Me…Jane
AUTHOR: Patrick McDonnell
ILLUSTRATOR: Patrick McDonnell
PUBLISHER: Little, Brown and Company
COPYRIGHT DATE: 2011
ART MEDIUM: India ink and watercolor on paper
GENRE: Historical Fiction
LIFE SKILLS: Caring, Courage, Patience, Perseverance
SYNOPSIS: Young Jane Goodall and her favorite toy Jubilee the chimpanzee discover the wonders of nature together. Jane dreams of a future where she can realize her goal of working with animals.
BOOKTALK: Once there was a young girl who loved the outdoors. She loved animals and nature and dreamed that one day she could grow up and become a scientist who lived and worked in faraway Africa. She had read about the jungle and the animals there and was driven to find her way there to help those animals. Will her dream of helping African animals come true?
AUTHOR:
McDonnell, Patrick
Patrick McDonnell is well known as the creator of the comic strip Mutts, which he began writing in 1994. Prior to that time, he worked as a freelance illustrator for several national magazines. In 2005, he began his career as an author and illustrator of children’s books. Mr. McDonnell is also active with environmental and animal rights’ groups. His book, Me…Jane, was named a Caldecott Honor book in 2012.
Other books written by the author:
Art
The Gift of Nothing
Guardians of Being
Hug Time
Just Like Heaven
The Monsters’ Monster
Shtinky Little Christmas, A
South
Wag!
ILLUSTRATOR:
Same as author
CHALLENGING WORDS (…due to pronunciation, spelling and/or defining):
Cherished
Curious
Wondered
Miracle
Sap
Chimpanzee
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (Please include 4-6 questions)
1 What did Jane like to do in her backyard? What animals are you curious about that you’ve noticed in your backyard or neighborhood? Have you seen some of the same animals that Jane saw?
2 Why do you think Jane enjoyed nature so much?
3 Jane was very courageous. She climbed large trees! And she read some books about places far away – places that she dreamed of visiting. What courageous ideas do you have? Do you have hopes of visiting places that you have read or heard about?
4 What “miracle” did Jane witness? Do you think Jane and Jubilee may have observed other things at Grandma Nutt’s?
5 What animal was Jane most interested in and why?
6 Do you have a special toy that is your companion or friend like Jubilee was for Jane? What kind of adventures do the two of you have?
7 After your teacher shares the information about Jane Goodall that is included at the end of the book, think of some ways that you and your classmates could help to make the world a better place for all animals and people.
8 On the last page of the book, called Art Notes, is a cartoon that Jane Goodall drew. Describe what you think she was thinking and feeling when she drew this picture.
ACTIVITIES with CORE STANDARDS:
Language Arts:
1. Visit Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots websites: http://www.rootsandshoots.org. Here you will discover different projects that students all over the world are doing to help our environment. Working with the others in your group, choose a project that interests you and learn as much as you can about it.
Groups will get together to have a class discussion on a variety of these projects and their impact on our world. You are responsible for coming to the discussion prepared to provide needed information on your chosen project to your classmates.
The class will use information learned from this discussion to determine our own class project for Earth Day.
3.SL.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 3 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
a. Come to discussions prepared, having read or studied required material; explicitly draw on that preparation and other information known about the topic to explore ideas under discussion.
b. Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., gaining the floor in respectful ways, listening to others with care, speaking one at a time about the topics and texts under discussion).
c. Ask questions to check understanding of information presented, stay on topic, and link their comments to the remarks of others.
d. Explain their own ideas and understanding in light of the discussion.
2. After completing the science lesson below, write a short essay about a chimpanzee that includes interesting things that you discovered.
2.W.2 Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section.
3.W.7 Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.
Science:
1.In a book about chimpanzees, find some information that you did not know about these intelligent animals.
SCI.K.3.2 2010
Describe and compare living animals in terms of shape, texture of body covering, size, weight, color and the way they move.
RELATED INTERNET SITES:
Patrick McDonnell’s personal website: http://muttscomics.com/default.asp
Teaching Books.net resources: http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?aid=4886
Hachette Book Group Site for Patrick McDonnell: http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/features/patrickmcdonnell/index.html
Activities for Patrick McDonnell books: http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/features/patrickmcdonnell/activities.html
Hachette Group Me…Jane Educator’s Guide: www.hachettebookgroup.com/_assets/.../EG_9780316045469.pdf
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YHBA Picture Book Committee Title Activity Form, Last Revised 2012