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Interrupting the Big Sleep
6-pack
ISBN: 9780478122596
Copyright Date: 1999
Grade Level:
5
Reading Level:
U
Strategy/Skill:
Comparing and contrasting, Figurative language, Vocabulary and word study, Writer's craft
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Theme/Topic:
Family, Personal Change, Relationships
Classification:
Fiction
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Book Summary
A boy and a rattlesnake are both looking for something – the snake for a place to spend the winter months; the boy for something to relieve the boredom of staying in a remote place with a remote uncle. In the end, it’s not just the rattlesnake’s sleep that has been interrupted.
Features of the Book
- The realistic illustrations with unusual perspectives
- Poetic language in short, concise sentences
- Two points of view (first person for the snake, third person for the boy)
- The way the boy’s actions mirror those of the snake
- Specialized vocabulary – cholla, creosote, canyon, saguaro, diamondback, venom, fangs
- Colloquial language – Where you goin’?
Purpose
Interrupting the Big Sleep can be used to introduce and reinforce the following skills:
- exploring specific word meanings
- discussing the author’s craft
- making comparisons between characters
- recognizing that authors organize text in different ways for different purposes
- describing literary devices such as imagery and symbolism
- using the text as a springboard to further research
For more information please see our Lesson Plan
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