Multicultural Picture Book
Chato Goes Cruisin'
Chato Goes Cruisin'
This read aloud is designed for students in 1st grade. Chato Goes Cruisin' tells a charming story about two cats who win a cruise and end up on a ship full of dogs. The cats are miserable, but soon the dogs are in trouble and the cats must find a way to help the dogs. While trying to find help for the dogs, the cats stumble onto the ship they were supposed to be on that is full of cats. Chato and Novio Boy must make a tough decision to help the dogs rather than join the cats on their ship.
Gary Soto was raised in Fresno, California and is well-known for writing poetry. He has also written several children's books. Soto works to write about life as a Mexican American but tries to make the writing relate to everyone. Susan Guevara lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico and has won the Pura Belpré Award for both of the two previous Chato books. Guevara loved to study the details of the Sunday comics and included comics in this story to enrich the story and allow the reader to understand the thoughts of Chato and Novio Boy. This story offers insight into the lives of Mexican Americans through the use of cats as the main characters.
http://susanguevara.com/about/
Gary Soto
Susan Guevara
Illustration from Chato Goes Cruisin'
Chato Goes Cruisin' Literature Review
The picture book demonstrates a unique language. Most of the text is written in English, but there are a few words in Spanish. The reader can use context clues to help them determine the meaning of the Spanish words. In addition, the picture book includes a glossary at the end that lists the meanings of the Spanish words in English. The unique language style helps portray the Latino culture to the reader.
The picture book also honors and celebrates diversity in a unique way. The book has animals as the main characters, but there are many different animals. Chato and Novio Boy are both cats, but they find themselves on a cruise ship full of dogs. Chato and Novio Boy do not like the dogs at first but throughout the story they learn to celebrate their diversity and choose to help the dogs rather than joining the cats on their ship. The picture book celebrates diversity in a kid-friendly way and uses the animals to represent the diverse groups of people in our world.
Instructional Sequence
prejudice: noun, unfair opinion that is not based on reason or experience
1. State CHAMPS expectations. "Our conversation level is 0 when the teacher is talking and a level 2 when sharing with a partner. Raise your hand if you need help. Our activity is whole group instruction. Our movement is sitting on the carpet. Everyone should be fully participating.
1. Read title of the book. Ask, "Does anyone know what a cruise is?" Tell the students, "A cruise is a fun trip that people take on a large ship." I will show the students my word poster for cruise and read them the sentence I wrote about the word 'cruise.' Students will share with a partner a sentence that includes the word 'cruise.'
2. Ask, "Based on the title and the cover of the book, where do you think this story is going to take place?" [on the cruise ship, on the ocean]
3. Read pages 1-7. Say, "Prejudice is a big word. Let's figure out what that word means." Have students repeat the word. Show students 'prejudice' using a word map. Project the word map on the SMART board using the document camera. Explain to the students the definition of prejudice, some of the characteristics, and some examples of prejudice from the story. Ask, "Can you think of any characteristics or examples of prejudice in this story?"
4. "Do you think that it is a good idea for Chato and Novio Boy to get on the ship with the dogs and why?" Tell your shoulder partner.
5. Read pages 9-19. Ask, "What would you do if you were Chato and Novio Boy? Would you join the cats or would you keep your word and find help for the dogs?" Tell your shoulder partner.
6. Read pages 21-23. Ask, "What is going to happen to Chato and Novio Boy and how are they going to find help for the dogs?"
7. Finish reading the book. Ask, "Why was it important that Chato and Novio Boy kept their word to the dogs?"