I Wanna Iguana 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
SUMMARY
"I Wanna Iguana" by Karen Kaufman Orloff and illustrated by David Catrow is a humorous and endearing story about a boy named Alex who desperately wants to have an iguana as a pet. Through a series of persuasive letters, Alex tries to convince his mother that having an iguana would be the perfect addition to their family. However, his mother responds with practical and amusing reasons why an iguana may not be the best pet choice. As the letters go back and forth, Alex and his mother engage in a delightful and entertaining exchange, showcasing the love and negotiation between parent and child. In the end, a heartwarming compromise is reached, highlighting the importance of communication and understanding in family relationships. The book is filled with vibrant and expressive illustrations that bring the characters and their emotions to life, adding to the charm and humor of the story. "I Wanna Iguana" is a delightful read that explores themes of responsibility, compromise, and the love between a parent and child.
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.
- Analyze the illustrations in the story. Discuss how they provide meaning that the words might not.
- Help students to analyze what the author’s purpose for writing the book might be.
- Discuss the different adjectives used in the book.
- Teach students how contractions are used.
- Discuss what it means to persevere and why it is important.
- Discuss the importance of self-advocacy and strategies students can use to advocate for themselves.
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
- 30 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.
- Mañana Iguana by Ann Paul
- Alfie by Thyra Heder
- Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings
- Dear Mrs. Larue: Letters from Obedience School by Mark Teague
- Dog Breath by Dav Pilkey
- Gaston by Kelly Dipucchio
- Goldfish on Vacation by Sally Lloyd-Jones
- Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian
- Memoirs of a Hamster by Devin Scillian
- Memoirs of a Parrot by Devin Scillian
- Naughty Mabel by Nathan Lane
- Not Norman by Kelly Bennett
- Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats
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!
