Storybook Guide: Apple Trouble
What happens when one hedgehog is trying to prepare for winter? Apparently a lot.
Apple Trouble written by Ragnhild Scamell is quite possibly one of my favorite fall reads! Originally titled Ouch! this book is filled with rich illustration, a variety of characters, and a wealth of therapy targets.
Summary: Hedgehog is trying to prepare for her long winter's nap ahead. As the title would suggest, she runs into problem after problem. The biggest problem? She can't fit into her nest because a variety of objects keep landing on her spikey back. Her group of forest friends attempt to help, but it seems like they are only creating more issues. In the end, the persistence of her friends wins out, and she is free to continue preparing for winter.
Who: Best for Pre-K - Early Elementary
Goals:
- WH questions
- Who is the story about?
- Where does the story happen?
- When does the story happen?
- What gets stuck on Hedgehog?
- Why is Hedgehog so upset?
- How does Hedgehog finally get free?
- Sequencing
- Apple - nuts - pear - leaf - paper - water lily - blackberries
- Emotions
- Worried
- Surprised
- Inferencing:
- How do we think Hedgehog felt when others laughed at her? How do you know?
- How did Hedgehog feel when she was finally free? What evidence from the book tells us that?
- Describing (Ex: pear, blackberries, apple, hedgehog, goat, frog, etc.)
- Categories (Ex: seasons, weather, animals, fruits, etc.)
- Compare/Contrast (Ex: apple vs. pear, fall vs. winter)
- Verbs
- See chart below
- Figurative Language
- Light as a feather
Speech Targets:
| /s/ blends | /r/ and /r/ blends | /l/ and /l/ blends |
| Squeeze | Right | Little |
| Squeaked | Red | Look |
| Sleep | Rolling | Leaves |
| Spiny | Wriggled | Lily |
| Still | Colorful | Light |
| Small | Worse | Legs |
| Squirrel | Dear | Landed |
| Scurrying | Her | Long |
| Stopped | Under | Lunch |
| Stayed | Winter | Light |
| Spines | Dear | Hopefully |
| Sky | Drifted | Help |
| Stop | Cried | Still |
| Stamped | Brown | Ball |
| Staring | Ground | Fall |
| Stood | Trotting | Apple |
| Best | Tried | Colorful |
| Just (final) | Trouble | Small |
| Nest (final) | Tree | Blackberries |
| Past (final) | Brayed | Sleep |
| Fast (final) | Brought | Splash |
Verb Targets:
| Regular Past Tense Verbs | Irregular Past Tense Verbs | Present Progressive |
| Heaved | Threw | Sailing |
| Tugged | Ran | Laughing |
| Pushed | Brought | Building |
| Twisted | Blew | Coming |
| Wriggled | Caught | Rolling |
| Rolled | Shook | Trotting |
| Drifted | Scrabbling | |
| Crumpled | Trying | |
| Watched | Bobbing | |
| Gurgled | ||
| Stamped | ||
| Closed | ||
| Squeezed | ||
| Picked |
How To:
- Spend some time reviewing the cover with your student(s). Discuss the title and make smart guesses (inferences) about what the story could be about. Discuss the season that the story is happening in; here, you can spend some time talking about the weather, holidays, and even the types of clothes we wear during this season.
- Read your story and embed the targets throughout
- Spend time at the end summarizing what you have learned
- Complete a craft, if time allows
Craft Ideas:
- Apple stamping: Cut an apple in half. Use your apple as a stamp as you dip it into washable paint and press it onto a piece of paper. Use fall or apple themed colors.
- Leaf rub activity: Place a leaf under a piece of printer paper. Have your student rub a crayon over the paper to create an impression of the leaf.
Where:
- Support your local library and borrow this book
- Check your school library to see if they have a copy
- Amazon, Ebay, and used online book sellers (Ex: Biblio)
- Thrift stores
- YouTube: Search "Apple Trouble read aloud" and choose from different readers
- Book swap: Borrow a copy from your SLP bestie and lend them one of your fall favorites.
-Jade Ewoldt, M.S., CCC-SLP