After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again)- Dan Santat Read Aloud

March 19, 2022 Post a Comment

"Clever. Ingenious. Amazing. Unexpected. Sorry. Beautiful. Shocking. Funny. Surprising. Inspiring."

Not my words, the words of fifth graders who read Later the Autumn, How Humpty Dumpty Got Dorsum Upward Again by Dan Santat with me this week. I second those words. Information technology was one of those shared reading experiences where the students' hands were shooting up to bespeak out connections and ideas both with and within this stunner of a story.

HumptyDumpty is an gorging bird watcher. He loves existence up on the wall where he tin can exist close to them. Oh no, simply this function we knew.

The initial humor works effectively here. Information technology makes Humpty Dumpty relatable establishing a quick connection with the reader. We go from chuckling at a shared joke to serious in a flash, only the art has prepared united states for this shift in mood. Those binoculars speak volumes.

A bandaged Humpty Dumpty emerges from the hospital and all appears on the mend...from the exterior.

Those eyes peering up at the bunk. That form snuggled on the ground. Nosotros readers hands sympathize with Humpty.

Dan Santat once again swings our emotional pendulum back towards center equally we run across how the fearfulness that Humpty Dumpty now lives with is impacting his life, in ways both large and modest. Nosotros experience for him as he looks longingly at those bright and colorful cereals with their loftier carbohydrate content and bonus toys while left with cereal options like "grown-up food" and "no fün."

Humpty Dumpty is making exercise and so he gets an idea. He sets to piece of work making a newspaper airplane. Once once again readers relate to the perseverance demonstrated by Humpty Dumpty -- the pile of paper dwindles as the caffeine consumption rises. Nada will stop him.

And boy does all that piece of work pay off.

But accidents happen.

The looming shadow, the expression, no words are needed here, this is dread unfolding.

That perfect paper airplane is heading for the elevation of the wall.

This white space between Humpty Dumpty and the wall is incredibly powerful. The wall is both physically and psychologically imposing. The next spread represents this chasm almost every bit an abyss. Dan Santat is helping the reader understand how insurmountable this fearfulness of heights feels.

Just climb the wall he does. Those fingers reaching for the side by side rung? I have been there. (Come across the end of this post)

With this act, he is finally healed and that concluding band aid comes away.

No more spoiler alerts here. I dearest that Dan does not let that band aid slip away. It's at that place to remind us. Healing takes time. Backbone takes time. Getting dorsum up takes fourth dimension.

Suffice to say that the eight different times I shared this book with students this calendar week I heard gasps of surprise at the ending.

Later on discussions about a literal interpretation of what they had simply witnessed (some Athena-similar nascency connections), students quickly moved to a conversation about what they thought the story actually meant. Nosotros talked virtually finding the backbone to come out of your shell and finding the courage to be the person you want to be.

This is the kind of book that I have to actually shut down chat because nosotros accept run out of time. It's crushing when that happens.

To offer another way for the students to reflect on the story, I connected it to our school rules. I asked the students to share what information technology would look like or sound like when they were being courageous and taking care of themselves, when they were making certain that they were getting what they needed to succeed in our space.

Hither is some of their thinking:

And now for my funny story...

After the Fall is one of those books that I connect with both literally and figuratively. I have had to find the backbone to get support both physically and emotionally. There have been times when I required that courage in my work life or personal life, but the virtually frequent experience I have is physical. I am extremely agape of heights.

Recently, I was trying to climb up a fire belfry, with the encouragement of my children - offering suggestions and help, and it turns out, a bit of sense of humor. If I hadn't been so agape, I might have seen the cell phone and known something was up. That matter thunking down the steps behind me? My jail cell phone. There would be no stopping to prepare its location. (In case yous are wondering, I made it up two whole flights to the first deck.)

This video was taken nearly a month before, in Lucerne, Switzerland, while walking along the Belfry Wall. (You call back I would learn to be aware of video footage, simply apparently fearfulness makes my mind go numb.) I try non to let my fright of heights stop me from experiencing things, just some days are really difficult. I needed to become off the wall, and fast. There was besides much open space. This one really makes me laugh. I look like I am being furtive! I think the sense of humor helps. It reminds me that I can do these things, if not necessarily gracefully.

This review and lesson is based upon an advanced reader re-create. Afterward the Fall How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Over again publishes in early Oct. I already have 2 copies on order. #picturebooksmatter #backbone #getbackup