The Patchwork Bike by Maxine Beneba Clarke

The first time you read the story, they will not see the illustrations.

Tell learners that you are going to read the book aloud twice. The words and illustrations work together to deliver a big message. Explain that both the author and the illustrator want readers to learn something about the narrator of the story. In this exercise, learners will find clues from the text and illustrations to consider what the author and illustrator want them to know about the protagonist and where she lives.īefore showing readers a copy of The Patchwork Bike, tell learners that you have a fabulous book to read. The Patchwork Bike provides readers with an opportunity to learn about life in a village of Africa. Readers draw on background information and clues from text and illustrations to shape a new understanding of their world. Picture books invite readers to build their schema about the global community. Response to LiteratureĪASL Standards Framework for Learners: Include/Think II.A.3 Learners contribute a balanced perspective when participating in a learning community by describing their understanding of cultural relevancy and placement within the global learning community. They appear to be hand-painted with a heavy, felt tip pen almost like the writing learners see on anchor charts in the classroom. The engaging text tells this joyful story with words that are fun to say aloud words like “shicketty shake”, winketty wonk” and “bumpetty bump”. It’s made from branches and various objects. It’s different from the bikes most readers are familiar with. But what she is really excited to show readers is her bike. Readers see how she describes her “crazy” brothers and “fed-up” mom with affection. She is happy to show us her house made of mud. The narrator of the story, a girl with dark skin and cornrows, introduces us to her village. The Patchwork Bike gives readers a chance to explore a place that is much different from where they live. They’ll be surprised to realize the bumpy cardboard, the wet paint, and the gloopy mud is an optical illusion. I am willing to bet the reader will touch the illustrations in anticipation of feeling the textured artwork. Give the book to someone and tell them to check it out. Here’s something fun to try with The Patchwork Bike by Maxine Beneba Clarke and Van Thanh Rudd.