Bibliographic Information:
O’Malley, Kevin. Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2005.
Plot Description: A boy and a girl are writing a story for a school assignment, but they can’t seem to agree on what to write. The girl begins with the classic “Once upon a time…” and a story unfolds about a princess, her ponies and a big cruel giant who comes to steal them away one by one. The boy, disgusted, jumps in and introduces a cool motorcycle dude who isn’t afraid of the giant and is going to save the ponies. As the two students take turns interrupting each other with plot twists, the princess and the motorcycle dude find themselves working together… and eventually falling in love.
Quantitative Reading Level: Lexile 550; GL 2.9
Qualitative Reading Analysis: The story within the story structure sets this book apart from most children’s picture books. Although the language is simple and accessible to most second graders, the story itself is making a meaningful albeit playful point about gender stereotypes in children’s tales, and maybe even the act of collaboration.
Content Area: English Language Arts
Content Area Standard(s):
CCSS for Reading Literature, Grade 2-3: 6) Distinguish their own point of view from that of the narrator or those of the characters; 9) Compare and contrast the themes, settings, and plots of stories written by the same author about the same or similar characters (e.g., in books from a series).
Curriculum Suggestions: This book would be a great read-aloud for a second or third grade classroom. Students can discuss the contrasting points of view of the students in the story as well as the characters they have invented; they can also discuss how each student’s contributions to the story reflect the kinds of children’s stories that boys and girls typically read (or are read to them).
Supporting Digital Content: N/A
Reader’s/Teacher’s Advisory Notes: This is a personal favorite!
booksareforlovers 