SNAKE HAIR by Stephanie Spinner is a fantastic book that I couldn't wait to get up on the blog. Last year I had a chance to read this to several groups of children in the First Grade and they absolutely loved it. Whereas they usually fidgeted and wiggled -- the way 6 year olds will -- when I read this book they were stone silent and riveted in place. And I don't know of a better testimonial than that.
The innovative paper artwork is one of the reasons I think this book 'clicks' with children. The intricate paper composition is a feast for the eyes, and both my children --then and now-- can be found sitting and studying the pictures.
The other reason, of course, that this book 'clicks' with children is that it is classic literature. And while made child-friendly and child-appropriate, there is some real adventure and drama here. [The classics didn't survive for a thousand year's because they were dull.] Thus when Medusa offends Athena she gets changed into a hideous monster; and Perseus is threatened not only by Medusa who he is sent to kill, but also by a sea monster and the dreadful king who wants him dead.
Rating ::: A+
"Snake Hair" is a Great Read-aloud with great artwork. It introduces children to the wealth of ancient literature and mythology, and all the children I read it too really enjoyed it. The book has fairly simple text, if you ignore the names of the characters, but there are 48 pages. The AR or Acclerated Reading designation is 2.2 --which means that it is a book on the Second Grade level. There is non-graphic violence: Medusa looses her head, and some people and creatures are turned to stone.
Oh-- and don't forget to stop and ask children to guess what will happen next. What would you do if you were Perseus? What do you think he will do with the shield?
Pam~
Somewhere in the X-burbs
SNAKE HAIR – The Story of Medusa
(All Aboard Books Reading Level 2)Oh-- and don't forget to stop and ask children to guess what will happen next. What would you do if you were Perseus? What do you think he will do with the shield?
Pam~
Somewhere in the X-burbs
SNAKE HAIR – The Story of Medusa
by Stephanie Spinner
Reading Information:
Word Count: 900
Page Count: 48
Accelerated Reader: 2.2 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 55255
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