How Do You Hug a Porcupine? by Laurie Isop?
READ!
The little boy who stars in this funny story knows just how to snuggle with kitties, bunnies, and even cows, but he can't figure out how to approach the prickly porcupine. He knows pigs need extra-big hugs, while baby chicks need sweet and kind hugs, but can he figure out a way to cuddle a creature with sharp quills? Let’s read and find out!
EXPLORE!
Let’s Make a Porcupine!
This activity connects your child’s imagination and sense of touch to what makes animal bodies unique! The texture of the toothpicks and the sense of touch will help your child make a deeper connection to the idea of a porcupine’s quills!
To form the porcupine’s body, make your hand into a fist with the thumb to the side of your closed fingers. Place your fist down with your thumb parallel to the edge of the paper. Invite your child to trace your hand onto the paper, then use glue to arrange the toothpicks quills!
Let’s Play Charades!
Children learn best through play, and when they have the chance to play with information using their different senses, will better understand their world. Playing charades is a great way to get our children thinking about what animals are like and different ways we can communicate what makes animals special!
The Big Five ideas for this book:
Talk: Talk about the animals in the story and what makes their bodies unique, such as the kangaroo’s pouch, and elephant’s trunk, or a giraffe’s long neck. What special thing do these body parts help the animals do?
Play: Trade hugs with your child. Make it fun by taking turns and giving each other different kinds, such as quick, long, gentle, or a big-bear hug!
Sing: Rhyming words have the same sound at the end of the word. Help your child practice rhyming by thinking of words that rhyme with their name. It’s okay if they are invented words!
Check out this song about rhyming with your name!
Write: Draw an oval to represent a porcupine’s body and invite your child to practice holding a crayon or pencil by drawing the quills. Don’t forget that all artists sign their work!
real world connection
Learn About Porcupines: Did you know that porcupines are native to North America? A few also live at the San Diego Zoo! Learn all about them here!
LEARN MORE!
How Do you Hug a Porcucpine? is a rhyming story.
Children love the rhythm and song-like nature of rhyming books. Hearing stories that contain rhymes helps prepare children for reading by helping them focus on the sound patterns in words.