The Very Clumsy Click Beetle by: Eric Carle

Book Genre: Fiction

Publishing Info: Scholastic Inc. (24 pages)

Awards or Honors:

Summary: This is a beautiful.y illustrated story of a young click beetle who climbs a tree, falls off, and lands on his back. He doesn't know how to get back over onto his feet and calls for help. A "wise old" click beetle passes by and promises to teach him what to do the next morning. The next morning the older click beetle shows the young click beetle how to click, flip through the air and land on its feet. They young click beetle then attempts to do the same. However, his try is unrewarding because he lands on his back again. The young click beetle meets several new animals and insects and makes many attempts to click, flip and land on his feet. Eventually a person happens by and it scares the young click beetle. The old click beetle cheers him on to click and flip. In the end the young click beetle finally learns how to click, flip and land on his feet to escape the terrifying human.

Personal Rating & Reason: ***Good. This is good book and it keeps the children's interest by making a clicking sound towards the end when the beetle finally click, flips and lands on his feet.

Reading Level: K-2 (2.8 AR)

Interest Level: ages 4-8 years

Possible Uses: There are a few uses of this book across the curriculum.
Writing: You could read the story and have the children create a circle map of the story. Then you could have them write some sentences using the circle map.
Art: The children could illustrate their writing. You could also make a click beetle out of soda bottle and paper mache.
Science: This story ties into science because you could go into further detail about insects and how they interact with their surroundings.
Character Education: This is a great story about perseverance.

Potential Problems or Difficulties: None found at this time.