The Squiggle - a perfect picture book

As I was looking through my Lunar New Year's books, I found one that I have managed to overlook in other years.

My loss.  It is beautiful.  A perfect picture book for Friday.  

The Squiggle

written by Carole Lexa Schaefer

illustrated by Peirr Morgan

published by Dragonfly Books, 1999

fiction

themes: imagination, Chinese culture

delightful for children 3 - 7

opening lines
My teacher says, "Time to walk to the park." So, as always, off we go in a bunched up, slow, tight, straight line.  I am last. No one else sees what I see on the sidewalk.

summary (from the book cover)
As she walks to the park with her school class, a young girl finds a piece of string which her imagination turns into a dragons tail, an acrobat, fireworks, a storm cloud and more.

why I love this book
• I love books that tickle the imagination and encourage the reader to see everyday objects or occurrences from a new perspective.
• The Squiggle reminds me of Except If, Not a Box, and Not a Stick, other books I love.
• The text is simple, providing space for the imagination.
• The use of onomatopoeia allows me to "hear" the adventures with the squiggle.
• The illustrations (markers and gouache on "oatmeal" paper), inspired by Asian brush stroke painting, clearly show the imaginary incarnations of the squiggle.
• The children are Asian; I like my classroom library to include a books that depict a variety of ethnicities and cultures.
• The adventures of the squiggle teach about Chinese culture.
• At the end of the story, the children are no longer walking in a "bunched up, slow, tight line".  They have transformed into a joyful squiggle.

resources
This book begs for a piece of red string and time to play with it to see what it will become.  Markers, crayons or pencils could complete the picture.  I see some red string in my classroom's future next week.

source:  Scholastic

The Squiggle reminds us that going on a walk can be an adventure, not just a means of transportation (or exercise).  Go on a walk, open to the possibilities presented by the imagination.

Celebrate the Chinese culture presented through the illustrations.

Create a Chinese New Year's dragon.

source: Handprint and Footprint Art

source: Handprint and Footprint Art

source: Kaboose

Take a dragon on parade.

 Eat long life noodles.

Happy reading and Gung Hay Fat Choy!

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