If you’re looking only to have fun reading Bailey by Harry Bliss, that's possible. Bailey is a dog. He wakes up early, chooses a collar, puts on a back pack, and rides the school bus to Champlain Elementary. Bailey is an enthusiastic student who does well academically in his own quirky way but struggles with behavioral expectations at school. Lets’ talk about that. We can chuckle when Bailey gives his teacher a bone, demonstrates his knowledge of math by writing dog bones on the chalk board, and chews the kickball at recess. But when another student comments that Bailey is “out of control”, the story asks readers to consider Bailey’s behavior more carefully. He shows surprise and remorse when his behavior is socially unacceptable. So, maybe he’ll try to change—but at what cost? The questions in this lesson invite a variety of interpretations; however, the links for background knowledge feature the gifted and talented.
This book is read aloud
online by Ms. Rachel.
My Picture Book Talk for this story is here.
