Calling The Doves by Juan Herrera Preschool Story Stretchers

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Calling the Doves is a beautiful bilingual book with rich illustrations, poetic language, and the ability to spark many learning activities for your preschoolers.

Calling the Doves Author and Publisher Information

Calling the Doves was written by Juan Felipe Herrera as a memoir type book detailing memories of his childhood. The book was published by Children’s Book Press with the ISBN of 0892391669.

Summary of Children’s Book Calling the Doves

We follow Juan down the agricultural roads of California, traveling with his father who worked as a migrant farm hand. Children will see a historically accurate picture of America’s transitory workers, and gain an appreciation for a different point of view and way of living. Even though they were obviously poor (Juan describes sleeping under a tent many nights), they had a good time as a family and lots of love for each other.

Story Stretching Educational Ideas for Preschoolers With Calling the Doves

• Science – Sun and Dehydration – On the opening page we learn that Juan was born in the “raisin capital of the world”. What a great opportunity to teach children about the power of the sun to dehydrate grapes and turn them into raisins. Thompson seedless grapes make good raisin grapes because of the thin skin and high sugar content. Lay them on a paper towel up off the ground – a window screen on blocks is ideal, and place them in a sunny spot until they have dried up and taste like raisins. Depending on your weather, windiness and how sunny your area is, making raisins can take anywhere from 4 days to 4 weeks!
• Playtime Activity – In Calling the Doves Juan describes how his father creates a makeshift tent for his family to sleep in at night. Let your preschooler create a tent of their own using a tarp or large blanket, if you do not have an actual camping tent that can be set up in the house. Two kitchen chairs can be used to support the blanket to create a tent for hiding in. Your preschooler can spend the night there, or just hang out for a nap time party.
• Cultural Music – Pages 10 and 11 of Calling the Doves talks about the beautiful, Mexican music Juan listened to with his parents. Ask your preschooler about what his favorite songs are and spend some time listening to them. Then play some traditional Hispanic music and imagine if your entire house was the size of a tiny room – how much would that music fill the entire house!
• Animal Knowledge – Bird Calls – Juan’s father could call the doves and mimic their sounds. Listen to the bird calls of birds in your area. Let your children practice making the different sounds. You could even set up bird feeders and see what birds come and eat from them.
• Language Skills – Rhyming Words – On pages 16 and 17 we learn that Juan’s mother speaks rhyming words to entertain her family. Talk with your preschooler about rhyming words. Practice thinking up words that rhyme with each other. Have the child pick a word, and then you say a rhyming word, and then help them think of another rhyming word.
• Weather – Seasons – Pages 22 and 23 highlight the changes Juan observed with the various seasons. Help your preschooler discuss changes that take place in his specific environment during each season. “In the summer we set up the sprinklers outside and get to run through them. In the fall we put Jack O’Lanterns on the porch.” Help them describe their environment with specific details. Optionally, you can let them color pictures of what they are describing as well, and write down what they dictated to you about the seasons.

Calling the Doves by Juan Herrera is available at most libraries or on Amazon.com.

Learn about ten more Preschool Story Stretchers to teach your kids through children’s literature.

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