I Want That Nut!
Readers will become attached to Mouse and Chipmunk the minute this book is opened. The combination of simple text, watercolor illustrations, and expressive faces and body language of both characters result in a wonderfully engaging tale of two friends and one nut. Both Mouse and Chipmunk cherish their time alone with the nut, which is often cut short by interference from the other. The decision of who will keep the nut is made near the end of the story, when a third character is introduced; and Mouse and Chipmunk discover that some things, like sharing and friendship, are more valuable than a nut.
Pennsylvania Center for the Book Awards
Book Activities & Discussion Ideas
Talk with children about the activities that Mouse and Chipmunk do together or with the nut during the story. Examples include playing games, reading, cloud watching, having a tea party, and more. Create a written list of these activities that friends can do together, and ask children to add other ideas to the list. This book also provides an opportunity to talk about sharing and turn-taking. Think about how the story might have been different if Mouse and Chipmunk had asked each other for a turn playing with the nut, or waited until the other was finished before starting to play. Playing board games together is also a great way to practice turn-taking while having fun together.
Families will find that there is so much to look at in this book. The expressions and body language of the characters are perfect complements to the text. Before reading the story with children, adults may want to walk through the pages, giving attention to the speech bubbles. Speech bubbles can be a fun vehicle for children and adults alike to interact with the characters in a book and understand what they may be feeling. Because the illustrations contribute to a deeper understanding of the characters as well, adults can pause after reading the text on each page to allow children to look at the illustrations.