MaiStoryBook Library

MaiStoryBook: We Will Rock Our Classmates + I Am a Rockstar Craftivity

by MaiStoryBook

Introducing a back-to-school read about friendship and finding the courage to share your talents, featured in the MaiStoryBook Library Collection:

“We Will Rock Our Classmates” by Ryan T. Higgins

*~Click here to purchase your own copy of “We Will Rock Our Classmates” to start on your own reading adventure! (This is an affiliate link~ 5% of your purchase will go to MaiStoryBook to help create Reading Resources for your littles)~

Book Synopsis and Review

Penelope the T. rex (and Walter the Goldfish) are back in this rockin’ sequel to “We Don’t Eat Our Classmates.” Penelope loves to do a lot of things~ she loves to play chase, read books, draw pictures, play make-believe~ but most of all, she loves to *Rock-n-Roll.* So when it’s time for the school talent show, Penelope grabs her bravest purple marker and signs up. But what happens on rehearsal day when Penelope hears the other children whispering, “Can a dinosaur even play guitar?” Doubt creeps in and Penelope’s confidence in herself plummets. She begins to believe that she is *just a dinosaur,* and can never be anything else but a dinosaur. It’ll take some encouragement from her family, and support from her friends to help Penelope find the courage to take the stage!

Just as in his previous book, “We Don’t Eat Our Classmates,” Author Ryan T. Higgins, manages to strike the perfect balance between humor and sincerity. Littles who are hesitant to share their talents and who they truly are with peers, especially when it’s not what people expect, will connect with Penelope’s feelings and hesitations. But they will also be encouraged and inspired to push through their doubts and rock the stage with their own talents. Higgins illustrates the perfect expressions for the characters, creating a comedic story with characters you can still relate to (even if they are a dinosaur). Plus, littles will delight in the little details throughout, and giggle at the humorous asides woven throughout the story *Walter the goldfish plays drums?!* Join Penelope and her friends as they show us that with support, friendship, and a little bit of courage, we can all rock the stage!

Vocabulary

  • ferocious (p. 10) very mean and scary
  • rehearsal (p. 14) a practice show before the real show
  • marathon (p. 24) a very, very long run (26 miles!)
  • nerve (p. 28) someone’s bravery or courage
  • mimes (p. 33) someone who acts without talking, and uses their face and body movements instead

Themes/ Main Ideas

  • Friendship~ Good friends encourage each other to do their best, cheer each other on, and support each other’s dreams and passions
  • Have the courage and confidence to share your talents and your true self with the world! You are worthy of rocking the stage!

YouTube Video: Guided Shared-Reading Read Aloud Example

Example of a shared-reading, interactive Read Aloud of “We Will Rock Our Classmates” – how to subtly introduce the vocabulary list words within the text, ask guided questions, and spark conversation!

*~Check it Out~*

Subscribe: MaiStoryBook Youtube Channel for additional read aloud videos!

*I am a Rockstar* Craftivity

What are your special talents? Growing up, and even a little bit now, I believed that a talent was something like magic tricks, or doing standing backflips, or being magically gifted. I didn’t think I had any talents~ at least none worth sharing or mentioning. Now, I realize that talent comes in many different shapes and forms~ and that I do have talents. I am talented at drawing, painting, creating crafts, creating engaging content and videos. Sometimes it’s hard to acknowledge your own talents~ after all, talent partly relies on acknowledgment from others of your skills and abilities. But littles need to be encouraged to recognize what they are good at, or what they are interested in, and to pursue those interested or share their talents with others. When you are confident in sharing who you are with others, you’ll find that they are open and willing to accept you just the way you are. This week’s craft inspired by the story helps kids acknowledge their identity as a *Rockstar,* and helps them begin to share their talents and interests with their peers.

Materials

Directions

  • Choose a guitar template. There are 5 different options (in both black and white in color) with 2 different prompts: “I am, I can, I like to” with all lines, or with lines and a space for a picture / “My talent is “ with all lines, lines and a space for a picture, and picture space only.
  • Print out, cut out, and color the guitar (if black and white).
  • Write your name on the blank line/white space in the heading “_______ is a Rockstar.”
  • Answer the prompts.
  • “I am”: Fill in with personality characters, ex: kind, caring, funny, talented / or nouns: an artist, a reader, a violin player etc.
  • “I can”: What are some things you can do/talents you have, ex. I can play guitar, I can play soccer
  • “I like to”: What are things you like to do, ex. I like to bake, I like to play piano in a rockband
  • “My talent is”:  Write what your special talent is. Everyone has something they are good at!
  • Glue the guitar to the bottom of Penelope’s shirt. (See sample)
  • Display your Penelope to share what makes you a Rockstar! 

Enjoy Your *I Am a Rockstar* Craftivity

  • Share your Rockstar craft with family or friends and share what your talents are or what makes you special.
  • Share your Rockstar craft with family and friends and ask them what their special talents or interests are.
  • Use your Rockstar craft as a reading buddy as you re-read the story and rock-n-roll with Penelope in the story
  • Hang up your Rockstar craft to remind you of your talents and what makes you special.

*~Overall, as always, I hope you all are staying safe and healthy, and are ready yo enjoy some back-to-school adventures! Tag me on Instagram @MaiStoryBookLibrary, Twitter @MaiStoryBook  – post on FaceBook – or contact me via email to share your own *I Am a Rockstar* Crafts and your own reading adventures! I’d love to hear from you !~*

*~Until next time, Happy Reading~