Ryan Respects

We were looking for easy to read books so that my daughter who's picking up reading can try to read some pages on her own. We came across this book, on the shelf for beginner readers, in the library. I didn't check the pages because we were running late and just checked the book out. So last night when she took this book for me to read to her at bedtime, I realised that while it was for beginner readers, I think it's more for Level 2 beginner readers. That said, my son enjoyed reading it, and my daughter enjoyed reading a page or two which had mostly easy words. But most importantly, they both enjoyed the story!

On the way to school Ryan learns some facts about slugs one of which is that slugs are slow. Unfortunately, after a running race during gym,his friend, Doug, comes in last while Ryan was the fastest. Ryan teases Doug by calling him "Doug the Slug". When Amy chides him for his behavior, Ryan refuses to accept it. That night while he was about to go to bed, his elder brother, Judd, teases Ryan because he needs to sleep with his toy rabbit. Ryan didn't like being teased and makes a promise to apologize to Doug the next day. Through his own experience, Ryan learns to respect his friends by being more sensitive in the things he says to them. Ryan Respects sends a clear message to children that teasing their friends is a hurtful and embarrassing action.

The picture book has illustration which makes the story come alive and become believable. The familiar setting of home, school and finding slugs on the way to school makes relating to the book easy. What is interesting is the way the story weaves in interesting facts so that the takeaway from the book goes beyond just learning how to respect others. Amy, Ryan's friend, knows a lot of facts about animals and shares them with him. Here are the facts that she shares:

• 
  
  Slugs belong to the mollusks family


• 
  
  It doesn't have shells


• 
  
  Hides under rocks to protect itself from the sun


• 
  
  moves very slowly


• 
  
  the cheetah is the fastest animal

During "Question Time" (a game we play after reading), these are the questions I asked and my kids took turns to answer.

1. 
   
   Name 2 creatures which they learnt about in the story


2. 
   
   What were the best moments in the story and why


3. 
   
   Why did Doug (pointing to the picture) look like this after the race?


4. 
   
   Who else, besides the Dad, said that teasing was not acceptable?


5. 
   
   Why do you think Ryan teased Doug and Judd teased Ryan? How do you think the person who was teased felt?


6. 
   
   What would you do if someone teased you in school?

Here are some other teaching points which I surfaced while I read the book:

• 
  
  As a friend, Amy, was very brave to have said to Ryan that he shouldn't have teased Doug. That friends can help by reminding each other about good behavior.


• 
  
  That you don't do to others what you wouldn't want others to do to you


• 
  
  There is no good that can come from making fun/teasing others.