Silly Pets
Written by Kathy Ferreira, Nicole Lawson, and Sue Schuck
Illustrated by Darcy Schwartz and Seoin Lim
The coaches in this book, Pedro, Hali, and Monty show you how to help children develop phonological awareness skills (listening to the syllables and sounds in words) as you read a storybook to them. Children will be engaged by the coaches who provide fun questions, hints, and models.
If you give your puppy a pizza,
It is important for children to learn to hear the number of syllables in words. Read this page to practice words that have two syllables.
Extension activity: As children eat lunch, ask them to find words that have two syllables on the table such as; apple, water, chicken, peanut, cookie, yogurt.
the puppy will ask to go to the park.
Here is another opportunity to practice two syllable words. Read the two syllable words on this page and count the syllables with children by clapping hands.
Extension Activity: As you read other stories to children, find one or two syllable words. Help children clap or tap as they count the number of syllables in the words.
If you give your hamster a hamburger,
Read this page to practice a word that has three syllables.
Extension Activity: Ask children to say words that have three or more syllables: camera, kindergarten, television, caterpillar, or hippopotamus. remember to clap one time for each syllable.
Practice a two syllable word on this page.
Extension Activity: Have children close their eyes and listen for the syllables in words as you say to them. Try these words: jacket, finger, picture, and window.
If you give your bird a bagel,
Extension Activity: Here are some other words you can try with them: dog and doll; fish and fan; cup and cat.
the bird will ask to go to the beach.
Find the things in this picture that begin with the same sound as bird.
Extension Activity: Help children find objects in the classroom or at home that begin with the same sound as bird.
If you give your turtle a taco,
Children recognize the same sounds in different words.
Extension Activity: Ask children if they know any words that begin with the same sound as turtle.
the turtle will ask to go to the toy store.
On this page, children find words or objects in the picture that begin with a same sound.
Extension Activity: Pick a letter sound. Think of as many words as you can that begin with that letter sound.
We can help children hear the individual sounds in words if we say each sound separately.
Extension Activity: Practice these words. Say each sound of the word and ask children what words they hear: hat, mat, bat.
the cat will ask to go camping.
Children find which words begin with the same sound on this page.
Extension Activity: Doing a tongue twister with children is a fun way to help children hear phonemes. Have your children say the tongue twister as fast as they can and as slowly as they can. Try this one! Cooks cook cupcakes quickly.
So, as you can see,
if you give your pets plenty of love,
they will be as happy as can be!
This book is an adaption of 'If You Give Your Pet...' by Kathy Ferreira, Nicole Lawson, and Sue Schuck.
Special thanks to the Massachusetts Department of Education whose funding supported teachers and parents in the development of this story.
© CAST, 2005
