we have Melody, a true heroine, an amazing person, and someone we all should get to know.

The cover is wonderful with its fish out of water theme and a direct tie to the storyline.  I love the contrast of the pale blue and bright orange, because Melody is such a flash of bright color in the novel.

This will make a brilliant read aloud for a classroom of 5th or 6th graders.  It will also be adored by single readers who will find Melody a person worth spending time with.  Appropriate for ages 9-13, this book is a real winner.

Reviewed from library copy.

To live inside a body which has physical limitations can go farther than one may think. Especially a body whose brain in damaged, commonly named Cerebral Palsy. This is the life I live, this is the body in which have.

I am so glad I have a sense of humor; I strongly believe God knew I would have much use for it! My life with Cerebral Palsy has been quite interesting. The longer I live the more interesting “it” becomes. I must admit, I haven’t quite mastered the technique of laughing when I need to the most. But I’m working on it! Yes, being able to laugh at myself is key.

My brain has Cerebral Palsy — not my dreams. There is so much I want to do, so much I want to experience. So many goals I wish to achieve, so many which have become dreams that I want to become reality. My disability doesn’t limit my ability to dream, nor does it mask them. I have even contemplated skydiving! I think it stems from my wanting to do something wild and crazy for once. Yeah, I’ve thought it out… There would be a bunch of good looking men awaiting to catch me in a body of water! (see? My sense of humor is showing!) I have still deeper dreams in which are known to God. Ok, I will reveal one of my dreams, and that is to become a published author. For now I am published online, thanks to Triond!  

My brain has Cerebral Palsy — not my mind. Many associate the mind with the brain; while this is somewhat physically true, there is, lets say, a dividing point. Perhaps I’m wrong, I don’t know. In my case, it’s just what I feel. Many are astounded by how “smart” or “bright” I am. When they know of my writing they are amazed. Once they read some of my work, they ask one of two questions… “How do you do that?” or “You wrote that all by yourself?” to which I answer the same to both questions, “God!” 

My brain has Cerebral Palsy — not my heart. I’m finding the old saying, “The heart wants what the heart wants.” to be very true. I’m also learning that the heart is much more powerful than the brain. My brain tries to tell my heart that certain things will never happen or just can’t be, but my heart doesn’t listen. Again, my disability doesn’t limit my heart’s desires, but rather, enhances them.

Life is hard, not only for the disabled, but for all who are walking (or rolling!) on this earth. So, I daily choose to stand strong in my spirit knowing God has a plan and a purpose for everything and for every life. I will dream my dreams, write for His glory, and follow my heart no matter what. He sends me so many blessings, and has entrusted to me so much, reminding me that my brain has Cerebral Palsy — not me.

Books that tell me what people wear, what they eat, and how they spend their time have delighted me since I first began to read, so perhaps this is why I love The Happiness of Kati. Like The Wind in the Willows and The Little House in the Big Woods, this small novel about a small Thai girl and her family has enlarged my world by describing a different way of  living.

And yet in the descriptions of a rural Thai childhood, there are hints given at the beginning of each chapter that there is a sorrowful mystery at the heart of Kati’s seemingly idyllic life, and when that mystery is divulged, the story carries the weight of loss and sorrow.

As the jacket flap informs readers, Jane Vejjajiva is the daughter of a doctor who researches Lou Gehrig’s disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and this knowledge informs much of her story. In addition to this, Jane Vejjajiva was born with cerebral palsy, building a career as a writer, translator and publisher, traveling and studying abroad, and living a life filled with accomplishment and challenges. When she writes about disease and disability, she is well acquainted with these subjects, and depicts them without sentimemtality or mawkishness.

I am always struck when I read this book by the sensitive and skillful treatment of themes not usually found in middle-grade fiction in the United States. What do you think? Is this a book you would share with your child, your classroom? Tell us why–or why not!

Author: Lauren Thompson
Illustrator: James Estrin
Published: 2007 Feiwel & Friends (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0312370296 Chapters.ca Amazon.com

Sixty photographs packed with joy, beauty and palpable excitement tell the inspiring, true story of five beautiful girls and the determination that made their dancing dreams come true.

More ballet on JOMB:

• Nutcracker Noel

Check out the full list of non-fiction picture books nominated for the 2007 Cybils Awards here.

by Renee Kirchner, Teaching Tips Contributing Editor

Metaphors talk about one thing as if it were another. They are not introduced with the words “like” or “as”, but make direct comparisons. Here are a few examples:

His shirt was a flag, flying in the breeze. Her eyes were jewels, sparkling in the sun. The ocean is a playground for scuba divers. A song is a poem set to music.

Metaphors can compare something unfamiliar with something familiar to give you a frame of reference.

The surface of the moon is a snowy yard with footprint craters. The bottom of the ocean is a dark cave. A kiwi is a fuzzy lime. A resume is a report card for adults.

A metaphor comparison is not literal. You can’t always take the meaning directly. Here are some examples:

His room was a pigpen. (This means his room is messy, not that pigs live in it.) The harvest moon was a pumpkin. (This means the moon was round and orange, not made out of pumpkin.)
Her teeth were pearls. (This means her teeth were white like pearls, not that each tooth was actually a pearl.)
The baby’s cheeks were two rosy apples. (This means the baby’s cheeks are round and red, not really apples.)

Writers use metaphors to make their writing colorful and you can to. Give it a try.

Life is a Roller Coaster Sometimes!

An Exercise in Writing Metaphors: Complete the sentences to make your own metaphors.

1. The moon is a _____________________________________________.

2. Freckles are ________________ when they spread across your face.

3. His arms were _________________ as they lifted the heavy chair.

4. The stars are ______________ as they twinkle in the night sky.

5. The storm was a ______________ as it clawed against my window.

6. The freshly mowed lawn was a ___________________________.

7. The noisy children were __________________ as they raced through the museum.

8. I was a ___________________ as I tiptoed across the wooden floor.

9. The river was a _________________ as it twisted and turned down the mountain.

10. His cheeks were __________________ as he chewed the giant wad of bubble gum.

I just received a review copy of Turtle Summer. It’s a wonderful book! Look for Mary Alice Monroe to be our guest on Book Bites for Kids soon. In the meantime, you’ll want to go out and get your own copy of Turtle Summer.

Happy reading!

Suzanne Lieurance
Director, The National Writing for Children Center

by Teaching Tips Contributing Editor, Renee Kirchner

Johnny Chapman was born in Leominster, Massachusetts in 1774. Have you heard of John Chapman? Probably not. He is better known as Johnny Appleseed. We remember him and celebrate his accomplishments on the anniversary of his death on March 18, 1845.

Johnny had a longing in his heart to travel. He was not alone. Many families in the Connecticut Valley were packing up and heading west in the late 1700s. At the age of twenty-three Johnny said good-bye to his family and started westward. He packed lightly, carrying only a pewter pot, a hatchet, a blanket, a flint for making fire, a bag of cornmeal, and a sack of apple seeds. He carried a Bible in his coat.

His dream was to cross the country and plant apple trees along the way. He wanted a warm welcome to await the pioneers that would follow. Just imagine their delight at finding fruit to fill their empty stomachs.

His journey first took him to Pennsylvania. Those who saw him on his travels said that he put his stewpot on his head for a hat. Most of the time he didn’t wear any shoes. He liked the feel of the breeze on his feet. When he found a fertile patch of soil he would plant an orchard of apple trees. He would mark the spot with a brush fence. He was always careful to clear away weeds and rocks so the trees could take root.

Johnny did not live as a beggar. He sold his trees and apples along the way to pay for his supplies. If he was invited to stay in a cabin during his travels, he would sleep on the floor. Many nights he slept in the fresh air.

His adventures took him to Ohio. He was a little bit afraid of the Indian stories he had heard. The Indians never hurt Johnny Appleseed. He was not like the other white settlers on the frontier. Johnny lived a simple life. He did not chop down trees or kill animals. He was respected by the Native Americans and became good friends with many of them.

Johnny kept traveling west. He spent the last years of his life in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He died on March 18, 1845 at the home of a friend. He was seventy years old.

Johnny Chapman made a lasting contribution to America. His apple trees have grown and multiplied. Many of the apples you eat today may have come from the seeds of his trees. He will long be remembered as a kind man with a wonderful dream.

APPLE TASTE TEST

Materials:
4 kinds of apples (Red Delicious, Golden Delicious,Granny Smith, and MacIntosh – cut into slices)

What to do:
Each child will taste four kinds of apples and decide which variety they like best. This will teach them that their opinion is important and that not everyone likes the same kinds of food. The teacher will go around the room and ask each child which one was their favorite. She can then introduce simple math concepts. For example, “Children, we had ten people tasting apples today. Four children liked Granny Smith apples and two children liked Red Delicious apples. Did more children like Granny Smith or Red Delicious?” There are unlimited ways
to introduce the concept of numbers with this taste test.

Related books:

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World
by Marjorie Priceman

Dumpy’s Apple Shop
by Julie Andrews Edwards

by Renee Kirchner, Teaching Tips Contributing Editor

Prediction is an important reading skill that children must develop. It helps them to understand stories and create meaning as they read. Teachers can help children learn how to use clues from a story to predict what will happen next. One of the best types of text for teaching predicting is the circular story.

Circular stories follow a pattern. They end the same way they began after following a series of predictable events. Talk to children about other things that follow a circular pattern such as seasons or an animal’s life cycle. Explain that every year we have four seasons: winter, spring, summer, and fall. We always have four seasons and we can predict the type of weather to expect because it follows a circular pattern each year. Let them know that some stories are predictable, just like seasons, because they follow a circular pattern.

There are many fine examples of picture books that you can use to teach prediction. Read some of the stories listed below and ask children to predict what will happen next when you read. It might be helpful to draw a circle on the board and write out the plot points. This will illustrate how the story comes back around to the place that it started.

Picture books with circular plots:

The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant

When relatives arrive from Virginia, the house is filled with people and good times. There are so many relatives that they can’t all eat at the same time and they sleep on top of each other. At summer’s end, the relatives leave and the house seems big and quiet again. But, the relatives will be back again next summer.

Stephanie’s Ponytail by Robert Munsch

Stephanie arrives at school one day with a ponytail. The next day, all the girls are wearing ponytails, too. Stephanie wears her hair differently every day trying to thwart the copycats. Finally she tells her classmates that she is going to shave her head. The story has a surprise twist ending. The cumulative text is great for teaching how to make predictions.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

In this modern-day classic, one simple act, giving a mouse a cookie, triggers a whole set of other events. The demanding mouse needs a glass of milk after eating the cookie and so on and so on. Children will enjoy guessing what the mouse will need next.

Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto

Maria thinks that she lost her mother’s diamond ring in a batch of tamales she was making for Christmas dinner. When her cousins arrive, she tells them the problem and they help her look by biting into each of the tamales. Soon all of the tamales are gone and they have to make another batch.

Seven Little Rabbits

Seven little rabbits go down the road to visit their friend toad. This repetitive text keeps children guessing if any of the rabbits will make it to toad’s house. One by one they get tired and need to take a nap. The rhyming text makes for a great read aloud.

by Renee Kirchner, Teaching Tips Contributing Editor

It’s only natural for kids to want to pack away their books during summer vacation. They want to play with friends, swim, and ride their bikes. However, a summer spent without books could cause their current reading levels to drop before school starts in the fall. If you make summer reading a pleasant pastime, kids will be more likely to pick up a book.

Summer is a great time for kids to branch out and try reading something new. In summer there are no book reports or projects to complete when they finish a book. Reading should be for pure enjoyment. Encourage your children to read books from many different authors and genres. If they normally read mysteries, suggest that they try biographies, historical fiction, science fiction, or poetry. Don’t limit summer reading to hardcover or paperback books either. Children would probably enjoy reading comic books, magazines, and newspapers also. The objective in the summer is to make reading fun.

Learning how to choose their own reading material is an important skill for young children. Children are more apt to read a book if they select it. Parents can model book selection by taking their children to a library or a bookstore. Pick up a book and look at the cover. Next, flip through the pages and read the jacket out loud. Let your children hear your thoughts. For example, “I love books by this author. I’m so glad he has written another one. I think I’ll check it out and see if I like it.” Children also need to understand that it’s ok to not like a book. Everyone has started a book and then decided it wasn’t for them. Children do not instinctively know that it’s ok to not finish a book if they don’t like it.

Children might become overwhelmed when they see the huge selection of books available at the bookstore or the library. It might be a good idea to visit some websites and get some book recommendations first. Here are some excellent websites to try:

RIF (Reading is Fundamental

The RIF (Reading is Fundamental) website if full of great information. There are fun summer activities for families that are centered on reading. The website also has recommended reading lists broken down by children’s ages and interests.

KidsReads.org

This website is excellent if your child is looking for the newest releases. Each month a new selection of books are reviewed and posted. Frequently there are in-depth author interviews on the website so kids can read about their favorite authors.

American Library Association

The American Library Association has lists of recommended reading that will please everyone. The lists include classics, paperbacks, Newbery Award books, Caldecott Award books, and many others. Children will never run out of book suggestions after visiting this site.

This summer can be a great adventure for your children when you mix free time with some great books. Have a great summer and happy reading.

Happy Independence Day, USA!

Here are some facts about the United States flag and a fun craft for Independence Day

from Renee Kirchner, Teaching Tips Contributing Editor

President Harry S. Truman designated June 14th as a National Holiday in 1949. On Flag Day, Americans fly the flag in front of schools, offices and homes. Students learn about the history of the flag and how to treat the flag with respect.

The modern day American flag has seven red stripes and six white stripes. The top left corner is blue with fifty white stars. The thirteen stripes stand for the original thirteen colonies and the stars represent the fifty states. The red stripes represent England and the white stripes represent the United States.

Because the flag is so familiar, we may think that it has always been the same. This is not true. No one knows for certain who designed the original flag. We believe that Congressman Francis Hopkinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, designed the original flag. Even though there is a legend that Betsy Ross made the first flag, historians to not believe that this is true. Before June 24, 1912, there was no standard for the American flag. Flags made before this time had unusual arrangements of stars and odd proportions. President Taft established the proportions of the flag and the arrangements of the stars in an Executive Order. The number of stars on the flag increased each time a new state was added to the United States, but the number of stripes will always stay the same.

By 1912, when Arizona and New Mexico entered the Union, the flag had forty-eight stars. The number remained the same until 1959, when Alaska became a state. A year later, on July 4, 1960, the fiftieth star was added to mark Hawaii’s entry into the Union. The flag today looks exactly like the one we had in 1960.

America’s national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner” was written about the American flag. Francis Scott Key wrote a poem in 1812 that was later set to music and adopted as our national anthem. The flag flying over Fort McHenry in Maryland after a bombardment during the War of 1812 inspired him.

It is our universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset. However, when patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if it is lit up at night. The American flag should be displayed above state or city flags when flown on a flagpole. Occasionally the flag is flown at half-staff. This is a sign of respect for the memory of a public official or in the event of a national tragedy.

Our country honors the flag, which stands as a symbol of our unity as a nation, of our freedoms and of our power. Respect and honor the flag on Flag Day and on all other days during the year.

INDEPENDENCE DAY CRAFT

Handprint American Flag:

Materials
Large sheet of white paper (about the size of two poster boards)
Paint: Red, white and blue
Small sponge in shape of star
Pencils
Ruler

Instructions:
This flag can be made at home, but it will work best as a classroom activity. The completed flag should be displayed on a large wall or bulletin board.
1. Have students draw a box in the top left corner of flag for the fifty states.
2. Using the ruler, draw thirteen stripes on the flag with pencil. Mark the stripes that will be red with a small checkmark. The American flag has seven red stripes and six white stripes. The top and bottom stripes are both red.

3. Have one student paint the top corner box with blue paint.

4. Other students will take turns dipping their hand in red paint and placing red handprints on the stripes marked with the checkmarks. There is no need to paint the white stripes.

5. When the blue paint is dry, have several students make fifty stars by dipping the star sponge into white paint and pressing on the blue area.

by Renee Kirchner, teaching tips contributing editor

Learning doesn’t have to stop just because it’s summer. Not all learning occurs by reading books and solving math problems. Kids need adventures and new experiences to expand their view of the world. There are many great activities you can try that will bring your whole family together and teach your children something at the same time. Here are a few suggestions:

Take A Trip to the Zoo

Do your children like animals? Encourage their interest in animals with a trip to the zoo. Read a few books about zoos before you go. Go online and check out the latest attractions at your local zoo and decide which animals your kids want to see the most. Even if you went last summer and the summer before it doesn’t matter. Zoos animals have new babies, zoos add new attractions, and your kids are older and will notice different things. So, if you haven’t made it to the zoo this summer, you still have time.

Start a Garden

A family garden is a hobby that the whole family can enjoy. Go to the nursery together and let everyone choose what they want to plant. You could plant a flower garden or a vegetable garden. Even the smallest hands can help by watering seeds or plants. This is a great way for children to learn about nature. Gardening will also help nurture a love of the outdoors and keep kids off their electronic games and computers for an hour or more each day.

Plan Your Summer Vacation and Create a Travel Scrapbook

Is your family taking a trip this summer? Involve your kids in the planning process. Let them help you research hotels and restaurants on the internet. Get out a map and plan your route together. Travel is a great way to learn about geography in a relaxed, fun way.

When you come home with lots of pictures that need to be organized, spend an evening together creating a family scrapbook. Everyone in the family can add designs and special mementos from their trip. The scrapbook will become a treasured keepsake.

Go On a Weekend Camping Trip

If your family hasn’t taken a summer vacation, maybe you would have time for a short weekend camping trip. You could even do a daytime camping trip if mom and dad have to work in the summer. Load up the car with fishing poles, bathing suits, hiking gear, and great food to grill. Camping will also help nurture a love of the outdoors and keep kids off their electronic games and computers for an entire weekend. Don’t forget the marshmallows!

Try Stargazing

Summer evenings are perfect for gazing at the stars. Your family could lie out in the backyard on a blanket and point out the various constellations. You could also purchase a reasonably priced telescope and a book about the stars. It’s a nice way to reconnect with each other and have a chance to talk.

I hope your family enjoys one or more of these activities. Have a great summer!

by Renee Kirchner, Teaching Tips Contributing Editor

Georges-Pierre Seurat was born in Paris on December 2, 1859, in Paris. His mother was very affectionate, but his father was a solitary person. Like his father, Georges kept to himself. He attended the School of Fine Arts in Paris in 1878 and 1879. Georges studied the works of Rembrandt and Francisco de Goya.

His family had plenty of money and they supported him while he worked on his paintings. His first major painting was Bathers at Asnieres, which he painted in 1883. In the painting, people are cooling off from the summer heat on the banks of the Seine River.

His most famous painting is Sunday on the Island of La Grande Jatte. The painting showed people relaxing on an island in the Seine River on a sunny afternoon. The painting was started in the summer of 1884 and was completed two years later. Georges sketched scenes every morning for several months and worked in his studio during the afternoon.

La Grande Jatte is one of his first paintings in which he used his new painting technique known as Pointillism. He placed thousands of tiny dots side by side on the canvas. This method of painting was very slow and painstaking. Some people criticized his work, but others thought he was creating a new style of art.

In 1891, he experimented with different ways to use lines in his paintings to show emotion. The painting called The Circus used upward-slating lines to show happiness, horizontal lines to suggest calm, and downward-sloping lines to express sadness.

Seurat died unexpectedly at age thirty-one of meningitis. He will always be remembered for his original method of painting.

Art Exercises to Try at Home:

1. Select a page from a coloring book. Make a copy of it. Fill in one copy by painting with large brush strokes. Fill in the second copy by painting with little dots of paint. (Q-tips work well for this). Which picture took longer to paint? Which one do you like better?

2. Try this mixing experiment – Mix up the following colors:

- orange (red + yellow)
- purple (red + blue)
- green (blue + yellow)

Using a paintbrush, apply a circle of each color to a piece of paper. On a second piece of paper, draw three circles. Apply dots of blue and red inside the first circle, dots of red and yellow inside the second circle, and dots of yellow and blue inside the third circle.

Hold up the second piece of paper. What do you see? Does your eye mix the color for you? Can you see purple, orange and green?

3. Draw an entire picture using only straight lines. You will use the lines to show emotion. Upward slanting lines show happiness while downward sloping shows sadness. Lines that go horizontally give the feeling of calmness. Draw the lines very close together and try to cover most of the paper. (Ex: If you were drawing the still, calm water on a lake you would use horizontal lines.)

4. Georges Seurat painted many landscape pictures. Make a landscape picture of your own by cutting shapes and figures out of construction paper. Place the large objects at the bottom of the page. They will appear to be close to you. Place the smaller objects near the top of the page.

5. Purchase some blank postcards from an office supply store or the post office. Paint a postcard for a friend. Using small brushes and colorful paints create a mini masterpiece. Mail the painting to a friend to brighten their day.

Books About Seurat

George Seurat by Mike Venezia

Sunday w/Seurat by Julie Merberg

Seurat and la Grande Jatte: Connecting the Dots by Robert Burleigh

By: Teaching Tips Contributing Editor, Renee Kirchner

It is important for elementary aged children to understand the concept of compare and contrast. This concept can be applied to many areas of the curriculum including math, science, and literature. When a child is asked to compare and contrast two different things, they are supposed to tell how they are alike and different. Comparing shows the similarities between two objects and contrasting shows the differences. Children will use words such as both, like, also, and similar when comparing. Words such as unlike, however, and but might be used when contrasting two objects.

Children’s books, both fiction and nonfiction, can be useful tools for teaching the concept of compare and contrast. Select one book with two different characters or choose two books with similarities and differences in character or plot. Nonfiction books will also work well. For example, you could choose a book on reptiles and compare and contrast two different types
of reptiles.

There are two useful tools that teachers use as prewriting activities when teaching compare and contrast: the Venn diagram and the T-chart. The Venn diagram is made up of two or more overlapping circles depending how many objects you are comparing. Each circle contains different information about the objects and the overlapping portion in the middle contains the
similarities.

For example if I was comparing a rabbit with a wolf, the rabbit circle might have herbivore and the wolf circle would have carnivore. The overlapping portion in the middle might contain the word mammal, since both animals are mammals. Of course your student would put more than one descriptive word in each circle. The more detail they use, the better. The T-chart is organized differently than the Venn diagram. If we use the example of the rabbit and the wolf the chart would look like this:

Characteristic Rabbit Wolf
Diet Grass Meat
Animal group Mammal Mammal

Here are some examples of picture books that would work well for studying the concept of compare and contrast:

One Picture Book with Two Characters

Bubba and Beau: Best Friends by Kathi Appelt

Bubba is a Texas baby and Beau is a Texas puppy and they are best friends. They have adventures together and both of them become very upset when their pink blanket gets washed.

Similarities between Bubba and Beau:

Both of them are keen on chewing, neither one is housetrained, and they both disdain soap.

Differences between Bubba and Beau:

Bubba loves the pinky pinky blankie because it smells like Beau and Beau likes the pinky pinky blankie because it smells like Bubba.

Two Picture Books with a Similar Main Character

Cindy Ellen: A Wild Western Cinderella by Susan Lowell

Chickarella by Mary Jane Auch

Similarities between Cindy Ellen and Chickarella:

Both of them have an evil stepmother or step-chicken, a fairy godmother or fairy fowl mother, and both have a prince or a princely rooster.

Differences between Cindy Ellen and Chickarella:

Cindy Ella can wrangle, rope and gallop. Chickarella starts a high fashion business that grows out of making clothes for the ball.

Children can use the examples above to create a Venn diagram or a T-chart and then write a compare-contrast paper about the different characters.

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Note: Although school is out for summer vacation in most places across the country, parents can still read with their children this summer and use activities like this one to have fund with their children as they help them become better readers.