The Midwife’s Apprentice
With no home and no family, a girl known as Beetle finds herself suddenly apprenticed to the village midwife, a knowledgeable but harsh woman. Set in Medieval England, this book boasts both humor and heart as the girl looks for "a full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world."
Excerpt:
So Brat, newly christened Beetle, got up, and the sharp lady found some work for her to do and rewarded her with dry bread and half a mug of sour ale, which tasted so sweet to the girl that she slept in the dung heap another night, hoping for more work and more bread on the morrow. And there was more work, sweeping the lady's earth floor and washing her linen in the stream and carrying her bundles to those cottages where a new baby was expected, for the sharp Lady was a midwife. Beetle soon acquired a new name, the midwife's apprentice, and a place to sleep that smelled much better than the dung heap, though it was much less warm.
Free Resources:
Online word search and other puzzles
Discussion Questions from Karen Cushman (the author)
Karen Cushman's Medieval reference materials
Paid Resources:
Katy No-Pocket
Katy the Kangaroo is sad because she has no pocket to carry Freddy, her joey. She asks other animals how they carry their babies, but nothing seems to work. Finally she goes to the owl to ask for advice and he sends her to the city for help. Will Katy be able to find a way to hold her son?
Free Lessons:
Project Ideas & Printable Resources from Little Learning Lane
Unit Study Ideas
Katy No-Pocket Lap Book
Mom Lessons from Katy No-Pocket
Paid Lessons:
This book is included in the Before Five in a Row curriculum.
Wild Kratts Kickin' It with the 'Roos episode
Related Resources:
Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too?
The Australian Animal Atlas
Blueberries for Sal
Robert McCloskey
Little ones will love the refrain of "Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk!" as you read them this classic Robert McCloskey tale. Little Sal and her mother get all mixed up with Little Bear and his mother while berry picking. Will they get straightened out before it's time to go home?
Free Lessons:
5 Activity Ideas
Unit Study
Discussion Prompts
Book Study
Paid Lessons:
This book is included in the Before Five in a Row curriculum.
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World
Marjorie Priceman
Travel around the world with our protaganist as she locates and gathers the best ingredients for apple pie - from their countries of origin!
Free Lessons:
Activity Ideas
Art Lesson
Economics Lesson
Paid Lessons:
Apple Unit Study - Inspire the Mom
Apple Unit Study - Stephanie Hathaway Designs
This book is included in the Five in a Row curriculum.
The Shakespeare Stealer
Gary Blackwood
Widge is an orphan with a gift for shorthand. When his master tasks him with copying down a Shakespeare play, Widge learns the idea of right vs. wrong as he has to decide between old loyalties and new.
Excerpt:
It did not prick my conscience to know that I had been doing something wrong. We were not given much instruction in right and wrong at the orphanage. As nearly as I could tell, Right was what benefited you, and anything which did you harm was Wrong.
My main concern was that I might be caught.