When I first heard about this product swap, I couldn’t wait to join in the fun. I was even more excited to be paired up with Andrea from Reading Toward the Stars. We’ve actually been paired up before, so it was great to get the chance to collaborate again! If you haven’t stopped by her blog, you need to check it out. One of the highlights is her weekly Book Talk Thursday.
After browsing her store, I had a hard time choosing, but finally chose Henry & Mudge and the Funny Lunch. Second graders just adore these characters! After receiving the product, I was thrilled to see I only needed a few minutes of prep work for printing the pages and cutting out the game pieces. Just look at all of these goodies!
(note – the book does not come with the pack)
Second graders love to feel like the big kids when they read no matter their reading level. This book has 3 chapters, but it is a quick read, too! Scholastic lists it as Level I (DRA 16). When students first transition from picture book to chapter book, I monitor comprehension closely. Andrea has taken the guesswork out of that for me!
First, there are comprehension pages with fill-in-the-blank responses and two options have been included. Even though the students are reading the same text, you can differentiate for students based on their comprehension or writing level.
After reading a chapter with a group, we often work on a retell of that chapter. I love that Andrea has taken this one step further. For each chapter she has provided a short list of words. Students must include these words in their retell:
There is also a set of 9 reading response cards in this pack. Andrea suggests that these could be used during small group time or while visiting a literacy center. I love that there is a good balance of questions. Some are directly related to the text and others require students to think beyond the text.
In addition to comprehension, students also focus on compound words. To go with the theme of the book, you will find a bright and colorful board game with 45 bones. Students draw a card and determine whether it is a compound word or not. On the directions page (not shown) there is a spinner and some paw print game pieces that can be used.
In addition to the game there is a practice page for compound words. After identifying compound words in the text, students practice creating compound words and using them in a sentence.
Some of the other goodies you’ll find in this pack include making predictions, vocabulary, a writing extension, and a comprehension check.
Isn’t this pack great? It gets even better – Andrea has been generous enough to let me give away this pack to one of my readers. Use the Rafflecopter below to enter:
Click on the button below to go to the linky. Not only will you see products in action, but I hear there are even more products you can enter to win.

Good Luck!

I love these activities. They sound perfect for my second graders. Thank you for sharing this.
I love your borders on your pictures! Everything is so pinnable 🙂
-Bri @ Knowledge Mobile
Looks amazing!! Glad to be part of this great group!! Thank you for joining us!! 🙂
Brinca Into Bilingual!
Thanks for a great review! Sounds like your kids had fun with it. It is one of my favorite books to use around this time of year, especially with Mother's Day right around the corner.
Andrea
Reading Toward the Stars