Shh! We Have a Plan

Product Information

Children can re-enact and retell the tale of the hilarious villains. Using movement and the repetition to build the suspense, swiftly followed by disappointment, will make it exciting and amusing for their audience. Play a game Most of the illustrations use different shades of blue. Could you try to create your own pictures using different shades of the same colour?

My nephew quite loved the book and especially the repeating phrase Shh! We've got a plan. This was quite the giggle fest which is lovely to see on him when he is normally hurrying to finish the book so he can get to the drawing! He could still discern that it was the boy that got the bird! He loved the end where they switch from birds to squirrels and the littler guy seems resigned that they will repeat their same mistakes! In fact, I had been dozing off the food and activities of our Thanksgiving day, when the girls woke me with numerous whispers of "Shh! We have a plan." We laughed over the silliness of the characters and marveled at the success of the little one. Does this book have a deeper meaning about kindness over stealth and force or listening to the wisdom of the young or perhaps, a call for being calm, patience, and generous?Following the Rule of Threes the older trio creep stealthily upon the bird on the ground, in a tree, and out on a frozen pond, always failing to catch their prey. At last the Little One offers up some bread crumbs and they stalkers are suddenly surrounded by many birds. With the birds so close it seems as if catching them will easy until they realize they are outnumbers and outsized and off the run. This is his best yet: simple, original, very blue and HILARIOUS...every single school in the country should have a copy' When children hear the story several times they’ll get to know it really well. This helps them to tell it in their own words, using the pictures as prompts. Listen for the ways they use words and phrases from the story. This familiarity will help them to read the story independently and with increasing accuracy. Watch a Trailer

The humor comes from the futility of the group's plan and the silly results combined with the juxtaposition of the youngest's successful methods. The truth of one of Bornholdt’s observations – “Reading a book of pictures is still reading” – will become immediately obvious to the “reader” of Chris Haughton’s picture book Four friends out for a walk decide they must have the beautiful bird perched high in a tree. They have a plan... Trouble is, their plans don't quite work and each time they land up in a tangled heap as the bird flies off. But look more closely and you will see that the littlest one doesn't join in - he has a much better idea. Even then, things don't quite go according to plan in this almost wordless picture book which relies heavily on the clever picture to relate the story.' Re-read the story, encouraging children to join in with the repetition and fun: ‘ready one, ready two, ready three… GO!’ Tell the storyThe end of the picturebook starts out like the beginning, having a plan to catch another animal. This is interesting as it could symbolise the human nature of greed and wanting more, not seeing what destruction they are causing through their actions. Even though they saw the youngest succeed with his simple non-destructive plan they continue to use their plan that failed the first time. One of the most exciting new voices in children’s literature, comes a new picture book about a beautiful bird, an unquenchable desire and plans gone awry'