Crickwing

Crickwing

By Janell Cannon Harcourt, Inc. (2000) ISBN: 0152017909

Crickwing is a story about a cockroach who endures bullying by his fellow insects, only to later behave in the same manner as his aggressors. Crickwing earns this unfortunately nickname after a near-death experience with a hungry toad left his wing twisted and mangled. After this incident, Crickwing avoids the other creatures to avoid being tormented. All he wants to do is build sculptures using colorful leaves, roots, and petals, but his natural predators help to destroy his artwork.

Still angry from being picked on and having his sculptures destroyed, Crickwing stumbles across a group of worker ants. He takes his anger out on the ants. Just as he had his sculptures destroyed, Crickwing proceeds to destroy the ants’ work. Eventually, the ants retaliate, capture Crickwing, and present him to their queen. As punishment, the prisoner was slated to be sacrificed to the army ants. Feeling compassion and regret, the worker ants release Crickwing who then helps them to defeat the army ants. Filled with joy, the worker ants invite Crickwing to join their colony--he agrees.

Quantitative: Lexile Level--AD590L; ATOS--4.2

Qualitative: Crickwing poses great complexity especially when considering the descriptive language used in the book. Words like ravenous, clobbered, cowering, exoskeleton, among others could prove challenging for young readers. Given this use of vocabulary, Crickwing would be best for students in the 3rd to 5th grade range. Prior knowledge may be required due to the introduction of various animals like the ocelot and, again, words directly related to entomology. Although the book provides a notes page that elaborates on the traits of cockroaches and ants, further information maybe useful.

Content Area: English; Health--Relationships; Health--Bullying; Science--Biology, Art--Sculpture

Common Core Standards: RL4.1-3

Next Generation Science Standard--Grade 4:

LS1.A: Structure and Function

Plants and animals have both internal and external structures that serve various functions in growth, survival, behavior, and reproduction. (4-LS1-1)

Curriculum Suggestions: Because of the content and message, teachers could choose to use Crickwing to focus on either the study of insects or healthy relationships or both. With the CCSS, this book allows teachers to instruct across the curriculum using one resource.  

Additional/Digital Content:

• Literature Lesson-- http://www.thedailycafe.com/Crickwing%20Lit%20Lesson%201.pdf  

• Lesson using Strong Language to Express Precision-- http://www.cpalms.org/Public/PreviewResource/Preview/36335

• Animal Planet Cockroach Cam--http://www.apl.tv/cockroaches.htm

• National Geographic Army Ants Video-- http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/worlds-deadliest-ngs/deadliest-army-ants

Other Books by Janell Cannon:

• Stellaluna
• Trupp: A Fuzzhead Tale
• Verdi

*Meets the “Reading for Pleasure Picture Book” requirement