"Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate
By: Bob Graham
"Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate by Bob Graham and illustrated by Bob Graham is an interesting nonfiction multicultural picture book. I would love to read this to my first grade class. This is a book that starts off where a young girl looses her bestfriend Tiger (cat), but asks her parents that she wants to get a pet dog. So, her and her family go to a Rescue Center where it is filled with dogs (all different types). As they go down the line they look at each one, and one named Dave caught their eye. He was a small black and white puppy. As her and her parents were getting ready to leave they noticed a old gray dog named Rosy. They left without her that night but came back the next day to bring her home with them. "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate, is a book where a child can easliy under stand and notice that different type of language it is.
Well, by looking at the book you are probably wondering how is this a multicultural book? If you look really close at the title you'll notice that "Pup". In different culture's they will pronounce and spell words differently. On page 22, 23 in Literature and the Child states that "...books that use interesting language in creative ways, develop important ideas, are potentially interesting to children, and (through picturebooks) contain artistically excellent illustration." "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate demonstrates language in a different way; for example, the word "Pup" stands for "puppy". As the reader will read "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate they will notice that the word "Center" in the book is spelled "Centre". Also, on page 43 in Literature and the Child is says that "...if children see only themselves in the books they read, the message is that those who are different are not worthy of appearing in books" This is a very important quote because when my future student's read this book they need to know that other people may say words differently. While they are reading this book, have them picturing what it would be like to be in that culture that will use words differently.
While I was reading this book and then having it read to me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyLSQFOy3wM) I started think of some activities to help them understand how it is a multicultural book. First, I would put the in small groups and have them go through the book and list any words that are spelled and sounded different. Then have them go onto the link above and listen to how the book is read to them. Second, I would have them search about the use of language in different cultures. My reader response question would be:
1) Why is it important to know about different languages?
2) Why do you think the author wrote the book in a different language?
References:
Graham, B. (2001). Let's Get A Pup! Said Kate. Candlewick. Print.
Galda, L., Cullinan, B. E., & Sipe, L. R. (2009). Literature and the child. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. pg 22, 23, 43. Print.
