We’re continuing with our ‘Reading is Magic’ themed Book Week activities, and you’ll certainly find plenty of magic happening in the enchanting picture book, Happy Millionth Birthday, when Jack Wolf’s birthday wish comes true!
Join in the celebrations as we explore some fun activities to acknowledge all the best and most FUN things about this book, playfully written by R.W.R. McDonald and vibrantly illustrated by Alexandra Colombo. 🙂
Discussion
Tuning in game: Wrap up gift boxes each containing a different number inside. Have students, one at a time, open the gift and ask them to answer a question or complete a task with that number. For example, what games would you like to play when you’re 90? Find 7 books with a wolf in them, and so on.
Ask, what do you love most about birthdays? How do you celebrate birthdays in your family?
Look at the cover of ‘Happy Millionth Birthday’. What do you see? How do you think the characters are feeling? What does it make you wonder? How does it make you feel?
After reading:
Retell the story in your own words, role play or use props like puppets or character stick puppets.
Did Jack Wolf’s wish turn out to be fun for everyone? Why or why not? Would you choose the same wish?
What was your favourite part?
What did you like about the illustrations?
How did you feel about the ending?
What are the most important things to know or remember about birthdays?
Activities
Dress up like Jack Wolf!
Want to dress up as the happiest wolf around?! Jack Wolf is your guy!
A stripy tee, waistcoat, jeans, bow tie and party hat are all you need for this party wolf, and for extra effect, add in some ears, a tail and black nose and whiskers. Why not accessorise with some balloons … and a cake!
Book Party Displays
Celebrate Book Week by creating some displays for your favourite books! For Happy Millionth Birthday, you might like to include a banner with the book’s title, character profile sheets (see below), a number line showing Jack’s birthdays, gift boxes that can hold ‘birthday’ cards, messages or book reviews, free activity or colouring in sheets, bunting, balloons … and a cake!
Jack Wolf Mask
On your book display table, offer this wolf mask to colour in and cut out (and wear to your parade!). You might also like to make your own party hat with coloured cardboard and streamers.
Character Profile
Think about Jack Wolf and his particular traits. What does he look like? What are his favourite things? How does he think and feel?
Write about Jack using a Character Profile sheet. See the example template. Sections include:
How I am like this character. How I am NOT like this character.
Words to describe how the character acts / thinks / feels.
Illustrate with your best picture of Jack Wolf!
BONUS! More teaching notes and ideas can be found through R.W.R. McDonald’s website.
Happy Book Week! 🙂
*Teaching notes prepared by Romi Sharp. Happy Millionth Birthday is written by R.W.R. McDonald, illustrated by Alexandra Colombo, published by Larrikin House.
#literacy #numeracy #visualarts #drama #celebrations
Find Rob at his website: R.W.R McDonald – Author of ‘The Nancys’ – Adult Crime Fiction (rwrmcdonald.com) and on Instagram.
Happy Millionth Birthday is available for purchase from Larrikin House and your local bookstore or library.
WIN a Million Birthdays with our Happy Millionth Birthday #BOOKGIVEAWAY!
Click here for details on how to enter to WIN this brilliant picture book, or head to the Books On Tour PR & Marketing Facebook or Instagram pages and find the post!
Good luck! 🙂
Join in this fun celebration with R.W.R. McDonald and his vivacious picture book, Happy Millionth Birthday, cheering up readers across the blogosphere!
#happymillionthbirthday #birthdays #humour #picturebooks #justkidslit
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