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Scholastic Inc., 555 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.10012. Produced by Imagination Ink., based on
Produced by Imagination Ink., based on a design by Kathy a design by Kathy Massaro.Massaro. ISBN: 0-439-16546-6
ISBN: 0-439-16546-6
Copyright © 2001 by Scholastic Inc. Copyright © 2001 by Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.U.S.A.
W
W is f
is for the wonderful and wise Arianne W
or the wonderful and wise Arianne Weber
eber..
With warmest wishes.
One day, Worm went to the woods
One day, Worm went to the woods
to gather walnuts.
to gather walnuts.
He brought his wagon with him.
On his way home, Worm saw Woodpecker
On his way home, Worm saw Woodpecker
whistling in a weeping willow.
whistling in a weeping willow.
Woodpecker asked Worm for a ride.
Woodpecker asked Worm for a ride.
Wow! What a wagon!
Worm wiggled along, pulling Woodpecker
Worm wiggled along, pulling Woodpecker
in his wagon. Soon they came upon Weasel
in his wagon. Soon they came upon Weasel
eating watermelon.
eating watermelon.
Weasel asked Worm for a ride.
Weasel asked Worm for a ride.
Wow! What a wagon!
Worm wiggled along, pulling Woodpecker
Worm wiggled along, pulling Woodpecker
and Weasel in his wagon. Before long, they
and Weasel in his wagon. Before long, they
bumped into Wombat wearing her new wig.
bumped into Wombat wearing her new wig.
Wombat asked Worm for a ride.
Wombat asked Worm for a ride.
Wow! What a wagon!
Worm wiggled along, pulling Woodpecker,
Worm wiggled along, pulling Woodpecker,
Weasel, and Wombat in his wagon.
Weasel, and Wombat in his wagon.
Next, they met Wolf on his way to work.
Next, they met Wolf on his way to work.
Wolf asked Worm for a ride.
Wolf asked Worm for a ride.
Wow! What a wagon!
Worm wiggled along, pulling Woodpecker,
Worm wiggled along, pulling Woodpecker,
Weasel, Wombat, and Wolf in his wagon.
Weasel, Wombat, and Wolf in his wagon.
Soon they saw Walrus winking and waving.
Soon they saw Walrus winking and waving.
Walrus asked Worm for a ride.
Walrus asked Worm for a ride.
Wow! What a wagon!
Worm wiggled along, pulling Woodpecker,
Worm wiggled along, pulling Woodpecker,
Weasel, Wombat, Wolf, and Walrus in his wagon.
Weasel, Wombat, Wolf, and Walrus in his wagon.
Up ahead, they saw Whale playing in the water.
Up ahead, they saw Whale playing in the water.
Whale asked Worm for a ride.
Whale asked Worm for a ride.
Wow! What a wagon!
Worm wiggled with all his might trying to pull
Worm wiggled with all his might trying to pull
Woodpecker, Weasel, Wombat, Wolf, Walrus,
Woodpecker, Weasel, Wombat, Wolf, Walrus,
and Whale in the wagon. But the wagon
and Whale in the wagon. But the wagon
would not move. The wheels started to wobble.
WHAM!
WHAM!
The weight
The weight
was too much
was too much
for the
for the
wagon.
wagon.
It
It
cra
cra
she
she
d to
d to
the
the
gro
gro
und
und
.
.
“Oh, no! My wagon!” Worm wailed.
“Don’t worry, Worm,” the animals said.
Worm’s friends worked on the wagon all afternoon.
When the wagon was fixed,
When the wagon was fixed,
Worm wiggled into it.
Then W
Then W
ombat, W
ombat, W
easel, W
easel, W
olf, W
olf, W
oodpecker
oodpecker
,
,
Walrus, and Whale pulled Worm all the way home.
Walrus, and Whale pulled Worm all the way home.
And w
How many things can you find
How many things can you find
that begin with the letter W?
Ww
Ww
C
C
h
h
e
e
e
e
r
r
W
W
is for worm and a wagon to pull
is for worm and a wagon to pull
W
W
is for wig, whale, wave, and wool
is for wig, whale, wave, and wool
W
W
is for watermelon, juicy and sweet
is for watermelon, juicy and sweet
W
W
is for walnuts, waffles, and wheat
is for walnuts, waffles, and wheat
Hooray for
Hooray for
W
W
,
,
bi
bi
g
g
an
an
d s
d s
ma
ma
ll
ll
—
—
the wildest, wackiest letter of all!
Here are some quick and fun ways to use this story to help
Here are some quick and fun ways to use this story to help
children build important alphabet recognition skills.
children build important alphabet recognition skills.
Ask children to find big W and small w at the top of the front cover. Review the W/w sound Ask children to find big W and small w at the top of the front cover. Review the W/w sound with children. Can they find two words in the title that begin with the letter W/w? Read the title with children. Can they find two words in the title that begin with the letter W/w? Read the title aloud, emphasizing the W/w sound as appropriate.
aloud, emphasizing the W/w sound as appropriate.
Flip the book over and read the story summary on the back cover. Ask children to point out Flip the book over and read the story summary on the back cover. Ask children to point out words they hear or see that begin with W/w. Explain that the story you are about to read words they hear or see that begin with W/w. Explain that the story you are about to read includes many more words that begin with the letter W/w. Can they help you find them? includes many more words that begin with the letter W/w. Can they help you find them? Read the story aloud once for pleasure and enjoy together the whimsical illustrations. Then Read the story aloud once for pleasure and enjoy together the whimsical illustrations. Then reread the book, emphasizing the initial W/w sound in the appropriate words. Ask children to reread the book, emphasizing the initial W/w sound in the appropriate words. Ask children to listen closely for and identify all the words that start with W/w. Point out these words in the listen closely for and identify all the words that start with W/w. Point out these words in the text, and make a list of them.
text, and make a list of them.
Write each of the words from your list on an unlined index card. Read each word on the cards Write each of the words from your list on an unlined index card. Read each word on the cards aloud with children. On another reading of the story, children can match the words on the aloud with children. On another reading of the story, children can match the words on the index cards with the words in the story.
index cards with the words in the story. Pages
Pages of of the the book book depict depict a a busy busy scene scene full full of of W/w W/w words. words. Some Some of of these these words words havehave been introduced in the story, but a few are new. Ask children to find as many W/w words as been introduced in the story, but a few are new. Ask children to find as many W/w words as they can. Add any new words to your list. The W/w words depicted in the scene include: they can. Add any new words to your list. The W/w words depicted in the scene include: worm, wall, wagon, wheels, window, walnuts, wolf, watch, whistle, woodpecker, whale, water. worm, wall, wagon, wheels, window, walnuts, wolf, watch, whistle, woodpecker, whale, water. (Children may come up with other W/w words on their own!)
(Children may come up with other W/w words on their own!) Read
Read aloud aloud the the cheer cheer on on page page several several times, times, with with lots lots of of energy energy and and enthusiasm. enthusiasm. InviteInvite children to join you in reciting the cheer when they feel ready. Encourage them to find any children to join you in reciting the cheer when they feel ready. Encourage them to find any new W/w words in the cheer. Again, add these words to your list.
new W/w words in the cheer. Again, add these words to your list.
Don’t let your exploration of the letter W/w end with the story! Display your list of words in a Don’t let your exploration of the letter W/w end with the story! Display your list of words in a place where children can easily see it. During the rest of the day or week, children can add place where children can easily see it. During the rest of the day or week, children can add new W/w words that they encounter in other books, on signs, on food labels, and so on. new W/w words that they encounter in other books, on signs, on food labels, and so on.
R
R
e
e
a
a
d
d
i
i
n
n
g
g
T
T
i
i
p
p
s
s
16-17 16-17
18 18