Charlie Needs a Cloak

I enjoy dePaola's books very much, but this one I am extra enthusiastic about. I work in a classroom of 3,4 and 5 year olds, and I am responsible for selecting literature for, and reading to, the younger children in the class. Sometimes when I am reading a dePaola book I have to cut some of the narrative to keep their attention. I don't have to do that at all with this book. This is a book that will keep the 3 year old's attention and still offer something to the older children as well. A lot of the charm of this story is the pictures which feature the action outlined in the text as to what Charlie is doing and also clearly represents the agendas of a spunky sheep and craftly mouse. YOung children love to discover these little "surprises" within the illustrations.

While I am a pre-service teacher, the second grade classroom that I am observing is currently working with _Charlie Needs a Cloak_and sequencing. The students are given the prompt of each of Charlie's actions on 'wool' pieces and then the students write 2-3 complete sentences using various punctuation. Also, there is a story within a story, which students (at least these 12 second graders) showed enthusiasm with prediction and sequencing. The story within a story format is one big reason why I am a fan of this book!

Though it's rated at the pre-school level, I've found Charlie Needs a Cloak to be useful and entertaining for kids up to third grade. In my work as a museum educator, this delightful tale serves as a valuable intro to the world of pre-industrial textile production, especially in colonial America. The illustrations are humorous, which dePaola is famous for. Charlie needs a new cloak, and he takes the reader through the process of making one, from shearing his whimsical sheep, who help him with his work, to weaving, dyeing, and sewing the new garment. Too bad Charlie doesn't notice, as soon as he puts it on, that his favorite sheep is already chewing on his hem!

Charlie needs a cloak, and this book tells the story, from start to finish, of how he goes about to make one. It takes readers through the year, From spring sheep shearing through sewing by the winter fire, showing Charlie going through each step to create his own cloak from raw materials. The story is fun and educational, while the pictures are delightful telling a hidden story in themselves. I highly reccomend this book to any family with young kids!

I haven't touched this book for 14 years, but I picked it up today while cleaning house, and decided to read it over. It was hilarious! I read it outloud three times in a row it was so sweet and charming.