Follow me on Pinterest

Followers

10 June 2014

Review: The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl (with class pics)

Product Details 
Summary and image from amazon:  
The Enormous Crocodile is a horrid greedy grumptious brute who loves to guzzle up little boys and girls. But the other animals have had enough of his cunning tricks, so they scheme to get the better of this foul fiend, once and for all!

I admit, I have never read a Roald Dahl book in it's entirety.  I've watched Matilda, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (both versions, though I prefer the Gene Wilder version).  My students love The BFG.  But I've just never finished one myself.  

During one of the Armchair BEA twitter parties, a question was posed as to what was your favorite short story or novel.  So I asked, any for kids?  And the response from several tweeters was "The Enormous Crocodile" by Roald Dahl.  So, for the last week of class with my students (though not the last week of school---I don't pull the last week due to helping with kindergarten screening and end-of-year paperwork), I thought, why not?  My 5th grade group is a blood-thirsty bunch, they'd love a tale of a crocodile who likes to eat kids.  

And they did.  They couldn't get enough of the crocodile---even choosing to come with me to read more, rather than stay in class and play "minute to win it".  This NEVER happens in my world.  

Because 5th grade liked it so much, I thought for my last day with 3rd grade, I'd show the video of The Enormous Crocodile I found on youtube

They got so into it, they grabbed the copies of the book I had on the table and started reading along.  Here are some (edited) pics of my 3rd graders :)


When we were finished, they drew the 4 "clever" tricks the crocodile tried and rewrote the ending (as some did not like that he was shot into space.  They thought he deserved a different punishment). 

I was worried that it was going to be a little too "dark" for my kids.  But, shoot, it was great!  Nobody was scared, in fact, they thought it was funny.  They really enjoyed finding out what the tricks were, what animal was going to stop it and what the crocodile was going to do. 

Thank you, twitter and Armchair BEA for opening my eyes to this great book! 



No comments:

Post a Comment

Gold stars given to good comments.