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If I Was a Horse - Beyond the Book Resources

$5.99

Sophie Blackall was best known to me as an illustrator having worked with Annie Barrows on the Ivy & Bean series. However, she’s also created illustrations for notable children’s authors, Judith Viorst, Kate diCamillo, and Jacqueline Woodson.

Moving into the author/illustrator world, she’s penned and illustrated the following beautiful books:
Hello Lighthouse

  • Farmhouse

  • The Baby Tree

  • Negative Cat

  • If You Come to Earth

  • Are You Awake

    and….

  • If I Was a Horse

This picture book, If I Was a Horse is an imaginative story that follows a child's day-long fantasy of what life would be like as a horse. This concept of imaginative role-playing can be used to teach a variety of academic topics across multiple disciplines. 

If you’re not familiar with this author/illustrator, you should check out her other picture books for children.

Oh, and you should also take a look at some of the products that have incorporated her illustrations including:

Themes

  • Freedom

  • Family

  • Imaginative Play

  • Empathy

Awards & Accolades

  • 2 Time Caldecott Award Medalist

  • Winner, BookPeople Children's Book of the Year Award 2024

  • Shortlisted, CBCA Picture Book of the Year 2024

  • Shortlisted, ABIA Children's Picture Book of the Year Award 2024

Teachable Moments
This book offers multiple opportunities for learning that go far beyond what's printed on the page or seen in the illustrations. Here's a small sample:

  • Figurative language: Use the book's vivid descriptions to teach concepts like metaphor, simile, and personification. The book's conceit is a prime example of a metaphor.

  • Narrative writing: Encourage students to write their own stories using the "If I was a..." prompt. This can help them develop their imaginative and creative writing skills.

  • Descriptive writing: The book details the narrator's experiences as a horse, such as feeling the mud and rain and rolling in it. This provides an opportunity to teach students about using descriptive language and sensory details.

  • Vocabulary: Introduce new vocabulary related to horses and farm life, such as "gallop," "mane," and "stable.". 

    Content shown to the left of the cover is for reference only.
    The book you download will contain activities aligned with this specific title.

    Your Download DOES NOT include the referenced picture book, only the resources and ideas.

Sophie Blackall was best known to me as an illustrator having worked with Annie Barrows on the Ivy & Bean series. However, she’s also created illustrations for notable children’s authors, Judith Viorst, Kate diCamillo, and Jacqueline Woodson.

Moving into the author/illustrator world, she’s penned and illustrated the following beautiful books:
Hello Lighthouse

  • Farmhouse

  • The Baby Tree

  • Negative Cat

  • If You Come to Earth

  • Are You Awake

    and….

  • If I Was a Horse

This picture book, If I Was a Horse is an imaginative story that follows a child's day-long fantasy of what life would be like as a horse. This concept of imaginative role-playing can be used to teach a variety of academic topics across multiple disciplines. 

If you’re not familiar with this author/illustrator, you should check out her other picture books for children.

Oh, and you should also take a look at some of the products that have incorporated her illustrations including:

Themes

  • Freedom

  • Family

  • Imaginative Play

  • Empathy

Awards & Accolades

  • 2 Time Caldecott Award Medalist

  • Winner, BookPeople Children's Book of the Year Award 2024

  • Shortlisted, CBCA Picture Book of the Year 2024

  • Shortlisted, ABIA Children's Picture Book of the Year Award 2024

Teachable Moments
This book offers multiple opportunities for learning that go far beyond what's printed on the page or seen in the illustrations. Here's a small sample:

  • Figurative language: Use the book's vivid descriptions to teach concepts like metaphor, simile, and personification. The book's conceit is a prime example of a metaphor.

  • Narrative writing: Encourage students to write their own stories using the "If I was a..." prompt. This can help them develop their imaginative and creative writing skills.

  • Descriptive writing: The book details the narrator's experiences as a horse, such as feeling the mud and rain and rolling in it. This provides an opportunity to teach students about using descriptive language and sensory details.

  • Vocabulary: Introduce new vocabulary related to horses and farm life, such as "gallop," "mane," and "stable.". 

    Content shown to the left of the cover is for reference only.
    The book you download will contain activities aligned with this specific title.

    Your Download DOES NOT include the referenced picture book, only the resources and ideas.

Extend the Learning with Story-Based Play

Adding an element of play is another way to deepen your child’s understanding of concepts within and beyond a story. According to Hall (1991), young children often develop advanced literacy skills when they engage in play related to a familiar story. Many complex literacy skills develop naturally when the story and play intersect, setting the stage for your child to learn to read and write.

It’s easy. Take a great story, gather toys that align with that story, and get out of the way. Your child will do the rest. The goal is to allow the play to evolve naturally. You’ll be surprised by the amount of learning transferred and reinforced through this type of play.

Here’s Why We Love These Specific Products:

  • They have direct connections to the book.

  • They reinforce new vocabulary.

  • They encourage imaginative play

  • They make it easy to re-enact parts of the story.

  • They often take learning beyond the confines of the story.

  • Few require batteries, screens, or electricity.

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