Because of an Acorn Perfect Picture Book Friday

An acorn may seem small, or even insignificant, but a closer look reveals the enormous impact a tiny acorn can have. 

text copyright Lola M. Schaefer and Adam Schaefer, 2016, illustrations copyright Frann Preston-Gannon, 2016, Chronicle Books

Some of my favorite books are ones that provoke deeper thought, using very few words, leaving the reader to ponder the meaning behind the story. With spare text and rich illustrations, Because of an Acorn shows the inter-connectedness of the natural world and illustrates how much one thing depends on--or happens as a result of--the next.

The simplicity of the text gives space for readers to make connections independently. It also provides opportunities for conversations, as each gorgeous page invites young learners to make inferences, explore layers of meaning, and understand more fully how one thing often greatly impacts the next. 

Title:  BECAUSE OF AN ACORN

Authors:  Lola M. Schaefer and Adam Schaefer

Illustrator:  Frann Preston-Gannon

Publisher:  Chronicle Books, 2016

Ages:  2-6

Themes:  Nature Themes, Interdependence, Cause and Effect, Inference 

Here are a few activities that align with the themes of this book:

• ​Using paint and construction paper, make thumb-print acorns. Check out this website for detailed instructions. 
• If you live in an area where oak trees grow, go for a walk and collect acorns. Sort the acorns according to size. For detailed instructions, check out this website.
• After collecting acorns and sorting them into groups, according to their size (small, medium, and large), create a graph that illustrates the number of acorns in each group.
• "Can you think of other things in nature that appear small, but are very important?"  "Think of a time when you did something, or acted in a way, that had an impact of something else. Was the impact positive or negative? Why?"

Looking for more perfect picture books? Check out Susanna Leonard Hill's website!