Catching the Wild Waiyuuzee

It potentially could, it's a fun non-fiction story with a child running into a jungle. Students could try to identify the environment given the animals and plants depicted in the story.

• Author: Rita-Williams-Garcia
• Illustrator: Mike Reed
• Year Published: 2000
• ISBN: 068982601

Science Topics

• Life Science

Minimum Suggested Grade Level

• Prekindergarten

Maximum Suggested Grade Level

• 1st Grade

Summary

As she tries to escape her mother's efforts to "plait-a-plait" and "string-a-bead" her hair, a young girl imagines herself running away into a jungle.

Evaluation

• Appropriateness: High
• Authority: Low
• Accuracy: Low
• Liteary Artistry: Medium
• Appearance: High

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

It potentially could, it's a fun non-fiction story with a child running into a jungle. Students could try to identify the environment given the animals and plants depicted in the story.

Does the book provide an opportunity for children to ask and answer their own questions?

Not unless they are questioning the story it self. The book does not ask explicit questions to the audience.

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

Not necessarily, it's set up in a non-fiction third person narrative. Unless student's are curious about certain words that are used in the book or illustrations the book doesn't tell students to think about the content.

Is the science topic addressed in ways that are appropriate to the lesson?

Science as  a topic is not specifically addressed. The focus of the book has to do with the little girl running away from her  moms hair supplies while the child is imagining a jungle. The teacher would need to pre-plan question and tap into students background knowledge to get them to focus on the jungle and animals to use for a science lesson.

Is the content based on sound scientific principles? Is it accurate?

There are no science principles made explicit in the book. The child is imagining a jungle inside of her house, the illustrations are dramatized, i wouldn't necessarily call it accurate.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

No, the book itself does not state whether she is imagining or not. The illustrations show some products like beads turning into a caterpillars where it then may be apparent that the child is imaging a fictitious jungle with imaginary creatures.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

The illustrations are clear, however some of the animals are dramatized and cartoonish looking. Some of them are actually imaginary.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

Yes, there also a lot of repetition used in the book and large print with fun words that can be great for emergent bilingual student to gain fluency.

Is there a multicultural component? Is it free from stereotyping?

Yes there is, the book is classified as afro-american fiction. The author is her-self African American and has written several books in which she speaks from her own African-American cultural insight. I would say the book is free from stereo-typing, it depicts a young african american girl, trying to escape the oil, comb and beads her mom is attempting to use on her.

Is the book free from gender bias?

The only two characters in the book are  a female mother and her daughter. While the mother is trying to do her hair, which could be seen as a gender stereotype, it can be a fine line between cultural norm as well.

Does the book show the close association between science and other disciplines?

No, the child is only imagining a jungle. I see no other science mentioned in the book.

Does the book present a positive attitude toward science and technology?

Not explicitly, the jungle was depicted as a fun, adventurous place to be however.