A Reader's Guide: When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt

1. A Reader's Guide: When Zachary Beaver Came to Townby Kimberly Willis Holt Casey L. Hudson

2. Introduction I have created an interactive reader’s guide to assist your reading and to help you make connections with the book while reading. You will be expected to use the Reader’s Guide at specified times during your reading to complete reading activities. To get started, click on one of the links below. ENJOY! Reader’s Guide Brief Description of the book Information about the author Sources

3. Brief Description of the Book Summer in the tiny Texas town of Antler is traditionally a time for enjoying Wylie Womack’s Bahama Mama snow cones and racking up the pins at Kelly’s Bowl-a-Rama. But, this year is not going well for Toby Wilson. Toby’s 13-year-old heart has been broken twice: once by his mother who left him to become a country singer in Nashville, and then again by his crush Scarlett Stalling, the town beauty who barely acknowledges Toby’s existence. But when Zachary Beaver, “The World’s Fattest Boy,” comes to Antler as part of a traveling sideshow, Toby begins to realize that there might just be people who have it worse than him. RETURN TO INTRODUCTIONMOVE ON TO READER’S GUIDE

4. Information About the Author Kimberly Willis Holt was born in Pensacola, FL during a hurricane. She enjoys writing because she can work in her pajamas. Kimberly is married with one daughter. The family has a dog named Bronte. RETURN TO INTRODUCTION MOVE ON TO READER’S GUIDE

5. Sources Photo courtesy of: http://www.kimberlywillisholt.com/ Book jacket courtesy of: http://www.kimberlywillisholt.com/ Some activity ideas courtesy of: http://www.kimberlywillisholt.com/ RETURN TO INTRODUCTIONMOVE ON TO READER’S GUIDE

6. Reader’s GuideTable of Contents Please read the instructions for each page carefully. Many of the activities will require you to use a document that you will hand in to me. ** Click on a link below ** 1. Before you begin 5. Ch. 13 – 16 2. Ch. 1-36. Ch. 17 - 20 3. Ch. 4-67. After you finish reading 4. Ch. 7-12 QUIT THE READER’S GUIDE

7. Before You Begin Reading Look at the cover of the book: 1. What do you think the book is about? 2. Do you think the mobile home will be important to the story? 3. Does the black and white photo evoke any feelings for you? Choose two of these questions to answer.CLICK HERE to go a Word document to complete this assignment. RETURN TO READER’S GUIDE

8. Activity 1: Chapters 1-3 What do you think of Toby? Is he a good guy or does he annoy you? Think of qualities that you share with Toby. Think of qualities that makes you different from Toby. To go to a word document to complete a Vinn Diagram of the similarities and differences between Toby and yourself, CLICK HERE . RETURN TO READER’S GUIDE

9. Activity 2: Chapters 4-6 Wayne, Cal’s older brother, has left for Viet Nam. Wayne writes Cal a letter from Viet Nam, but Cal does not write him back. Why do you think Cal does not write back? How do you think Cal is feeling? Imagine that you are Cal, CLICK HERE to go to a word document to write a letter to Wayne. RETURN TO READER’S GUIDE

10. Activity 3: Chapters 7-12 Zachary has been left behind and is all alone in his trailer. Imagine that you are Toby. What can you do to help Zachary? CLICK HERE to go to a word document to create a list of ideas to help Zachary. Since you are about half-way through the book, I would like to reward your efforts with an opportunity to earn extra credit. CLICK HERE for the extra credit assignment RETURN TO READER’S GUIDE

11. Activity 4: Chapters 13-16 Zachary has tales of traveling to exotic locations around the world. Have you traveled a lot? Have you ever traveled outside of the country? See me to get materials for this activity. You will need: 1. A blank index card 2. Colored pencils, markers, or crayons 3. A travel brochure After reviewing the travel brochure, create a postcard. Side 1 of the postcard: A drawing of an attraction Side 2 of the postcard: A few sentences to your friend about your trip. RETURN TO READER’S GUIDE

12. Activity 5: Chapters 17-20 At the end of the book, Zachary had a life changing moment. What did you think of the book’s ending? Did you like it? Dislike it? Working ingroups of three, re-write the last chapter of the book from Zachary’s perspective. CLICK HERE to go to a word document to help with the planning of your re-write. CLICK HERE to go to a word document to re-write the chapter. RETURN TO READER’S GUIDE

13. After You Finish Reading As the book ends, we learn that Miss Mrytie Mae has been taking photos and she creates a mural of the summer’s events. Working in groups, I want you to create a class mural of photographs that depicts events within our school or our town. **I will provide the camera and film. **Photos must be approved by me before they are taken. For detailed instructions on this project, CLICK HERE RETURN TO READER’S GUIDE

14. THANK YOU! I hope the Reader’s Guide is helping you make connections with your reading. Please keep coming back to the Reader’s Guide until you are finished with all of the activities. DON’T FORGET TO LOG YOUR READING PROGRESS IN YOUR READING LOG! Quit

15. To restart the Reader’s Guide CLICK HERE