CONTENT:
Because of an Acorn (2016) was written by Lola M. Schaefer and Adam Schaefer and illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon. Though the story of an acorn, the picturebook explains how all the elements in the ecosystem of a forest are interconnected. From the acorn, a tree grows, and it becomes a nest and a shelter for various animals. At the end of the picturebook, there is a forest that developed around that tree as a continuous cycle of life.
WHY USING THIS PICTUREBOOK:
This picturebook promotes children’s reflection on the characteristics of an ecosystem. It can be used to promote children’s interest towards the protection of ecosystems, and it can be a starting point for developing activities on one specific element. The written text is brief, simple and repetitive. The expression “because of”is repeated and in every double spread it isfollowed by different expressions that describe various elements in the ecosystem. The illustrations show what the written text says, and they also provide additional information that can be used to promote interaction with children during read-aloud sessions.
