I Took My Frog to the Library by Eric A. Kimmel

I Took My Frog to the Library by Eric A. Kimmel

Summary of the Story

Bridgett takes her animals to the library, and they cause trouble. The frog scares the librarian, the hen lays an egg, the pelican hides the dictionary, the python sheds, the giraffe looks over everyone's shoulder, the hyena laughs too loudly at storytime, and the elephant is just too big. The librarian tells Bridgett she must leave her animals at home. Now when Bridgett goes to the library, the elephant stays home and reads to the other animals.

• Read the title of the book on the cover, pointing to each word as you say it. Have children repeat the title as you point to each word.
• Point to the picture on the cover. Ask: Where is the girl? (She's at the library.) What is she doing? (She's reading to a frog.) Have you ever seen anyone do this at a library?

Reading the Story for the First Time

• Read the story, moving your finger under the words as you read.
• After reading that Bridgett takes the hen to the library, let children fill in the names of the rest of the animals she takes to the library. Pause after turning the pages, so he or she can identify the next animal.
• After reading the story, ask: Have you ever been to the library? Did you see any animals there?

Recalling the Story

• After you have finished reading, ask children the recall questions below. Continue to ask these questions when you reread the book, until he or she knows the answers.

Reading the Story Again and Again

• Give open-ended prompts on each page. For example, ask: What is happening in this picture? Do less reading each time you read, leaving more "reading" or retelling to the children.
• Give prompts about objects or activities in the pictures. For example, ask: What is this place called? (It is a library.) Use your finger to point to what you are asking about. Evaluate the child's response. Expand it by giving more information. Ask the child to repeat the answer.
• You may wish to discuss the prompts shown below.

Extra Activities

• Children can write new episodes. Have them use the pattern from the book: I took my frog to the library, but he...
• Children can read I Took My Frog to the Library to each other.

Recall Questions
Ask the following questions to check the children's understanding of the story.

1. What is the name of this book? (The book is called I Took My Frog to the Library.)
2. Who is the main character in this story? (The main character is a girl named Bridgett.)
3. Where does this story mostly take place? (It takes place in a library.)
4. What does Bridgett take to the library first? What happens? (She takes a frog to the library, and it scares the librarian.)
5. What does Bridgett take next? What happens? (She takes a hen, and it lays an egg.)
6. What other animals does she take to the library? (She takes a pelican, a python, a giraffe, a hyena, and an elephant.)
7. How does the elephant behave at the library? (The elephant behaves well. She listens nicely, stacks the books neatly, and asks the librarian for help when she needs it.)
8. What does the librarian tell Bridgett? (She tells Bridgett to leave her animals at home.)
9. What happens at the end of the story? (Bridgett goes to the library by herself, and the elephant stays home and reads to the other animals.)