Don't Be Afraid Little Pip

Title: Don't Be Afraid Little Pip 

Author: Karma Wilson 

Illustrator: Jane Chapman 

Reading level: Ages 4-8 

Hardcover: 40 pages 

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry (September 22, 2009) 

Language: English 

ISBN-10: 0689859872 

      All little penguins must learn to swim, but for one Little penguin named Pip swimming is the last thing she wants to learn to do. The idea of swimming in the deep dark ocean does nothing but frighten Little Pip. So instead she thinks it would be better to fly. We all know that penguins are the only bird that can not fly, but to Little Pip she is determined. Pip meets many new bird friends who try to teach her to fly but she just can not seem to get herself off the ground and into the sky. Pips ends up finding that swimming is a type of flying for penguins. This book is a great story to read to children to teach them many important life lessons. I would use this book to teach lessons on many different topics from; Penguins, Antarctic, Overcoming Fears, Learning New Things, and Friendship. I believe "Don't Be Afraid, Little Pip" is full of social development and moral development. Every page has its own way of bring up new questions that a teacher could ask the students or the students could ask the teacher. I believe this book has a great way of teaching many important life lessons. This book is full of so many wonderful topics that a teacher could explore more than one with this book. 
      Three literacy elements I want to evaluated are the setting, characters, and the use of language. The setting takes place in Antarctica-this would be a great way to teach about what the Antarctica is and what animals live there. Just focusing on the setting could alone be a week long lesson. The characters in the book are all birds this again could take on its own lesson by focusing on the types of birds that live in Antarctica. The last element is the use of language, "Don't Be Afraid Little Pip" has a great way of using language that not only would allow you as a teacher to bring in new vocabulary words but it also has many words that most children are aware of and have spent time learning in and our of content. The illustrations in this book are beautiful, they flow along with the words and you can really picture yourself being in the Antarctica. Without the illustrations you would not be able to feel the emotions Little Pip is feeling. With a book like "Don't Be Afraid Little Pip" you as a teacher can take this book and create many lessons and help your students explore new information. I would recommend this book to any teacher who is wanted to explore more than one topic with a book.