1. Dear Mr. Blueberry

2. Pictures and Story by Simon James
Simon James was born in Bristol, England, in When he was young, he drew comic strips for his school's magazine. He says all of his stories are connected to his childhood.
He had fourteen different jobs before becoming an artist and writer. He managed a restaurant, he was a policeman, and he was a farmer!
Simon James says he often failed the first time he tried things, but he kept trying and eventually succeeded.
Now he lives in Devon, England, at a school where he helps children.
"I like to teach kids how to have fun making a mess and expressing something at the same time."

3. Genre: Informational Story
An informational story gives facts about a topic through a story plot.
Look for:
Characters that tell facts.
A plot with a beginning , a middle and an end.

4. Vocabulary
Dear Mr. Blueberry

5. details details - small bits of information
This picture shows the details of the toy cash register.

6. disappoint
disappoint - to make someone sad because something expected did not happen
It will disappoint Johnny if he does not have a bed time story read to him.

7. forcibly forcibly - strongly; by force
Firefighters use axes so they can forcibly get into a burning house.

8. information Books have a lot of information.
information - facts about a person, place or thing
Books have a lot of information.

9. oceans
oceans - large bodies of salt water where whales and other animals live
The lighthouse sits near the ocean.

10. stroke Dogs and cats love it when you stroke them.
stroke - to rub something gently
Dogs and cats love it when you stroke them.

11. Vocabulary Review
Say the words.
Read the sentence.
Fill in the blank.

12. How many ________ can you name?
details
information
disappoint
oceans
forcibly
stroke

13. If you want more ___________, look in the dictionary.
forcibly
stroke
disappoint
details
information
oceans

14. The teacher said, “This story is very good, but I would like you to include more _______.”
details
disappoint
forcibly
oceans
stroke
information

15. The burglar ________ entered through the window.
oceans
stroke
forcibly
details
information
disappoint

16. Can you imagine what it would feel like to __________ a whale?
disappoint
Information
details
oceans
forcibly
stroke

17. I didn’t mean to __________ Mom and Dad by throwing my football through the window.
Information
stroke
disappoint
forcibly
oceans
details

18. Match the meaning to the word.
oceans ___
information ___
Disappoint ___
stroke ___
Details ___
forcibly ___
small bits of information
B. to make someone sad because something expected did not happen
C. strongly; by force
D. facts about a person, place, or thing
E. large bodies of salt water where whales and other animals live
F. to rub something gently E D B F A C

19. WEBSITES Inferences Simon James Building Background Reading Skills
Test Tutor
Go for Grammar Gold - More Adjectives
Other Activities
Whale Research
Whale Pages to color online
Graph Whale Size

20. The End
Tweaked by Anne Miller