Thursday, November 8, 2012

The Garden of Abdul Gasazi


Today we read a book by one of my favorite authors, Chris Van Allsburg.  You probably all know one of his other books, "The Polar Express". He has written many others, including "Zathura", "Jumanji", and "The Stranger".

Discussion points

1. Have you read any other Chris Van Allsburg books?  If so, which ones?

2. Imagine that Fritz didn't come back to Miss Hester's house. What would Alan have done? Or imagine that Fritz did come back but he remained a duck. How would Alan have explained that to Miss Hester?
3. The author gives a great picture of what the character of the dog is like.  He does not describe the dog, or tell you what he is like, but shows you in other ways.  How would you describe the dog?  Tell me how the author shows you that.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have not read any of his books besides the Polar Express, but maybe I have and I don't remember the author.

If Fritz came back as a duck, Alan would explain the scnario, then she would think she was dreaming. I would of thought I was hallucinating.

I would say Fritz is an annoying dog that just bites things (like my cat Charlie does). The author shows how Fritz is by the biting, and when Fritz escaped Alan's arms.

Paul

Anonymous said...

Hi Mrs. Simonds
Yes I have read one of Chris Van Allsburg book, it was the Polar Express. It was very good.
I'm going to imagine that Fritz did come back but as a duck. Alan would of explain it like this "I was walking down the street with Fritz then he started to go crazy and manage to take off his collar. Fritz ran into the garden of Abdul Gasazi. I ran after him. I found his foot prints on the ground and I followed them but then after a while then the path became stone so I couldn't see the prints on the ground. But somehow I just knew he went this way. I followed the path down to this big house. I decided to o up to it and see if someone had Fritz. I knocked on the door then a man in a funny hat came out and greeted me and told me to come. I asked him if he had Fritz and he said yes then i asked were he was then he pointed to a duck."
I would describe Fritz as fresh. Because he's always is chewing on stuff and getting in trouble.

From,
Wil Masterson!!

Anonymous said...

Dear Mrs.Simonds,
I have not read any other books by him. either way I think Alan would just stand tall and tell Miss Hester. I think the dog is a energetic(too energetic sometimes) and just plane out adventureous. just so you know I will have the best costume at school tomorrow.
from your fellow witch
josh

Anonymous said...

Dear Mrs.Simonds,
1. I have read 2 other books by him. The Polar Express and Jumanji.
2. If Fritz didn't come back, I think that Alan would have apolegized and felt really bad.
3. I would describe the dog as sneaky and one who always is looking for an escape. the author shows you that when the dog gets of his leash and runs away.


From, Biz <3

Anonymous said...

Bonjour Mrs. Simonds,

I have read The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg.

I think that if Fritz did not go back to Miss Hester's house Alan was going to Miss Hester's house any way to tell what happened to Fritz. But, when he went to the door Fritz was there. If Fritz went back to Miss Hester's house he probably would tell here what happened.

Here is how I would describe the dog he likes to bite and chew things, has lots of energy, strong, and when I saw the picture of him he kind of reminded me of the Target dog. The author shows you all of those things because he pulled Alan into the garden and Fritz likes to chew on things because he wanted to chew the couch and Alan's hat.

From,
Emma

Anonymous said...

Aloha Mrs. Simonds,
I forgot to add a book that I read by Chris Van Allsburg called The Two Bad Ants. My Mom does and activity with her students and she would read a page and her students would draw a picture. After that she would read the book showing them the pictures.I is one of my favorite picture books. Have you read it? See you tomorrow.

From,
Emma

Anonymous said...

Hi Mrs.Siomonds,
I have read two other books by Chris Van Allsburg I have read "The Polar Express" and "Jumanji" they are really good.
I think allen might have told the truth and i think Miss Hester would be sad but understand. I also think that she would forgive him.I think the dog was kind of skidish like my dog and also a little mean and disobayeing the author showes that because the dog always bit people on the nose. I think he was disobaying because he always chewed things like pillows,hats,gloves,pillows anything he could get his paws on.
But the dog was very cute!
sophia

Anonymous said...

Hi Mrs.S
I have never read a Chris Van Allsburg book until today.
I think Alan would have definitely panicked and then found an excuse that Frits ran away on his afternoon walk. If Frits did return but as a duck I think that Alan would have explained it like this, "When I was taking Frits on his afternoon walk he slipped out of the leash and ran into "The Garden of Abdul Gasazi," and turned him into a duck.
I would describe the dog as a energetic dog that loves to explore lots of different places and apparently is not a very good reader because he can't read the sign that says no dogs allowed. The author shows us that by writing that the dog just wondered off into the garden.

From:
Riley

Anonymous said...

Hi Mrs.S
I have never read a Chris Van Allsburg book until today.
I think Alan would have definitely panicked and then found an excuse that Frits ran away on his afternoon walk. If Frits did return but as a duck I think that Alan would have explained it like this, "When I was taking Frits on his afternoon walk he slipped out of the leash and ran into "The Garden of Abdul Gasazi," and turned him into a duck.
I would describe the dog as a energetic dog that loves to explore lots of different places and apparently is not a very good reader because he can't read the sign that says no dogs allowed. The author shows us that by writing that the dog just wondered off into the garden.

From:
Riley

Anonymous said...

to Mrs Simonds,

1. Yes, I have read a Chris Van Allsburg book. It was called the Polar Express. It was good.

2. If Fritz did not come back to Mrs. Hester's Allen would have went to her and took the blame. If Fritz came back but as a duck I think Mrs. Hester would have never believed that her dog is a duck.

3. I think the dog is bad and naughty. The dog is bad when he goes into the garden that says no dogs allowed. He is also bad when he ceps on running and Allen said to stop. He is also bad when he flies away with his hat.

From,
Will MacDonald

Anonymous said...

Hi Mrs. S
I have read "The Polar Express" and it was a very good book! But other than that no, I haven't read any other books by Chris Van Allsburg.
If Fritz did not come home I think that Alan would have came up with some silly explanation and say that he will home soon. If Fritz returned home, but was a duck Alan probably would have told Miss. Hester the truth and apoligized.
I think that Fritz is a trouble making dog, who does not really understand that what he is doing is bad. The author shows that by telling you that Fritz had bitten Alan before and that he liked to chew hats.
~Sydney

Anonymous said...

dear mrs simonds
The only book i have read by him was the polar excpress.
I think that if he told her the truth that she would be happy that he was anoust she would still be sad.I think that if he did not tell her she would call the ploice and they would never of found him.If fritz came back as a duck then she might not of known it was fritz.I would describe fritz as a somewhat fisicull dog but sweet at the same time.

Anonymous said...

dear mrs simonds
The only book i have read by him was the polar excpress.
I think that if he told her the truth that she would be happy that he was anoust she would still be sad.I think that if he did not tell her she would call the ploice and they would never of found him.If fritz came back as a duck then she might not of known it was fritz.I would describe fritz as a somewhat fisicull dog but sweet at the same time.

Anonymous said...

hi mrs.S
I have read the Polar Express. I have also seen the movie, the Polar Express.
I think Miss Hester would have been mad at Alan if he lost Fritz.
The dog,Fritz, was playful and mischievous. I can't remember anything from the story that showed Fritz was a dog. Can anyone share words they remember that would show Fitz is a dog?

From Connor

Anonymous said...

Hola Mrs. Simonds,
I have read "The Polar Express", and "Jumanji". I can't think of any other books that he wrote that I have read.
I think that if Fritz didn't return Miss Hester would be upset and would be a little mad at Alen, I think that she wouldn't believe him entirerly. If Fritz had returned as a duck (if he ever was a duck) I think that Miss Hester would be in shock, and probably not believe that Alen was telling the truth or joking!!!
I think that Fritz is very devious and mischivious, because Alen had to put his hat down his shirt just so that Fritz wouldn't get a hold of his hat while Alen took a nap!!! I also think that Fritz is curious, because when they come to the garden that belongs to Abdul Gasazi, instead of listening to what Alen said about staying out, he decided to stick with what he thouht!!!
~BRIANNA
(P.S. I don't think that Fritz was turned into a duck, Ithink that it was a trick.)

Anonymous said...

hi Mrs.Simonds,
1. Yes, iv'e read one of his books. Iv'e read The Polar Express and, its a pretty awesome book!!
2. He could of gotten worried if Fritz didn't come back. I would describe the dog as a wondering dog. Because he leaves and they cant find them.
grace :) :)

Anonymous said...

I think this book was pretty good book it is really detailed

from, jessa

Anonymous said...

To:Grace
I have read "The Polar Express" too it was very good! I liked how you said that Fritz is a "wondering dog." Good thinking! If I was Allan I would have been worried too.
~Sydney

Anonymous said...

To Will Mac,

I agree with you, I think Fritz is bad and evil. I also don't think Mrs. Hester would of believed Alan. I liked the Polar Express too. I have been on it last year.

Weird how we basically said the same thing.

Paul

Anonymous said...

To Mrs. Simonds and Riley,

For number 1I could not believe that you have not read the Polar Express. I read it. I think you gave great information for the questions on number 2.especial for the one about the duck. I would have givin you a A plus. Great job. On number 3 he did great discribing the dog. Dogs can not read.


From,
Will MacDonald

Anonymous said...

To Mrs. Simonds and Riley,

For number 1I could not believe that you have not read the Polar Express. I read it. I think you gave great information for the questions on number 2.especial for the one about the duck. I would have givin you a A plus. Great job. On number 3 he did great discribing the dog. Dogs can not read.


From,
Will MacDonald

Anonymous said...

Hi Will Mac
I just remembered that I have read a Chris van Allsburn book the polar express. And thank you for giving me an a plus. Thank you for also saying that I did a good job describing the dog.

RIL€¥

Anonymous said...

Dear Mrs.S,

I have read other books by Chris Van Allsburg. That book is called The Polar Express. If the dog came back as a duck, Alan would probably explain what had happened then Mrs.Hester would have thought that Alan was just probably playing a trick on her. The author explains well by the dogs actions that he is a very bad dog.

Mara

Anonymous said...

Dear Mrs .Simonds,
I have read THE POLOR EXPRESS, but I have not read any other of his books. If Fritz came back as a duck then she probably would not believe him. If Fritz did not come back she would be very upset.
I think fritz is a little bit vicious but only a tiny bit.Well not really.
~LUCY!~

Anonymous said...

Dear Mrs.S,

I have read The Polar Express, but I do not remember any other books that I have read that are by Chris Van Allsburg. If Fritz came back to the house as a duck Alan would have told the truth to Mrs. Hester. Remember always tell the truth! Also Mrs. Hester would have thought that Alan had gone bonkers if he told her that Fritz had been turned into a duck. I think that it was all a trick. The author described the dog as rude and not the most best dog to be with. Fritz sounds like a dog that lives up the street from me. Sheena sometimes growls, barks and nips. One time Sheena bit the little girls face because the girl cornered her. That dog can be really nice sometimes. The dog loves to sit on my moms lap and to lick my moms face. Why would Sheena do that if she nips other people and not my mom?!

100% M-a-r-a-Mara!