Teacher Tips

Janet's real pets that live in Boulder, Colorado: Merl (Merlin) and Violet (Violet Samantha Scarlet O'Hara

1.  Point of View and Voice

·          Have students read the first sentence using different voices for Merl

·          Have students re-tell a familiar story from the point of one of the main characters

2.  Accepting Differences

• Have students discuss why Merl doesn't like Violet at first

• Why does Merl accept Violet at the end?

• Many students have a new sibling who suddenly enters their world.  Have them discuss how they felt when the new baby arrived.

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3.  Looking for detail

• List the ways that the people are different the animals in this book

•   Who do you think the people are?

Ted's hand (Janet's husband)

Janet

4.  Onomatopoeia

·          Make a list of all the words that illustrate onomatopoeia

·          Read the book letting the students fill in these words either by verbalizing the noise or physically making the noise