By Ellen Schwartz (2006)
| Introduction | About the Willows | Strategies | Lessons | Helpful Resources | References |
Summary
Abby's Birds is the story of a friendship between an elderly woman, Mrs. Naka, and her young neighbour, Abby. Mrs. Naka introduces the Abby to the life of the robins in the yard and the art of origami. When Mrs. Naka has an accident, she is forced to spend a long time in hospital. When she returns home, a tree full of origami birds greets her, a gift from Abby. Together they rekindle their friendship.
Strategies
The book lends itself to the use of many strategies. Modeled or guided lessons could be developed to demonstrate any of the following strategies:
Connections
- Text - to - Self
Have you made friends with someone who has taught you something new or special?
- Text - to - Text
Compare to Sadako and the 1000 Paper Cranes.
Compare with other books about friendship.
- Text - to - World
What do you know about Japan where Mrs. Naka is from?
Inference
- Prediction
(Before Reading)
What are Abby's Birds?
(During Reading)
What will happen to Abby and Mrs. Naka's friendship?
(After Reading)
Why do you think the last picture shows Abby and Mrs. Naka flying?
Synthesis
Discuss the illustrator's technique and the medium used. Why do you think she used those techniques?
Strategies used in the Activities from the Willow Awards Site
2007 Shining Willow Award Nominee - Abby's Birds
From http://www.willowawards.ca/nomdescribe/abby.htm
- Research birds Draw pictures of birds in their habitat or create a mobile with birds as the theme - Connections, Summarizing, Inference
- Create origami animals - Synthesis
- Discuss empathy. Draw pictures or make posters of kind acts that students have done or seen - Connections, Synthesis, Inference
| Making Connections | Questioning | Visualizing | Making Inferences | Determining Importance | Synthesis | Monitoring Meaning |
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Abby’s Birds.doc | 28.5 KB |
