26. Are We There Yet? by Dan Santat

 

26. Are We There Yet? by Dan Santat


Santat, D. (2016). Are we there yet? NY: Little, Brown and Company.

The story begins when a boy and his parents begin a road trip to grandma’s birthday party.  After a while he begins asking the age-old questions “are we there yet?”  He begins to feel as if time is slowing down and it seems to go backwards!  They experience the old west, pirates, knights jousting, the Egyptian Pyramids being built and even a dinosaur!  Then he realizes maybe it will fly by too quickly.  They begin to go into the future with flying cars and QR codes as addresses.  Then the boy wakes up and they are at grandma’s house.  It was all a dream.

This is a graphic novel-style picture book and has a unique structure.  Readers have to turn the book upside down and then back again to follow the story.  It exhibits the imagination of a board child by moving backward and forwards in time.  More importantly, it conveys the important theme of how we should enjoy the moment we are in and not wishing it away.  When using this book in the classroom, I would focus on theme because it teaches such a good lesson.  I would also discuss the unusual way the book was written and discuss how it adds to the story.

I found several resources to go along with the book.  The first is set up as an activity pack for a road trip, but it has some good games that could be adapted for the classroom.  I also found a lesson pack on teachers-pay-teachers that has good printable resources and ideas. 

https://www.scribd.com/document/307454537/Are-We-There-Yet-by-Dan-Santat-Activity-Kit

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Are-We-There-Yet-By-Dan-Santat-44-pgs-of-Common-Core-Activities-2552605

 


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