Elementary Library

Resource & Discussion Guide

Rain School by James Rumford (E RUM) The children arrive on the first day of school and build a mud structure to be their classroom for the next nine months until the rainy season comes and washes it all away. Discussion prompts: ●​ If you were to build your perfect school – what would it look like? What would it include? How could you change the school to help you learn better? ●​ If you had to make your school from just what you could find, what would you use? ●​ How does the weather affect this school? How does the weather affect our school and what we do here? ●​ In Rain School , the school year ended because the rainy season began. When does your school being and end? Why?

Otis and the Tornado by Loren Long (E LON) When a tornado threatens his farm, Otis the tractor must try to save the animals, including an unfriendly bull.

Discussion prompts: ●​ What did the animals do once they realized a tornado was coming? Why? ●​ What did the tornado make Otis feel and do? ●​ Have you ever experienced conflict with a friend? What did you do? ●​ What do you know about tornados? Have anyone seen one?

The World’s Wildest Weather by Laura K. Murray (551.5 MUR) Introduces different types of weather, including hurricanes, blizzards, droughts, monsoons, thunderstorms, and tornadoes.

Discussion prompts:

●​ What do you know? ●​ What do you wonder? ●​ What have we learned? ●​ How do you think people react and respond to this wild weather? Does it change how they dress or where they go?

A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin (E LIN) Reimagines the cycles of the moon as a mother bakes a big moon cookie and, despite Mama's request to wait, Little Star begins nibbling at it every night.

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