Recently in our reading text books, we read The Garden of Abdul Gasazi, Chris Van Allsburg's
first children's book. It is a clever and mysterious story about a dog
named Fritz who runs into Mr. Gasazi's garden. Fritz is possibly turned
into a duck by Mr. Gasazi, but the reader never really knows for sure.
Mr. Van Allsburg leaves that up to the reader to decide.
Because Mr. Van Allsburg is such a talented writer and has written so many wonderful books, Mrs. Ranney read three more to us.
* * * * * * * *
The first one we listened to was called Two Bad Ants. Through
their experiences in the jar of crystals, which turn out to be sugar,
these ants learn that they are better off staying with their colony
rather than venturing out on their own.
* * * * * * * *
The second book we enjoyed was Bad Day at River Bend.
The story seems to take place in an old western town. Everything and
everyone in town is being covered by a colorful greasy slime. However,
at the end it is revealed that all the characters are in a young boy's
coloring book!
* * * * * * * *
Finally, Mrs. Ranney read The Widow's Broom to
us. It was an eerie tale in which a witch's broom comes to be owned by
a widow. The neighbors are very upset about this enchanted broom who
does all the widow's chores and want to do away with it. However, the
widow comes up with an extremely clever plan to trick the neighbors and
keep her broom!
* * * * * * * *
Which of these stories did you like best and why?
What other books by Chris Van Allsburg have you enjoyed?
Please leave a comment and give us your opinions.
What other books by Chris Van Allsburg have you enjoyed?
Please leave a comment and give us your opinions.
Dear Mrs. Ranney
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Chris Van Allsbuurg book that you read to us is Bad Day at Riverbend. I liked that one because there was a unique twist at the end. The whole book was actually a kid's colorng book.
Another book of his that I've read is The Polar Express. What happens is on Christmas Eve. there is a train coming to take kids to the North Pole.
Did you know that in Widow's Broom the dog, is the neighbors dog?
Cheers,
Jackson
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteOur favorite book by Chris Van Allsbuurg was Two Bad Ants. We liked it because we thought it was very creative that the ants thought the sugar was crystals. If we wrote that book we would have never thought of that idea.
Who else loved Two Bad Ants?
Your Bad Ant lovers,
Charlotte and Alexandra
Dear Charlotte and Alexandra
DeleteWe loved your comment,and you had so many details. Two Bad Ants is a fabulous story.
Anjolee's favorite part was when they went in coffee, and they thought it was a big brown lake.
Cate's favorite part was when the ants went in the garbage. Cate also liked Bad Day in River Bend. So did Anjolee. We both liked when it turned out to be a coloring book.
Your Chris Van Allsburg Lovers,
Cate and Anjolee
Dear Mrs.Ranney
ReplyDeleteOur favorite book is Two Bad Ants. Tyler's reason why he liked Two Bad Ants was because the ants thought the sugar was crystals. Aiden's reason why he liked because it was hilarious!
cheers,
Tyler and Aiden
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteWe love the variety of Chris Van Allsburgs!
We both love Two Bad Ants! We thought Two Bad Ants was hilarious!
My (Jules) favorite part was when the bad ants stayed and ate crystals, but they were sugar cubes!
My (Cinthia) favorite part was when they were in the coffee and the bread. They thought the coffee was a river and the bread had holes, so they climbed in the holes and went down into a toaster!
We loved the Two Bad Ants!
Your Ant loving students,
Jules and Cinthia
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteWe both like different Chris Van Allsburg books. Shai's favorite book is, Two Bad Ants. Noel's favorite book is A Bad Day At Riverbend. We both thought those books were really funny! We really like this blog post a lot.
Your Chris Van Allsburg lovers,
Shai and Noel
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteWe love all the Chris Van Allsburg books but our favorite ones are Bad Day at Riverbend and The Widow's Broom.
We both liked Bad Day at Riverbend because the different scribbles were actually a child coloring, and the whole story was in a child's coloring book.
We liked The Widow's Broom because the broom comes to life and does things on its own.
We like all the Chris Van Allsburg books because they all end with a funny twist.
Does anyone else like the twists at the end of all the books?
Cheers,
Lia and Brooke