Book Review: Sparky! by Jenny Offill & Chris Appelhans

I picked it up

I was casually browsing through the New York Best Sellers list of books and chuckled out loud at the cover of this book.  Normally, I’m not drawn to soft watercolor pictures, but this one caught my eye.  It is simple, but so very clever.  There is a brownish-black sloth who seems majorly depressed and bored, wiped out on a tree branch that is obviously too weak to hold him and then underneath the title, “Sparky!” is written in red ink.  The combination would make any of us with a dry wit laugh … out loud.

Why I finished it

Each page is simple and amusing, much like the cover.  Even though it is simple, it is not your typical, sugary sweet “I want a pet” type story.  It is witty and perhaps somewhat dark.  Those who know me, now know why I finished.  This little girl, who wants a pet and persists on bugging her mother about having one until she is told, “You can have any pet you want as long as it doesn’t need to be walked or bathed or fed.”  It’s immediately engaging because many a mother has made a similar statement.  Being strong-willed, the little girl is determined to find such an animal.  After researching in the library, her sloth arrives.  Still to this day, this makes me smile.  The girl attempts to play and interact with the aptly named Sparky, but he just remains still and barely moving.  The neighborhood know-it-all teases her a little bit, which prompts her to set up a talent show for her pet sloth.  The sloth, however, remains a sloth, and does very little.  In the end, the little girl realizes that she likes Sparky the way he is … a sloth.   The story is touching, genuine and amusing.

Who I would give it to

This is such a great story to listen to and think about in primary years, but can easily adapt to upper elementary.  This story will be given to all students and children I know with that spark in their eye.  You know the ones, the ones who are always up to something.  They will identify with the little girl and her plot to get a pet.

Integration Ideas

Vocabulary

There are great vocabulary words in this simple book.  I love that sort of surprise!  Words like: peril, sparky, survive, compliance, ruffled, mystify, extravaganza, approved, and command.  Have the students create an app smash using these words – (https://literaryfusions.com/2014/04/08/app-smash-vocabulary/) or any other vocabulary lesson.

Also, discuss these words ‘as a writer’.  How do these words spice up the writing?  How do they lend to voice of the story and the little girl?  Have the students add new words to their own writing.

Characterization

With ease, the author has created very complete characters.  Mary, the nosy neighbor, is described by a sketch of her in her room.  This could be studied for quite some time and discussed in order to get a full picture of what she’s like.

The main character, the little girl, is also complete.  Her personality is told through her actions and reactions.  Have the students discuss her personality and how the reader can infer how she feels based on her actions.  I would have the students provide an emotion word or character trait for the girl and then explain, using text evidence, why they think she feels that way.

Writing

This book could be used for descriptive writing, persuasive writing, and personal narrative.

Descriptive writing – students can describe their favorite animal.  Within the writing, students should use the five senses to describe and explain why this animal is their favorite.

Persuasive writing – many times in elementary, students are asked to write a letter persuading their parents to let them have an animal.  This could be one of the mentor texts used.

Personal Narrative – students could write about a time they had to keep a promise or when someone else had to keep a promise.