Oona of the Arctic
by Kelly DiPucchio
Oona is on a mission! A baby beluga whale has lost her way from her family and needs help getting back to her icy arctic home! But Oona and her best friend Otto have never traveled from their warm ocean waters before. Will old ship maps and a compass be enough to lead them through the dangerous storms ahead?
Reading Tips for Story Explorers
Find a comfortable space to read together
Slow down and enjoy the illustrations
Ask and answer questions together
Make reading part of your routine - bedtime is a great time for reading
Use these prompts to encourage deeper thinking with your children:
"Tell me more, why do you think that?"
"How do you know that?"
"Interesting, did you notice anything else?"
Phonemic Awareness
When introducing the book, share the title and notice these phonemic elements:
The word “Oona” in the title contains the letters -oo. These letters together say /oo/, like food and moon. Point to the letters and say the sound together: /oo/, /oo/, /oo/. Brainstorm other words that have the sound /oo/ with your child (mood, broom, bamboo).
Ask the children to say the word after you. Show them the cover of the book and have them read the word out loud with you as you point under each word.
Vocabulary
Unexpectedly: Surprising
Wall: To make a long, loud cry out in sadness or pain
Tinkered: To repair experimentally
Unfamiliar: Not know or experienced before; unusual, strange
Trouble: To disturb or worry
Compass: a tool indicating direction
Confidence: A sense of trust or faith in a person or oneself
Questions to Discuss
What did Oona love? Why do you think Oona loves surprises?
What does Oona see on the beluga's face that makes her think it looks lost and frightened?
How does Otto make their new friend feel welcome?
Where do Oona, Otto, and the baby whale go on their journey? Why?
How does Oona know that a storm is coming?
Who are Siku and Star?
Which animals helped Oona find the baby beluga's home?
What is magical about making new friends? tell your adult about a time you have made a new friend.
Let's Play
This activity will build background knowledge which will help your child remember what he/she has read.
Work with an adult to learn about the animals featured in the book Oona in the Arctic. Use Google or another search engine to research each animal listed below. Look atimages of the animal. Use adjectives (descriptive words) to describe the animal. Talk about its color, size, and features. Which arctic animal is your favorite?
- Beluga
- King Crab
- Harp Seal
- Narwhal
- Polar Bear
- Walrus
- Snow Geese
