The Raft by Jim LaMarche HarperCollinsPublishers, 2000 Denise Wallace June 21, 2009

Word Bank

Summary “I don’t want to go to Grandma’s for the summer,” Nicky mumbled. “She’ll make me do chores and it’s boring there!” Grandma lives on the river in a cabin with her artwork scattered everywhere. She has drawings of bluefish on her walls and a wood carving of a bear in her living room. At dinner time, Grandma handed me a fishing pole, a bobber, and some worms to fish for our supper. While I was at the river’s edge, I noticed a flock of birds hovering over something in the water. As I got closer I found a raft hidden among the cattails that was covered in drawings of different animals. Each morning, after promising Grandma I would be careful, I would head down to the raft and pole along the river. Some mornings Grandma would come with me. Birds kept flying with us and would even land on the raft. Grandma told me they were common hitchhikers! One day a beautiful crane landed on the raft and began to preen itself. I used a crayon to sketch the crane onto the raft, just like the other animal pictures that were sketched there.

Summary I knew I wanted to draw more animals, so Grandma suggested I use a mask and snorkel to see the animals underwater as well! One evening, I built a tent on the raft and slept outside. In the moonlight I could see a buck on the shore staring right at me. He slowly disappeared into the trees; not scared of me at all. I was falling in love with the river and wishing that I never had to leave Grandma’s place. On my last day, I took the raft out by myself and saw a family of deer at the edge of the water. It was the same buck I had seen at night! When the deer saw me, they scattered into the trees, but the fawn slipped in the mud and struggled to free itself. I poled the raft closer and was able to help the small deer to safety. As I was packing my things to leave, I told Grandma that I couldn’t wait to come back next summer. She laughed and told me that I had become a “river-rat” just like her!

Definitions (Alphabetically) BLUEGILL – a common type of sunfish BOBBER – an object that bobs up and down (in water) BUCK – a male animal (especially a deer or antelope CARVING – an object that is cut into art CATTAIL – tall reedy marsh plants with brown furry spikes CHORES – regular routine work of a household or farm DISAPPEARED – to pass away from view HITCHHIKERS – to travel by catching a free ride Definitions taken from:

Definitions (Alphabetically) HOVERING – to hang, flutter, or suspend in the air MUMBLE – to utter in a low voice not easily heard PREEN – (bird) to groom the feathers with the beak PROMISE – a pledge to do or not do a specific thing SCATTERED – to separate and move in different directions SKETCH – a rough drawing or outline of an object SNORKEL - to swim underwater using a snorkel for air STRUGGLE – to continue with difficulty or great effort Definitions taken from: