The Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle and Josey!

The point of studying all of the works of a single author is to teach our children, even our youngest children, how to discuss an author's books. We want them to understand that you can usually predict what an author's book will be about- the style of the book, the illustrations (if the author is also the artist), the story line, information about the characters and setting, and many other things when you have read some of the author's book. Understanding some of the books helps you understand new books by the same author. Before they can talk - and write - across an author's books, however, our children have to be able to retell a single book. Below is a wonderful example of a child's retelling of a single Eric Carle book.

She begins with a lead that includes the name of the book and the author on her cover page. Then she starts with an engaging beginning - One night Eric Carle made a book called The Lonely Firefly. As she retells the book, she includes lots of details in her writing and in her illustrations. She even uses some of the story language directly from the book. She closes with her adorable opinion - I hope you like fireflies now. I do. Good by. This is an outstanding example of a kindergartner's ability to retell a story that she has heard read aloud in the classroom and probably can read herself!

The Very
Lonely Firefly
by Eric Carle
and Josey

One night Eric
Carle made a

book called

The Lonely Firely.

It starts like
this - One day a firefly was born.

So he went

looking for

fireflies so he

saw a light.

He flew to it. It

was a light ball.

Then he saw

another light.

He flew to it

but it was a

candle.

So he flew off.

Then he saw a

light. It was a

flashlight.

Then it saw
another light. It

was a lantern.

Then another -

they reflected

from eyes

like a dog,

like a cat

reflects from eyes,

like an owl

reflects from

eyes.

Then the family
rode and they

found a beautiful

thing and the

firefly did too

and it was

beautiful too.

I hope you like
fireflies now. I do.
Good-by.