Read, Discuss, and Do with MARI IN THE MARGINS

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By Marci Whitehurst The best books make readers feel like they aren’t alone. They’re seen. Understood. Our very own  Rebecca J. Gomez  accomplishes this flawlessly in Mari in the Margins , her new middle grade novel in verse, published by Bandersnatch Books. It releases May 14 th !  Here’s a snippet about the novel, which you’ll surely want to READ:   For Marivel Jiménez, life in her big family is full of chaos. Feeling overlooked by her parents and overshadowed by her siblings is frustrating, and it's even worse to have the constant attention of her annoying, mischievous three-year-old sister, Susana.  Caught between her need to be noticed and her dream of having time to herself, Marivel pours herself into poetry and, eventually, art journaling. When she hears of a school-wide poetry contest, she sees winning as a chance to escape the margins of her family and finally be seen. Doesn’t that sound amazing? That’s because it is. I was honored to read the book ahead of its release—and
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Road Trip Fun inspired by ROAD TRIP by Roger Eschbacher

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by Marci Whitehurst

What do you do when you spend two days in the car?

Besides feeling a little crazy, you can visit tourist attractions, sing, play games, and swim at the motel!

READ: ROAD TRIP by Roger Eschbacher, illustrated by Thor Wickstrom

This story follows a family through a two day road trip for a family reunion. Told in various rhymes and verse, the family stops at a truck stop to eat, tries to pass the time in the car with songs and games, and enjoys the swimming pool at their motel stop. This is a fun story that might have you itching to hit the road.

DISCUSS:

  • What is your favorite game to play in the car?
  • What type of music do you like to listen to in the car?
  • Do you enjoy telling stories? Listening to audio books?
  • Who do you like to visit when you travel?

DO:

We have two activity ideas for you today. Choose one or both! Maybe you could even combine the two!

Idea 1. Write a poem about traveling.

Use any form of poetry that you want: free verse, tercet, haiku…just make it about you and your travels! If you need a little help, try writing a new version of a rhyme from the book.


Idea 2. Create a Post Card!
  1. Using card stock or heavy paper, print off a template, like the one here. You can also create your own postcard. Make sure it's 4 x 6 inches so you can use a regular postcard stamp when you mail it.
  2. Decide who you want to receive your post card.
  3. Take your post card along with you on a road trip. Draw or write about the things you see or do along the way. Be sure to draw the design on one side (the blank side if you use the template) and leave the other side for a message, mailing address, and postage. You can create more than one post card!
  4. Mail your post card(s) to someone or share them when you arrive.
You can also buy post cards along the road. They are often an inexpensive way to get pictures of tourist destinations. Then add your own notes to save as keepsakes or give them to someone to share your trip with them.

No road trip? No problem! Design a post card for a place you've visited before or some place you'd like to visit one day. 

Have you taken a road trip this summer, or are you planning one? We'd love to hear about it! Leave a comment or share on social media with #RDDSummerChallenge.

Comments

Mindy Baker said…
I love the postcard idea!
July 26, 2023 at 9:13 AM
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