Keeper+(Spiehs-Hudson)

Image found at: http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production/files/2010/06/51AhbBFFGXL.jpg

Appelt, K, & Hall, A. (2010). //Keeper//. New York: Atheneum.


 * Summary:** It all started with ten stupid crabs. It was a blue moon holiday and Signe was trying to make the party "just right." Keeper, however, turns Signe's life is turned upside down when she lets those 10 crabs go. Determined that she has ruined everything and made everyone really angry, Keeper and her dog, BD, sneak out of the house and go on a magical and mythological quest to find her mother. Along the way, she tosses in her carved mermaids for good luck; her pet seagull, Captain, joins the quest; and she loses her dog, BD. Unfortunately, her quest doesn't exactly go as planned. Instead of heading straight to the rock, they are sucked into a current that takes them out to sea. How in the world will they return? It is a good thing that Keeper had been giving the mermaids gifts along the way. She (and BD) are eventually saved and returned near home by a merman, Jacques de Mer. Along her journey, she found out the truth about her mother; and about the love she will always feel from Signe, Dogie, Mr. Beauchamp and all their beloved animals.

1. [|Kathi Appelt Website] 2. [|Kathi Appelt Answers Questions about "Keeper"]
 * Links:**

1. In the story, Keeper, the "blue moon" has a significance to the story. What other significant events that we might experience in our lives are tied to the moon? 2. On page 92, Keeper refers to "double insurance." What is double-insurance and tell me about a time when you might have done something to be "double insured." 3. Do you know anyone who has been adopted or lives with someone other than their paternal parents? Would you recommend this book to them? Explain why or why not.
 * Discussion Questions:**

Animals are a very important part of this story. So important, that many parts were written from the animal's perspective. Students will pick an animal from the story, Keeper, that they liked; if students would like - they may do some research before they start the project. After they choose an animal, students will write a "day in the life" story from that animal's perspective. One possible suggestion would be to write about the day after they were rescued....all from the animal's point of view.
 * Classroom Activity:**
 * Create an animal story.**