A Couple of Boys Have The Best Week Ever
Written and Illustrated By: Marla Frazee
Published by: Harcourt Children's Books 2008
Published by: Harcourt Children's Books 2008
Grades: K-2
Genre: Fiction, Picture Books
2009 Caldecott Medal Honor Book
Synopsis: This story is about two boys, James and Eamon, who go to stay at Eamon’s grandparent’s house while they go to Nature Camp for a week.His grandparents are very excited to have them go to Nature Camp and believe they will learn tons from it.However, it seems as though their free time eating, playing video games, and staying inside is much more fun and interesting than Nature Camp.Bill, Eamon’s Grandpa, really wanted to take him to the penguin exhibit but the boys rather stay home to watch television or sleep.It is not until the least expect it that they see the importance of nature and the fascinating things about it.They go out to the deck where they make a model of Antarctica with rocks and mussel shells representing icebergs and penguins.They surprise his grandparents and show throughout the story what it is like to be a little kid.
Theme/Skill: Vacation, Friendship, Imagination, Grandparents, Beaches, Science
About the Author and Illustrator: Marla Frazee
Marla Frazee graduated from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. She also teaches children’s book illustration at the college for over 20 years. She is both an author and illustrator of many books. She has written and illustrated books including, Roller Coaster, Walk On!, Santa Claus the World’s Number One Toy Expert, and The Boss Baby. She is also the author-illustrator of A Couple of Boys have the Best Week Ever which received many awards including, the Caldecott Honor in 2009 and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor. She is also the illustrator of books including All the World, which received the Caldecott Honor Award in 2010, and The Seven Silly Eaters. She currently lives with her husband, three sons, a dog and a cat in Pasadena, California.
Pre-Reading Activities: Write this prompt on the board: I want you to think back to a favorite time when you had the best week ever. What made this week so special? What did you do? Who did you do it with? Where did you go? Draw a picture to go with your best week ever and write key words down that describe it. Then after 10 minutes you will discuss with your partner your best week ever. If given enough time have a few students share their best week ever.
Marla Frazee graduated from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. She also teaches children’s book illustration at the college for over 20 years. She is both an author and illustrator of many books. She has written and illustrated books including, Roller Coaster, Walk On!, Santa Claus the World’s Number One Toy Expert, and The Boss Baby. She is also the author-illustrator of A Couple of Boys have the Best Week Ever which received many awards including, the Caldecott Honor in 2009 and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor. She is also the illustrator of books including All the World, which received the Caldecott Honor Award in 2010, and The Seven Silly Eaters. She currently lives with her husband, three sons, a dog and a cat in Pasadena, California.Source used: http://www.marlafrazee.com/
Pre-Reading Activities: Write this prompt on the board: I want you to think back to a favorite time when you had the best week ever. What made this week so special? What did you do? Who did you do it with? Where did you go? Draw a picture to go with your best week ever and write key words down that describe it. Then after 10 minutes you will discuss with your partner your best week ever. If given enough time have a few students share their best week ever.
Post-Reading Activities:
Individually complete the graphic organizer which includes the story elements of characters, setting, problem, solution, etc. which is attached below after finishing reading the book. When complete children will discuss with a partner what they wrote down for each one. Then we will come together as a class and fill out an enlarged graphic organizer on the board. We will discuss the entire book and decide why children put answers they did using clues from the book.
Then have children write and draw a picture of what activity they think made it the best week ever for James and Eamon. They can write 1-2 sentences and draw a picture above it.
Graphic OrganizerReflection: I think that this book relates to many children and can help bring up discussion easily in class. I think that it will make children more comfortable sharing stories in the classroom if they were shy before. Many kids can relate to doing activiteis like James and Eamon do in the book. Since this story is based on the authors son, it shows that many kids go through similar experiences. The illustrations are very subtle and do not overpower the book or the words but rather allow readers to follow along with the different parts of the story. I think that this book will be great for learning story elements for young children and for them understanding that books have characters, setting, and plot.
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