Redwoods by Jason Chin

Redwoods
(Flashpoint-2009)

By: Jason Chin

Grade: 3-4
Genre: Blend of Fiction and Non-Fiction

*2010 Giverny Award Winner*

Redwoods is about a young boy who finds a Redwoods book at the subway station. He begins reading about the history of Redwoods and when he emerges from the subway, he finds himself in a forest surrounded by very, very tall Redwoods. This book is so informational and clearly meticulously researched. It has a lot of neat facts for younger children, and unlike a textbook, the pictures make the words come to life. Instead of reading facts, students feel like they are in the forest with the boy. I love how the story moves through the forest and how it teaches important information about redwoods. I really like how the story ends and leaves the next step in the journey up to students to create. 

Theme/Skills Taught: Environment & Imagination/Predicting & Using context clues

About the Author: Jason Chin is an author and artist living in Brooklyn whose work includes the illustrations for Simon Winchester's The Day the World Exploded. REDWOODS is the first book he has written and illustrated for Roaring Brook Press. He was trained in illustration at Syracuse University and began his children's illustration career while working at Books of Wonder in New York City. His other books include: The Master Spy Handbook, The Master Detective Handbook, Chinese New Year & The Silver Sorceress of OZ. Jason Chin's Bio

Pre-Reading Activities:What do you know about Redwoods? Think-pair-share. Have you ever seen a redwood tree? Where would you find one?

Post Reading Activities: This book could be linked to a life cycle lesson. The book teaches about competing for resources and how the redwoods survive and defend themselves. Students can create a life cycle that includes redwoods, explain the life cycle, or draw a life cycle. There are many different options to display the same information. Give the students options. This book can also be tied in with a lesson on the rainforest since redwoods are found in the rain forest.
-What book would you want to live in? and what? (good post reading journal entry idea)
-Research one of the animals that are named in the book ( squirrels, beetles, earthworms, centipedes, spiders, salamanders, banana slugs, bald eagles, ospreys, woodpeckers, and northern spotted owl)
-Write the next "chapter". The young girl picked up his book, so what do you think will happen next?

*Ticket out the door: Write one new fact you learned about Redwoods.