Buddy has a unique family. Each person in Buddy’s family has a unique characteristic about him/her. For Buddy, his unique characteristic is his big ears. While Buddy has big ears, the irony is that Buddy does not listen. While he can hear very well, he does not pay attention and listen well enough to follow directions. He mixes up squash and wash, tomatoes and potatoes, pen and hen, and bread and bed. One day Buddy’s parents send him farther than he has ever gone from home before. They give him very clear directions telling him several times to make sure he is listening because if he chooses the wrong path he will end up at the Scruffy Varmint’s cave. Buddy hears the directions, but does not listen to them and goes on hopping about his way ending up meeting Scruffy Varmint. Even when he is with Scruffy Varmint, he does not listen and follow directions. Here he confuses firewood and briarwood, flour and flowers, pinches an inches, and finally on the fire and in the fire. This last mix up infuriates Scruffy Varmint. Buddy runs as fast as he can back home vowing always to listen to his parents.
The illustrations in this book are okay but not excellent. They enable children to see what the teacher is reading, but they do not take the reader beyond the text. They add some humor showing how ridiculous his mix ups are, but other than the humor they do not extend the text.
This would be an excellent book to read to students at the beginning of the year to encourage attentive listening not only at reading time, but throughout the school day. It shows how important it is not only to hear directions but to listen and comprehend directions. Buddy’s mistakes seem pretty funny for the most part, except his encounter with Scruffy Varmint, but the book can launch a discussion about how some directions are really important and how students need to make sure they are always listening and following directions, never knowing when the teacher might give extra important directions. The discussion could lead into a discussion about listening with respect to the teacher and other students and how important that is, but also about how sometimes things could happen like fire drills where it is really important to be listening and we never know when those moments may happen.
While the illustrations may not be the best, the overall idea of the book, the importance of good listening, is important for all students to understand. The humor in which this book presents that message gives students a laugh but also reminds them of the importance of good listening.
As soon as I read your description of the book, I also thought this would be a great book for the beginning of the year. I love the irony of the big ears and the lack of listening. I wonder if teachers could also relate the books message to looking closely at things such as when reading.
ReplyDeleteThis would be a fabulous springboard for students to write their own class rules. The book serves as the example of what not to do and the consequences of when directions aren't followed.
ReplyDeleteThis book can give teachers a model that they can continuously refer to throughout the school year. Whenever students aren't listening and paying attention in class, the teacher can remind them of Buddy's story and emphasize the importance of listening.
ReplyDelete