Title: this ORQ (he cave boy.)
Written by: David Elliott
Illustrated by: Lori Nichols
Published by: Boyds Mills Press, 2014
Themes/Topics: pets, cave boys, cave moms, wooly mammoths
Suitable for ages: preschoolers
Opening:
This Orq.
He live in cave.
He carry club.
He cave boy.
Synopsis:
Orq, he cave boy. Orq love Woma, his wooly mammoth. Cave mom says, Woma shed, smell and not house trained. Poo! Woma has to leave. Woma sad. Orq sad. Orq big idea – teach Woma tricks then Cave mom welcome Woma. Woops 🙁 Orq play big hunter til meet saber tooth. Arrgh, What make saber tooth reconsider lunch?
Why I like This Book:
I am a sucker for pet and caveman stories and kids will be clamoring for a wooly mammoth pet after this succinct story. It is funny and charming and I don’t think preschoolers will have any problem with the cave boy language at all. Lori Nichols’ illustrations are delightful. Rendered in pencil and colored digitally, the depth, detail and humor of each spread makes the simple text shine. I adore the stone age birds illustrated throughout this story!
Activities/Resources:
- The story is very similar to ME WANT PET written by Tami Sauer and illustrated by Bob Shea, both in terms of plot and language. I would read both and do a discussion of similarities and differences.
- Research online or in picture books, stone age animals and have kids choose and paint which one they would want as a pet.
- Check out the video trailer here.
- Teachers, librarians, booksellers & parents, there is a story hour activity kit with lots of good ideas as well as a pattern to make your own woolly mammoth out of a brown paper bag. Check it out here at Curious CIty
Each week a group of bloggers reviews picture books we feel would make great educational reads. To help teachers, caregivers and parents, we have included resources and activities with each of our reviews. A complete list of the thousands of books we have reviewed can be found sorted alphabetically and by topics, here on Susanna Leonard Hill’s website.
In my 20's, with only my guitar and a rucksack, I wandered the continents, immersing myself in the lives of some wonderful people, projects and stories, which changed the way I view my responsibility to others and this earth. Right now I'm a European transplant in the US who writes books for children and young adults. Stories can help us not only navigate our world but can connect us to others, and allow us to inspire and help each other. I believe that equity and empathy should be at the core of our all actions, words, and stories.
I am also a school librarian and I get a kick out of book-matchmaking! And I use the pronouns she/her.
I agree with the idea preschoolers would have no problem with the language of cave boy. They would know it is crude and in their imaginations would realize they talk like that. (even if we know better!)
This sounds adorable and I can’t wait to read it. I reviewed Me Need Pet a long time ago and so therefore decree this one a Go For It. 🙂
I meant to say I reviewed “Me Want Pet” not what I said of “me need pet’ so let me do this correction OK? Me need chocolate!
I like Me Want Pet, too!
Love that cover! I think kids would have a lot of fun with this book. Great book for a classroom. I like your activities.
It’s a solid winner with young kids.
It looks so cute! I’ll definitely have to check it out. Also I love your blog header btw. Did you paint it?
Heather, Julie Rowan Zoch (author-illustrator) designed the header!
This looks super cute! I love the cover and the story! I will definitely be checking this out for my little cavemen! Thank you!
Cave pets are the best!
This one looks interesting. Better be a BIG cave.
RIGHT!
Looking forward to reading this one!
I think you will enjoy Lori’s illustrations a lot, Julie!
I believe I just saw that a sequel is coming out – This Orq He Say Ugh!
Won’t that be a fun companion book?
Hahaha!! This looks GREAT!!!!! Me wanna!!! 😛
This one looks QUITE clever and creative and fun. Need to give it a look for sure. Thanks, Joanna!
This sounds really fun! 😀