ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Awnie's House ???? Kids Book Read Aloud: HOOWAY FOR WODNEY WAT by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger
Hello, reading friends! Have you ever found it tricky to say certain letter sounds? Today, we’re going to read about a little rat named Rodney who had a hard time saying his R’s. Some of the other rodents in his class teased him, but when a bully joined their class, Rodney did something amazing! Let’s find out what happened in the story “Hooray for Wadney Wat.” If you have the book, grab it and read along!
Wadney Wat is actually named Rodney Rat, but he couldn’t say his R’s. This made him a “wodent” instead of a rodent. Poor Wadney tried really hard to learn how to speak clearly. He had lots of books on his bed to help him practice.
The other rodents would ask him questions like, “What’s your name?” and he would whisper, “What knee?” They teased him by asking, “What’s another name for bunny?” and he would say, “Wabbit.” They even asked how a train travels, and he replied, “A train travels on twinetwacks.”
All the teasing made Wadney very shy. He was so quiet in class and often ate lunch alone. One day, a new rodent named Camilla Capybara joined their class. She was big, mean, and thought she was the smartest. She even bumped into the other rodents and made them scared.
Camilla answered questions without raising her paw and danced on her desk during science class. The other rodents felt uncomfortable around her.
Every afternoon, the class played a game called Simon Says. Mrs. Fuzzleworth, their teacher, picked a name from a hat to see who would lead the game. This time, she picked Wadney Wat!
Wadney was nervous, but he had a plan. When he said, “Wadney says whip your paws around your head,” Camilla did it so hard she got dizzy! The other rodents started to giggle.
Then Wadney said, “Wake the leaves!” Camilla tried to wake up the leaves, but it didn’t work. The other rodents laughed even more.
Finally, Wadney said, “Go west!” Camilla thought she was smart and stomped off in the wrong direction. She left the playground, and the other rodents cheered for Wadney. From that day on, no one teased Wadney anymore. He was their hero!
Was it nice for the other rodents to make fun of Rodney? No, it wasn’t. It hurt his feelings. But they learned to appreciate Rodney’s differences when he helped them with Camilla the bully.
Isn’t it wonderful that we’re all different and unique? It makes the world a colorful and interesting place. I hope you enjoyed our story today! See you next time for more story time fun!
Sound Detective: Let’s play a game where you become a sound detective! Listen carefully to the words people say around you today. Can you find words that have the “R” sound in them? Write down or draw pictures of three things you hear that have the “R” sound. Share your findings with a friend or family member and see if they can think of more words with the “R” sound!
Role Play with Rodney: Imagine you are Rodney and practice saying words with the “R” sound. Try saying “rabbit,” “rainbow,” and “rocket.” Now, pretend you are one of Rodney’s classmates. How would you help Rodney feel better about his speech? With a friend or family member, act out a scene where you encourage Rodney and show kindness. Discuss how it feels to be kind and supportive.
Unique You Collage: Just like Rodney, everyone has something that makes them unique. Create a collage that shows what makes you special. Use magazines, drawings, or printed pictures to represent your favorite things, talents, and what makes you, you! Share your collage with the class and talk about how our differences make us all special and important.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hello, reading friends! It’s Annie. Have you ever had trouble pronouncing any of your letter sounds? Well, today we’re going to read about a little rat named Rodney, who had a hard time with his R’s. Some of the other rodents in his class teased him about it, but when a bully moved into their class, Rodney did something that made the others gain a new appreciation for him. Let’s find out what it was together as we read “Hooray for Wadney Wat.” If you have a copy, go get it so you can read along with me!
**Hooray for Wadney Wat**
Written by Helen Lester
Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
Poor Wadney. Wadney Wat—his real name was Rodney Rat—but he couldn’t pronounce his R’s. To make matters worse, he was a rodent, a “wodent.” Do you see all the books on Rodney’s bed? They’re all about learning to speak clearly. He’s trying very hard to learn to pronounce his R’s.
“What’s your name?” asked the other rodents.
“What knee?” whispered Wadney.
“What’s another name for bunny?” they asked knowingly.
“Wabbit,” he mumbled.
“And how does a train travel?” they winked at each other.
“A train travels on twinetwacks,” Wadney replied miserably.
All of this teasing, day in and day out, made Wadney the shyest rodent in his elementary school. His squeak could barely be heard in class. He had lunch alone, and while the other rodents scurried and scooted about at recess, Wadney hid inside his jacket.
Then one day, as the rodents were taking turns doing wheelies, a new rodent—a very large rodent—barged into the classroom and announced, “My name is Camilla Capybara. I’m bigger than any of you, I’m meaner than any of you, and I’m smarter than any of you.” With that, she accidentally elbowed an ear, bumped two noses, stepped on three tails, and lay down on a desk. The classroom was filled with fear. She sure was bigger than any of them. She sure looked meaner than any of them. But was she smarter than any of them?
“What is two plus two plus two?” asked Mrs. Fuzzleworth.
“Four plus four is eight, eight plus eight is sixteen, and 243 plus 125 is 360,” shouted Camilla Capybara without even bothering to raise her paw.
Later, when Mrs. Fuzzleworth asked, “What’s the capital of Camilla?” she interrupted, “Yeah, yeah!” Hearing science in answer to the question, “What part of a plant is below the ground?” Camilla Capybara danced on her desk and sang. The other rodents felt very uncomfortable.
Every afternoon, just before the final recess, Mrs. Fuzzleworth drew a name from her hat to see who would be the leader for their favorite game, Simon Says. She crunched her eyes closed and jiggled the hat. Would it be Hairy Hamster, Mini Feet Mouse, Grizzle Fritz Guinea Pig, or could it be big, mean, smart Camilla Capybara? Mrs. Fuzzleworth’s paw reached in and pulled out the name of Wadney Wat.
The bell rang, and there was a wild scurry for the door. Camilla Capybara was the first on the playground, having trampled the others in her path. What would she do when she heard him speak? Breathe capybara breath in his face? Tie him up in his own tail? Even pounce on him?
The tiny, trembling leader of the game stood before the eager players, his head well inside his jacket, and squeaked, “What he says, we do!” While the other rodents read, he had a plan. Camilla began pulling up weeds around the sign and wildly flinging them until she was clear up to her teeth in dirt. The other rodents began to smile.
“Wadney says whip your paws around your head!” He peeked a little peek out of his jacket and saw Camilla whapping her paws around her head so hard that she became dizzy, gave herself a headache, and had to sit down. The other rodents couldn’t help giggling.
Camilla put out her arms like wings and made an airplane noise. But where was the “wozy”? What was a “wussy”? By now, Wadney’s voice was stronger, and his head was entirely out of his jacket. “Wake the leaves!” Nobody moved.
“What he says, wake no leaves!” While Hairy, Mini Feet, and Grizzle Fritz busied themselves raking, Camilla Capybara grabbed one leaf. “Wake!” she yelled. She snatched another, “Come on!” and another, “Rise!” and another.
By now, all the other rodents were squealing with laughter—all but Camilla, who frowned. “Pig leaves! They won’t wake up!” And why was everyone laughing at her? Such bullies!
In a voice so strong he had to hold his own ears, Wadney called, “What he says, go west!” The rodents collapsed in a happy heap for a rest. “Go west!” Camilla Capybara, feeling very smart that she could tell directions by the sun, said, “All right!” And then she added, “So there! West!” She stomped off forever.
From that day on, the pupils of P.S. 142 Elementary School for Rodents never teased Wadney again. He was their hero! Was it okay for the other rodents in his class to make fun of Rodney? It wasn’t okay, was it? Because it hurt his feelings. But they came to appreciate Rodney’s differences when he made Camilla the bully go away.
Isn’t it nice that we’re all different and unique? I think it makes the world a much more colorful and interesting place. I hope you enjoyed our story today! I sure did enjoy reading to you. See you next time! Subscribe for more story time, and don’t forget to click the bell so you’ll know each week when a new video is posted.
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