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Cannon, J. (1997). Verdi. New York, NY: Harcourt Brace & Company.
ISBN:0-15-201028-9.
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Grade Level: K-3
Summary: This book is about a snake named Verdi. When Verdi was born, he was yellow and he really liked being a yellow snake. Verdi observes all of the old green snakes up in the trees, and he realizes that he never wants to be old and green. To prevent himself from becoming lazy and boring, Verdi starts flying from trees, but while doing this, Verdi falls from the sky and hurts himself when he hits the ground. The green older snakes pick Verdi up and nurse him back to health, and when he gets better, Verdi realizes, much to his dismay, that he has turned green. As he grumpily sits around on a tree, some young yellow snakes question whether Verdi ever flew through the air. Verdi then realizes that just because he has turned green does not mean that he can not do things, so he goes and plays with the yellow snakes.
Activity: This story follows Verdi as he chooses to accept turning green. Since the story follows a single narrative, have students create a story map that sequences events.
Students should select major events that happen in the story and sequence them in the correct order.
Here is one example of a sequencing maps that students can use: http://www.readingrockets.org/pdfs/storymap_simple.pdf
Example for Verdi:
After students complete their sequencing chart, have them share them in small groups. Why did they select the events that they did? Were their events fundamental to the plot? What event do they think is the climax of the story?
Sequencing chart adapted from: Yopp, H.K., & Yopp, R.H. (2014). Literature-Based reading activities (6th ed., pp. 71-74). New York, NY: Pearson.
ISBN:0-15-201028-9.
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Grade Level: K-3
Summary: This book is about a snake named Verdi. When Verdi was born, he was yellow and he really liked being a yellow snake. Verdi observes all of the old green snakes up in the trees, and he realizes that he never wants to be old and green. To prevent himself from becoming lazy and boring, Verdi starts flying from trees, but while doing this, Verdi falls from the sky and hurts himself when he hits the ground. The green older snakes pick Verdi up and nurse him back to health, and when he gets better, Verdi realizes, much to his dismay, that he has turned green. As he grumpily sits around on a tree, some young yellow snakes question whether Verdi ever flew through the air. Verdi then realizes that just because he has turned green does not mean that he can not do things, so he goes and plays with the yellow snakes.
Activity: This story follows Verdi as he chooses to accept turning green. Since the story follows a single narrative, have students create a story map that sequences events.
Students should select major events that happen in the story and sequence them in the correct order.
Here is one example of a sequencing maps that students can use: http://www.readingrockets.org/pdfs/storymap_simple.pdf
Example for Verdi:
- Verdi is born with yellow skin.
- He watched the older green snakes and hoped that he never becomes that boring.
- Verdi propels himself through the air because it looks like fun.
- One day, Verdi realizes he is turning green. He tries to rub the green off, but it doesn't come off.
- Verdi flies through the sky, but forgets to land properly and hurts himself.
- The old green snakes help Verdi and make him better.
- When he is better, Verdi has turned green and is very upset.
- The young yellow snakes talk to Verdi and he realizes he doesn't have to be boring, so he decides to go flying with them.
After students complete their sequencing chart, have them share them in small groups. Why did they select the events that they did? Were their events fundamental to the plot? What event do they think is the climax of the story?
Sequencing chart adapted from: Yopp, H.K., & Yopp, R.H. (2014). Literature-Based reading activities (6th ed., pp. 71-74). New York, NY: Pearson.