The Paper Crane

The Paper Crane

Author: Molly Bang

BookBuilder Creator: Jessica Orellana

Welcome to BookBuilder!

The purpose of BookBuilder is to make text accessible for all learners. This is achieved by embedding Universal Design for Learning (UDL) supports directly into the text. 

The purpose of creating this BookBuilder version of The Paper Crane by Molly Bang, is to provide students with the support a teacher typically provides, in a context in which students are reading independently. For example, when at home, children do not have access to teacher’s support and scaffolding. With BookBuilder, children can read while interacting with embedded supports that mimic the experience with his or her teacher. In addition, the BookBuilder incorporates UDL supports. UDL is a framework created to reduce barriers to learning for all types of students by including options and supports that meet the needs of individual learning styles.

Below are explanations for the goals and rational for including each UDL support embedded in this BookBuilder. 

TextHelp Toolbar
The TextHelp Toolbar will appear on every page in the top left corner with four different icons. If you click the first icon, you will hear the text read aloud. To use this feature, press the icon and then click anywhere on the page. If you would like to hear just one sentence, highlight the text you wish to hear and then click the second icon (green triangle). To stop this feature, click the third icon (red square). Text-to-speech can benefit all readers, however, children who struggle with reading may especially benefit. The last icon, Spanish translation, will translate definitions in English to Spanish. This feature can benefit all readers, however, English language learners may especially benefit.  

Multimedia Glossary
The Multimedia glossary contains words in the story that have been defined to support the reader's comprehension. Words that are underlined with a dotted line, are words that are defined and can be found in the glossary. Click on the underlined word to learn the definition. You can also access all definitions by clicking on the “ABC” icon, located at the top of each page. The words chosen to be defined in this BookBuilder are words that must be understood to comprehend the text. This feature is meant to benefit all students, specifically those who are English language learners or who need more support building background knowledge on this topic. 

Descriptions
Underneath each image, there is a description. This features will benefit children who need additional information to support their understanding of the picture’s relevance and meaning. In addition, children with visual impairments will be able to access the picture by reading the description using text-to-speech. 

Coaches
This BookBuilder contains three coaches: Frank, Sabrina, and Alex. Coaches will appear at the bottom left of every page. Frank will appear to ask questions that will prompt children to make inferences. Sabrina will appear to check for understanding and Alex will appear to model questions that good readers ask while reading. 

A man once owned a restaurant on a busy road. He loved to cook good food and he loved to serve it. He worked from morning until night, and he was happy.  

But a new highway was built close by. Travelers drove straight from one place to another and no longer stopped at the restaurant.

Many days went by when no guests came at all. The man became very poor, and had nothing to do but dust and polish his empty plates and tables.

One evening a stranger came into the restaurant. His clothes were old and worn, but he had an unusual, gentle manner.

Though he said he had not money to pay for food, the owner invited him to sit down. He cooked the best meal he could make and served him like a king. When the stranger had finished, he said to his host, “I cannot pay you with money, but I would like to thank you in my own way.”

He picked up a paper napkin from the table and folded it into the shape of a crane. “You have only to clap your hands,” he said, “and this bird will come to life and dance for you. Take it, and enjoy it while it is with you.”  

With these words the stranger left.

It happened just as the stranger had said. The owner had only to clap his hands and the paper crane became a living bird, flew down to the floor, and danced. 

Soon word of the dancing crane spread, and people came from far and near to see the magic bird perform.

The owner was happy again, for his restaurant was always full of guests. He cooked and served and had company from morning until night.

The weeks passed. And the months.

One evening a man came into the restaurant. His clothes were old and worn, but had an unusual, gentle manner. The owner knew him at once and was overjoyed.

The crane flew down from its place on the shelf and danced as it had never danced before.

The stranger finished playing, lowered the flute from his lips, and returned it to his pocket.

He climbed on the back of the crane, and they flew out of the door and away.

The restaurant still stands by the side of the road, and guests still come to eat the good food and hear the story of the gentle stranger and the magic crane made from a paper napkin.

But neither the stranger nor the dancing crane has ever been seen again.

The End.

TEXT COPYRIGHT © 1985 BY MOLLY BANG. USED WITH PERMISSION OF GREENWILLOW BOOKS