Do Pigs Have Stripes?
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that children enjoy this fun read-aloud experience. The text encourages the use of exaggerated verbal inflections. Dramatic readers can incorporate animal sounds or actions.
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What's the Story?
When asked, "Does a mouse have a green spiky tail?" children can respond with an enthusiastic "No!" The comical suggestions posed throughout the book make this a fun read-aloud for young children. This experience builds children's confidence in their ability to learn and recall information.
Is It Any Good?
The silly, riddle-like questions are appealing to young children. Kids catch on quickly to the predictable text, which lightheartedly mixes up obvious characteristics of animals. Bold, colorful illustrations provide additional clues and focus on familiar features such as an elephant's feet and a dog's "big black wet nose."
Young children are provided with a meaningful opportunity to develop their sense of humor. The silly suggestions contribute to the child's recognition of animal features and reinforce previously learned concepts. The predictable text and friendly illustrations support preschoolers as they make early attempts at reading by retelling the story. While preschoolers enjoy the surprise ending (yes, a giraffe does have a long, thin neck) some toddlers find the sudden switch in the predictable text confusing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about different animals. Kids: What animals can you think of that have dots? What about stripes, big ears, long legs, etc.?
Book Details
- Author: Melanie Walsh
- Illustrator: Melanie Walsh
- Genre: Humor
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Children's Books
- Publication date: April 1, 1996
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 7
- Number of pages: 28
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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