You may want to heed this advice from a youngster making their way through a snowy city: there are places you might take short-cuts and places you should not. There is a place that has a vent that could keep you warm. There are places that you could go to listen to some music – or to hide. This is a sweet story of traversing a city in winter, with illustrations that put you in the heart of a cold day spent on the bus and walking through the streets and parks… and with a twist in the tale at the end.
Listen to the story
Do a craft!
Take-and-Make Sock Kitty projects can be picked up curbside starting on April 6th. Call or email the library at 426-3581 or jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com to schedule a pickup. Instructions to do the craft here.
Big Ideas & enduring Understanding
Watch and listen for the unexpected.
There are many good things, and friendly people, even in a place that might seem scary.
We all can fear unknown things.
Dig a little Deeper
Beyond the Book: Ideas, Questions, Projects and Connections:
Take a walk around your neighborhood and think about what it would be like to be a cat on your own. Which places would the cat like? Which places should it avoid? Take photos or notes as you walk around and create your own short story afterward.
Exploring the idea of community. A community is formed by a group of people who work together and live in the same area (such as a city, town, or neighborhood). Draw and label your home and other places that are close by your neighborhood. Use your drawings to discuss "sense of place". Are there other ways community is formed? Are you part of different community groups? These questions/discussions can also be used as writing prompts.
Were you misled by who was narrating the story? Try your hand at telling a short story from a pet’s perspective.
The narrator of this story is sharing advice with their lost pet about navigating the city in the winter. Choose an audience, such as a pet, or a friend, or a grown up, and write a paragraph telling them how to do something you can do well, such as make a sandwich, ride a bike, or fall asleep at night.
What is the connection between the child and the cat?
What makes a place safe? What makes a place unsafe?
What is waiting at home for both the child and the cat?
What landmarks, buildings, and natural places make your neighborhood unique?
Have you lost something precious before? How did that make you feel?
How can you help yourself or someone else feel okay in the face of uncertainty?
Feeling overwhelmed can be scary. What are some things you might suggest to help a friend who is feeling overwhelmed?