• Throughout the lesson, focus on students’ ability to identify the information found on the cover of a fiction book.
• Observe each student’s ability to verbalize that the title of a book is the book’s name, the author is the person who wrote the book, and the illustrator is the person who drew the pictures. This can be done in small-group instruction.
• Use the following checklist to assess each student’s progress toward the goals of the lesson.
  • Student can identify the title on the cover of the book We Share Everything! 
  • Student can articulate the role of the author and illustrator.
  • Student can identify the title and articulate the role of the author and illustrator on a book of his/her choice.

Focus Question: What do we learn from the cover of a fiction book?

Hold up the book We Share Everything! for students to see. Say, “Today, we are going to talk about things we can learn about a book by looking at its cover.”

Say, “I am going to read a fiction book. A fiction, or literary, book tells a story about something that did not really happen. What do you see on the cover of this book?” (words, pictures of children and a book) “What do you predict this book might be about?” (children sharing, children not getting along, children wanting to read the same book)

Ask, “Where do you think this story is taking place?” (at school, in a library) “What are the two children doing?” (pulling at the same book) “What are the other children doing?” (watching them, looking surprised) “Why do these children look surprised?” (They know that children should not fight.)

Part 1

Say, “Let’s look at the words at the top of the book cover. These words say ‘We Share Everything!’ This is the title of the book. The title is the name of the book. The title is always on the front cover of a book.”

Point to the author’s name. Say, “These words say ‘by Robert Munsch.’ This tells us that Robert Munsch is the author of the book. That means he is the person who wrote this book. The words under the author’s name tell us that he wrote another book called Love You Forever. Robert Munsch has written many books for children. I will show you other books that he wrote.” Show children other books written by Robert Munsch. (See Related Materials at the end of this lesson.) Point out that Robert Munsch’s name is on the cover of each book. Ask, “What does the author do?” Have students turn to a partner and share their response to the question. Then ask the whole class to respond together. (The author writes the book.)

Point to the illustrator’s name at the bottom of the book cover. Say, “These words say ‘Illustrated by Michael Martchenko.’ This means he drew the pictures for this book. He is the illustrator. An illustrator draws pictures. Pictures are also called illustrations. Michael Martchenko drew the picture on the front cover. He also drew all the other pictures in this book.” Ask, “What does an illustrator do?” Have students share their answer with a partner. Then ask the whole class to respond together. (The illustrator draws the pictures.)

Show students the back cover of the book. Ask, “What do you see on the back cover?” (a picture of the same children as on the front cover, a picture of two men)

Point to the picture of the author, Robert Munsch. Say, “This is the man who wrote the book. He is the author.” Point to the picture of the illustrator, Michael Martchenko. Say, “This is the man who drew the pictures in the book. He is the illustrator.”

Read aloud the book.

Part 2

Share several other book covers with students to demonstrate that information is shown in different ways. Sometimes the front cover has the word “author” or “by” in front of the author’s name. Sometimes the front cover has just the title and the name of the person who wrote the book. Also show students that some books are written and illustrated by the same person.

Back covers also show information in different ways. Examples include photographs of the author and illustrator, a picture that comes from the story, or a sentence telling what the book is about.

Next, have each student choose a book. Have students work in small groups to examine the books and point to the title, the author, and the illustrator. Then have each student explain the job of the author and illustrator. Walk around the room to check and confirm that students understand what information is on the cover, can identify the title, and can articulate the role of the author and illustrator.

Extension:

• Work with small groups of students who need additional practice identifying information on the cover of a fiction, or literary, book. Have students choose a book from the classroom library and point out the title, author, and illustrator. Encourage students to identify this information on each new book they examine.
• Students who are ready to move beyond the standard might use the Book Cover Template (L-K-2-1_Book Cover Template.doc) to create a cover for a story about the classroom. Help students write a title for this book (My Classroom, Our Kindergarten Classroom), write his/her name as the author and illustrator, and draw a picture to go with the title. Students may also design a back cover for their book, using the book modeled for the lesson as an example. When students have finished, have them share their book cover with a partner, pointing out the title, author, and illustrator.