The Rattlesnake Who Went to School

Yes it does because it addresses behaviors of a rattlesnake in various situations in comparison to the way human children would normally behave. This comparison between snake and child would help younger children start to think about the differences even more deeply.

Author: Craig Kee Strete
Illustrator: Lynne Cravath
Year Published: 2004
ISBN: 0-399-23572-8

Summary

A boy name Crowboy is scared about going to school on the first day so he decides to imagine himself and act like a mean rattlesnake. He displays the behavior of a rattlesnake the whole first day, even not eating his lunch because it didn't consist of field mice. The second day he makes his first friend helping him to come out of his rattlesnake character. The two new friends decide to imagine that they are rattlesnakes together.

Evaluation

Appropriateness: High
Authority: High
Accuracy: High
Liteary Artistry: High
Appearance: High

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

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

Yes. Children would wonder and also be able to relate to the nervousness Crowboy is experiencing about dealing with the first day of school. Some might not be as familiar with the way Crowboy chooses to deal with his nervousness, but then when he gains a new friend and starts to act like a regular boy again students will gain better understanding for why he chose to act this way in the first place without having one.

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

Yes. It will invite children to remember times they felt nervous about things and how they chose to handle the situation. They will also think about the behavior that snakes display in certain situations that varies greatly from the way that humans do. Kids will also start to think about the differences in the types of food that snakes eat compared to humans.

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

Yes. The main topic addressed is how snakes behave compared to humans. I feel this book brings up scientific topics about the way snakes behave and the things snakes eat in a way that kids wouldn't even be aware they are engaging in science.

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

Yes. It specifically addresses the types of food that is appealing to snakes, which many children might not be aware of. The information is accurate.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

The book is about a fictional character named Crowboy that any child could relate to while reading about his nervousness about dealing with the first day of school. There are no references to anything specific or historically relevant for the reader to distinguish, just very general and common circumstances.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

Yes. The illustrations match what is taking place in the stories wording perfectly. Every illustration helped to add to the context of the story being told.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

Yes, I feel that this is a good book for top reading first graders, most second graders and presumably a fun and easy read for most third graders too. It might start to lose some fourth graders.

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

Yes. The main character Crowboy appears to be of Hispanic or Asian heritage based on his skin color and facial features that the illustrator included. The friend he makes is a Caucasian girl, so that also shows people from different races becoming friends.

Is the book free from gender bias?

Yes. Absolutely.

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

I don't see any cross curricular relationships with other disciplines and this one besides the obvious Literature sparking an interest in science.

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

Yes. This book introduces scientific topics about Rattlesnakes in a way that the child reader might not even be completely aware that they were engaging in learning scientific themes. Because it manages to introduce these themes in the form of a boy being nervous and using his imagination I feel that the seamless-ness of this approach to introducing science topics to children does cause it to present a very positive attitude towards science.

Science Topics

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