Looking for a great story to share?

As part of my distance learning plan with my elementary school readers, I’m sharing one of my favorite stories from when I was a kid, one chapter at a time! It’s bittersweet to be sharing this story – I’ve always wanted to do this readaloud with a class, but have never had the time to do it. Now that the COVID-19 pandemic has Virginia schools closed for the rest of the year, time doesn’t feel like an obstacle anymore. Plus, when the world is scary, the magic of stories can gives us a safe and wonderfully exciting place to escape to.

So let’s escape together to Whangdoodleland!

The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles is a novel written by Julie Andrews Edwards. Some information about the book, from Amazon:

The Whangdoodle was once the wisest, the kindest, and the most extraordinary creature in the world. Then he disappeared and created a wonderful land for himself and all the other remarkable animals—the ten-legged Sidewinders, the little furry Flukes, the friendly Whiffle Bird, and the treacherous, “oily” Prock. It was an almost perfect place where the last of the really great Whangdoodles could rule his kingdom with “peace, love and a sense of fun”—apart from and forgotten by people.

But not completely forgotten. Professor Savant believed in the Whangdoodle. And when he told the three Potter children of his search for the spectacular creature, Lindy, Tom, and Ben were eager to reach Whangdoodleland.

With the Professor’s help, they discovered the secret way. But waiting for them was the scheming Prock, who would use almost any means to keep them away from his beloved king. Only by skill and determination were the four travelers able to discover the last of the really great Whangdoodles and grant him his heart’s desire. (Source)

What is a digital book club? I don’t know yet! Here’s my plan so far: I’ll record and share a few chapters each week. I’ll link them here for you to watch or listen to, if you’d like. I’ll plan update this page with the new videos each Monday, so check back. As for now, that’s all I’ve got. Want discussion questions? Activities? Let me know!

This is a totally new experience for me – I’ve never wanted to be on YouTube, don’t particularly enjoy being recorded (any one else out there make really weird faces when they read? #librarianproblems), and I’m pretty much lost without a live audience of kids! But I’m happy to share this story and provide a little magic for you. This readaloud is shared with permission from HarperCollins Childrens’ Books. Thank you, HarperCollins! (You can read more about how publishers are adapting policies to help educators during COVID-19 related school closures here.)

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Part 1, Chapter 1

 

 

 

Part 1, Chapter 2

 

Part 1, Chapter 3

 

Part 1, Chapter 4

 

Part 1, Chapter 5

 

Part 1, Chapter 6

 

Part 2, Chapter 1

 

 

Part 2, Chapter 2

 

 

Part 2, Chapter 3

 

 

Part 2, Chapter 4

 

 

Part 2, Chapter 5

 

 

Part 2, Chapter 6

 

 

Part 2, Chapter 7

 

 

Part 2, Chapter 8

 

 

Part 3, Chapter 1

 

Part 3, Chapter 2

 

Part 3, Chapter 3

 

 

Part 3, Chapter 4

 

 

Part 3, Chapter 5