Bonaparte Falls Apart is part of our Starts With a Story Collection, which includes more than 550 picture book companions based on high quality children’s literature that support you in delivering highly-engaging interactive read alouds with follow up activities. Learn more about this children’s book below! - Jodi and the Starts With a Story Team
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SUMMARY
"Bonaparte Falls Apart" by Margery Cuyler is a delightful children's book that tells the story of a little skeleton named Bonaparte who has a problem—his bones keep falling apart. As Bonaparte tries to join his friends for a game of catch, his bones continuously detach, causing him frustration and embarrassment. With the help of his friends, including Franky Stein, Blacky Widow, and Mummicula, Bonaparte sets out to find a solution. They come up with creative ideas like bandages, glue, and even a spooky spell, but nothing seems to work. However, when a cheerful dog named Mandible enters the scene, Bonaparte discovers that a friend's warm companionship can keep his bones together. The story beautifully conveys the themes of friendship, acceptance, and embracing one's uniqueness through its engaging narrative and charming illustrations.
 USE THIS BOOK TO TEACH:
Our read aloud lesson plans for this picture book come with reading comprehension questions (with sample student responses), 30 writing prompts, teaching ideas for grammar skills, social emotional learning discussion ideas, and more. Check out our list below to get a sneak peek at some of the skills this resource teaches.
- Discuss the different characters in the story and analyze their thoughts and actions.
- Help students to analyze what the author’s purpose for writing the book might be.
- Have students sequence the important events in the story. This is an important skill when it comes to retelling a story.
- Teach students how contractions are used.
- Introduce or review how and why author’s use ellipses.
- Explore how words or phrases are repeated throughout the book.
- Discuss how problem solving was used throughout the story.
NO-PREP PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES:
If you are looking for “ready to go” activities for the first day of school, be sure to check out the book companion. With it you’ll receive all of the following resources to align with this specific book:
- comprehension questions
- 30Â writing prompts with themed paper
- vocabulary activities
- word study print & go activities
- ideas for grammar lessons with focus sentence printables
- social emotional learning discussion topics
- graphic organizers to target specific comprehension skills and strategies
This book is a must have for your school or classroom library. Your students are going to love completing these activities for the book and you will be impressed with how much they learn. You will want to read this book to your class every year.
GET THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES
ADDITIONAL BOOK SUGGESTIONS
You and your students will love the similar books listed below, which can all be found in our free picture book list.
- Bone Soup by Cambria Evans
- The Dead Family Diaz by
- Skeleton Meets the Mummy by Steve Metzger
- Gustavo by Flavia Z. Drago
TRY OUT A SAMPLE COMPANION
It's hard to explain how amazing the Starts with a Story book companions are because there is just so much goodness included in each one. It's best if you experience using one for yourself. Sign up below & we'll send you an entire book companion to try out for FREE!
