Module 1: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Summary

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a fun lighthearted story about a small town called ChewandSwallow that experiences very interesting weather. In the town of ChewandSwallow they receive some sort of inclement weather three times a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner). While this may sound dreary it is actually quit the opposite because it never rained rain or snowed snow in ChewandSwallow food fell from the sky three times a day. Life in the town was great for the townspeople until the weather changed for the worst. Just imagine huge people sized burgers falling from the sky three times a day. The town is headed for disaster what can they do to save themselves you will have to read the book to find out.

Reference

Barrett, J., & Barrett, R. (1988). Cloudy with a chance of meatballs. New York: Atheneum.

Review

This book is full of fun with bright colorful pictures that any and everyone can enjoy. The story pulls you in quickly and provides you with information about the small town of ChewandSwallow and how they have benefited from their unusual weather. When the story begins the towns people are living a happy and normal existence that is until the weather begins to get unusual. I enjoy how the story provides you with some background before things start to take a turn for the worst (grandfather is telling the story, people enjoyed food falling from the sky).This story is a great way for parents to bridge the gap between themselves and their child. Although this story is a bit older (released in 1988) both children and adults love reading it and looking at the big bright pictures that overtake the page. This book is long enough to tell the story but short enough to hold the child's interest. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs can appeal to kids from Pre-school age to 3rd grade. I would recommend this book to elementary school teachers and students.

Professional Review

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. (n.d.). Retrieved August 4, 2015. http://reviews-of-childrens-literature.pbworks.com/w/page/10581679/Cloudy%20With%20a%20Chance%20of%20Meatballs

Library Uses

I would use this book to teach a creative writing lesson. After we have read and discussed the story students will write their own story about unexpected things falling from the sky. After they have written and proof read students will help create a display board where they write their final draft onto food shaped articles to place on the display board.