Lunchroom Lizard
Warning: This book may cause uncontrollable giggling and a sudden fondness for lizards. At least that's the way it worked at my house.
This book was an instant hit. I read it five times in one sitting to my five and eight year old sons.
It begins when Gil, the gecko, escapes from his classroom tank so he can chase a fly. Gil's chase takes him to the lunchroom where typical grade school dramas are taking place. Lunches have gotten mixed up, and a misunderstanding between friends has led to gossip and hurt feelings. In the middle of it all is Gil, steadfastly looking for his own lunch — the juicy fly. Eventually everything works out, sort of...leading to a humorous ending.
This book would make a great read aloud for grades K-3. Most of the story takes places in speech bubbles by the characters, much like a cartoon. This could be difficult for new readers to follow. However, it also could be incorporated into a lesson about writing conversation. Students could look at the book and transform the "bubble" speech to conventional written conversation.
There is a hidden math lesson in the story as well. As the action progresses, we see the clock and are reminded of the passage of time, making this book a perfect supplement for a math unit on telling time.
Even though this book can be used in lessons, it is mostly just a lot of fun. Just don't read it before bedtime. If your kids are like mine, they just won't be able to stop the giggles.
