Since there are not many words on each page, this book lends itself to emergent readers who need to check every few pages for understanding. After every 3-4 pages, stop and model how to check for understanding. Do a think aloud by saying, “I just read ___________. I know I can keep going because I understand what I’m reading.” Model what to do if you don’t understand as well. Stop after he swallows the seed, and say, “Wait. I don’t understand why he is so upset. I need to go back and reread before I keep reading.”

Asking questions to access prior knowledge helps students relate to the books. Model how to use prior knowledge to make connections with the book. Look at the cover and say, “I can tell this book is about watermelon. It’s called The Watermelon Seed and there is a picture of watermelon on the cover. Before I read, I like to ask myself some questions about what the book might be about. Here are some questions I would ask myself. You can answer them!”

• Have you ever eaten watermelon? 
• What do you do with the black seeds in your watermelon? 
• What would happen if you swallowed one of those black seeds?

When you see a tricky word, say it slowly and listen to each sound. This helps you figure out the word step by step.

Let’s try it with these words:

• Best — Say it slowly: b-e-s-t 
• Slab — Stretch it out: s-l-a-b 
• Gulp — Break it down: g-u-l-p 
• Just — Say each part: j-u-s-t 
• Guts — Sound it out: g-u-t-s 
• Chomp — Go slow: ch-o-m-p 

When you say a word slowly, you can hear all the sounds and put them together to read it correctly!

This book is perfect to demonstrate how to choose a good fit book! Go through the I-PICK strategies one at a time to model how to decide if it fits.

• Purpose: Talk about a desire to read a funny book and how a friend recommended this book because it made her laugh.
• Interest: Talk about how you are very interested in reptiles and amphibians. This book is about a crocodile, so your interest fits.
• Comprehension: After reading through the first couple of pages, model how to check for understanding. Do a think aloud and talk about the “who” and the “what.” Explain that this book is a good fit because you could understand what you read and tell about what the book is about.
• Know the words: Read through the first couple of pages. Read most of the words correctly. Choose one or two words as words you don’t know. Talk about how this book is a good fit because you knew all but one or two words.

Possible words: chomp, slurp, slab, gulp, guts, vines, grumble