Amulet: The Stonekeeper (Book 1)
Written and illustrated by: Kazu Kibuishi
Published: 2008
Publisher: Graphix
Reading Level: 2.1
Interest Level: Grades 4-7
Lexile Measure: 310L
Genre: Graphic Novel
Possible Themes for discussion: Death, Grief, Heroes, Heroism, supernatural, monsters and other creatures.
Suggested Delivery: Individual reading
Summary:
This is the first book written in the Amulet series by Kibuishi titled the Stonekeeper. The story follows two children, Emily and Navin as they move into a new home with their mother, after the tragic loss of their father. In this new house Emily discovers an Amulet that essentially chooses her. Emily doesn't know it yet, but the Amulet possesses magical powers that will help her defeat a multitude of monsters. Once the amulet was found a whole world of troubles comes to life for the two kids as their mother is captured by a smaller monster and taken away. Follow the story of young Emily and Navin as they track down their mother in a new l=world of wonders, while assisted by others such as a robot rabbit named Maskit.
Words to Describe The Stonekeeper
Technology Resources
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/guide-using-graphic-novels-children-and-teens
This is a fantastic website published by scholastic that offers an introduction to graphic novels. As of 2015 Graphic Novels still aren't used as much as they should be, although they are being used more than ever before. This website offers a good explination of what a graphic novel really is and how it affects students in the classroom. It also offers and educators guide for the book and has links to other graphic novel websites.
http://www.scholastic.com/amulet/
I know this is another Scholastic site, but this one is also fantastic for once you are reading Amulet. This website offers many interactive features like interviews with the characters and your own comic maker. Students will intensely enjoy this website because it offers so many visuals and interactions with the author, book, and characters.
http://cbldf.org/2014/09/using-graphic-novels-in-education-amulet/
This is another website that's similar to the first website provided as it offers an overview of graphic novels and its educational value. This website highlights the entire Amulet series instead of just one book. Its a great website if you are trying to teach this book. The page offers an overview of the series, lesson ideas, activities, lessons across the curriculum, and even matches them to different standards.
Key Vocabulary Terms
Before Reading Activity
A good before reading activity for Amulet is a read-pair-share. For many students this will be an introduction to graphic novels themselves so they will need some guidance starting out. You should gather the kids on the floor and read to them the prologue of Amulet to get a sense of how to read and understand a graphic novel, especially in terms of how the pictures progress the story even when there are no words. Once you read part of the story have the kids turn to each other and talk about what they thought of the illustrations and what they think of the characters in the story. Next, just have them make some predictions about what the story may be about, based on the cover or the short prologue.
During Reading Activity
The students may have a harder time following the story line or at least the themes the book presents. A good activity for this is to create a concept map/timeline with the students that will help them understand what's happening. As previously mentioned some students will have a bit of trouble adjusting to graphic novels as there is more emphasis on illustrations rather than dialogue. Create a concept map with empty bubbles and a timeline with empty spots on it. Start the activity by giving a few examples of key events and themes you can fill in. Then have the students give you some key aspects from the book. Leave the map/timeline up on a wall in the classroom so the students can look at it while continuing their reading, and explain to the students that if they come up with or find another theme or significant event they are free to add it.
After Reading Activity
Once the students have finished amulet it would be good to finish up lessons on graphic novels themselves. A good way to finish this is to have an opinionnaire to find out what students took away from reading a graphic novel. Ask the students if they know why a lot of pictures were used. Include questions such as why do you think the illustrations were used, did you like the illustrations in the book, or would you like to read the other books in the Amulet series?
Writing Activity
The amulet that Emily finds is very powerful and can be used for many things. During the book Emily has the chance to meet her grandfather right before he passes away and he tells her about the powers that the amulet possesses. If you were Grandfather Silas, what types of advice would you give to Emily about the Amulet? Does the Amulet have other special powers that Grandfather Silas forgot to mention? How does your advice relate to the quote from Spiderman, "with great power comes great responsibility."
Written and illustrated by: Kazu Kibuishi
Published: 2008
Publisher: Graphix
Reading Level: 2.1
Interest Level: Grades 4-7
Lexile Measure: 310L
Genre: Graphic Novel
Possible Themes for discussion: Death, Grief, Heroes, Heroism, supernatural, monsters and other creatures.
Suggested Delivery: Individual reading
Summary:
This is the first book written in the Amulet series by Kibuishi titled the Stonekeeper. The story follows two children, Emily and Navin as they move into a new home with their mother, after the tragic loss of their father. In this new house Emily discovers an Amulet that essentially chooses her. Emily doesn't know it yet, but the Amulet possesses magical powers that will help her defeat a multitude of monsters. Once the amulet was found a whole world of troubles comes to life for the two kids as their mother is captured by a smaller monster and taken away. Follow the story of young Emily and Navin as they track down their mother in a new l=world of wonders, while assisted by others such as a robot rabbit named Maskit.
Words to Describe The Stonekeeper
- Captivating
- Adventurous
- Engaging
- Imaginative
- Sincere
Technology Resources
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/guide-using-graphic-novels-children-and-teens
This is a fantastic website published by scholastic that offers an introduction to graphic novels. As of 2015 Graphic Novels still aren't used as much as they should be, although they are being used more than ever before. This website offers a good explination of what a graphic novel really is and how it affects students in the classroom. It also offers and educators guide for the book and has links to other graphic novel websites.
http://www.scholastic.com/amulet/
I know this is another Scholastic site, but this one is also fantastic for once you are reading Amulet. This website offers many interactive features like interviews with the characters and your own comic maker. Students will intensely enjoy this website because it offers so many visuals and interactions with the author, book, and characters.
http://cbldf.org/2014/09/using-graphic-novels-in-education-amulet/
This is another website that's similar to the first website provided as it offers an overview of graphic novels and its educational value. This website highlights the entire Amulet series instead of just one book. Its a great website if you are trying to teach this book. The page offers an overview of the series, lesson ideas, activities, lessons across the curriculum, and even matches them to different standards.
Key Vocabulary Terms
- Gigantic- extremely large
- Ferocious- very fierce or violent
- Extensive- in large size or amount
- Amulet- A small object worn to protect the person wearing it against bad things.
- Eccentric- tending to act in strange or unusual ways
- Creature- an imaginary or strange kind of animal
Before Reading Activity
A good before reading activity for Amulet is a read-pair-share. For many students this will be an introduction to graphic novels themselves so they will need some guidance starting out. You should gather the kids on the floor and read to them the prologue of Amulet to get a sense of how to read and understand a graphic novel, especially in terms of how the pictures progress the story even when there are no words. Once you read part of the story have the kids turn to each other and talk about what they thought of the illustrations and what they think of the characters in the story. Next, just have them make some predictions about what the story may be about, based on the cover or the short prologue.
During Reading Activity
The students may have a harder time following the story line or at least the themes the book presents. A good activity for this is to create a concept map/timeline with the students that will help them understand what's happening. As previously mentioned some students will have a bit of trouble adjusting to graphic novels as there is more emphasis on illustrations rather than dialogue. Create a concept map with empty bubbles and a timeline with empty spots on it. Start the activity by giving a few examples of key events and themes you can fill in. Then have the students give you some key aspects from the book. Leave the map/timeline up on a wall in the classroom so the students can look at it while continuing their reading, and explain to the students that if they come up with or find another theme or significant event they are free to add it.
After Reading Activity
Once the students have finished amulet it would be good to finish up lessons on graphic novels themselves. A good way to finish this is to have an opinionnaire to find out what students took away from reading a graphic novel. Ask the students if they know why a lot of pictures were used. Include questions such as why do you think the illustrations were used, did you like the illustrations in the book, or would you like to read the other books in the Amulet series?
Writing Activity
The amulet that Emily finds is very powerful and can be used for many things. During the book Emily has the chance to meet her grandfather right before he passes away and he tells her about the powers that the amulet possesses. If you were Grandfather Silas, what types of advice would you give to Emily about the Amulet? Does the Amulet have other special powers that Grandfather Silas forgot to mention? How does your advice relate to the quote from Spiderman, "with great power comes great responsibility."