By being participants in the 2011 International Postcard Exchange, our United Kingdom pen pals, Sam, Rebekah, Jeremy, George, and Daniel recommended the picture book Tatty Ratty by Helen Cooper to us. So, we immediately placed our order online and anxiously awaited an e-mail from our local library, Glen Carbon Centennial Library, stating our book was in.
The image of a bunny eating a doughnut while taking a ride in the evening sky piqued our interest. What follows is an imaginative tale of the whereabouts of a lost bunny enhanced by the reference of familiar characters from other children's storybooks. Thus, not only is a new tale being told, but the backstories of other famous literary figures are introduced within Tatty Ratty. As a parent, I found the story useful as parenting advice if ever in the unfortunate predicament of a child missing a favorite toy. As a teacher, I appreciated the introduction of allusions in this literary work.
As a means of experiencing Tatty Ratty, the squirts dug into their own collection of stuffed animals and found their own "Tatty Ratty." Opting to create an adventure exclusive to our Tatty Ratty, we took turns placing Tatty Ratty in various circumstances throughout the house and then using our imaginations to explain how she arrived at each location.
 |
| Tatty Ratty taking a joy ride on the Plasma Car. |
 |
| Working off some of that porridge on the treadmill. |
 |
| Cleaning up after a full day's worth of adventure. |
Fresh from our Farm to Table field trips, we made a trip to the local produce stand, Norma's Produce and Greenhouses, and selected items which a bunny would most likely enjoy. Returning home with our bounty in tow, the squirts cleaned their (few) selected vegetables and (numerous) fruits and prepared them with minimal assistance ("I can do it!" was heard often during preparation) into a child-friendly salad.
Helen Cooper
No comments:
Post a Comment