From There to Here

The highly anticipated sequel to I Know Here — the classic, award-winning picture book from Laurel Croza and Matt James.

Book Genre:

Picture Books

Audience:

ages 4 to 7 / grades P to 2

Written by

Laurel Croza

Illustrated by

Matt James

Book Description
In From There to Here, a little girl and her family have just moved across the country by train. Their new neighborhood in the city of Toronto is very different from their home in the Saskatchewan bush, and at first everything about “there” seems better than “here.
Pre-Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Make Predictions
Review the book with students showing them the front and back covers, endpapers, copyright and title pages. Tell them the names of the author, illustrator and publisher. Ask students what they think the book is about.
Pre-Reading Activities/ Vocabulary Acquisition
New Vocabulary
Some words may be unfamiliar or may be used in a different way than students have seen previously. Possible words for study include:
- asphalted
- roosted
- Aurora Borealis
- shimmered
- direction
- stretching
- exhibition
- tarp
- graveled
- whistle
Pre-Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Discuss the Illustrations
Show students the illustrations on the opening pages before the story begins. What do these illustrations tell them?
Post-Reading Activities/ Key Ideas & Details
Who is Telling the Story?
Ask students who is telling the story. Ask them to name the main and secondary characters and make a list that all can see. Ask each student to retell the story in their own words; then work in pairs to share the written work, reading one another’s summary. If there are disagreements, students can ask for clarification.
Post-Reading Activities/ Developing & Creating Texts
Would You Rather: City or Country?
What words and phrases are particularly vivid in describing living in the city? Living on the prairies? Is either place familiar to someplace students know? Where would students rather live? Write a paragraph explaining their choice.
Post-Reading Activities/ Text Forms & Genres
Repetition Strategies
What is the author’s purpose in repeating the words “there” and “here” while telling the story?
Post-Reading Activities/ Critical Thinking in Literacy
Consider the Illustrations
How does the illustration on pages 11–12 help students understand the difference between “there” and “here”? Why do they think the illustrator created one picture and not two?
Post-Reading Activities/ Critical Thinking in Literacy
What’s the Difference: City vs. Country
Make a list of the ways living in Toronto is different from living in rural Saskatchewan using students’ input. Are there any similarities? What is the most significant difference? Ask students to compare life where they are with both Toronto and rural Saskatchewan.
Post-Reading Activities/ Key Ideas & Details
The Most Important Message
What is the most important message that the author shares with readers? How do students know?
Post-Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Compare the First Sentence to the Last
The first sentence reads “It’s different here, not the same as there.” The last sentence reads “It was different there. Not the same as here.” Ask students what is the difference between the two sentences?
Post-Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Compare the Beginning to the End
Ask students what words describe the narrator at the beginning of the story? At the end? What has changed?
Post-Reading Activities/ Developing & Creating Texts
Compare Two Places
Let students choose two places they are familiar with and write about or draw pictures of the similarities and differences.
Post-Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Compare Art Elements
Can students tell what art elements are carried through in both titles?
Post-Reading Activities/ Critical Thinking in Literacy
Understand Both Works
How does having read I Know Here enhance students’ understanding of From There to Here?
Post-Reading Activities/ Critical Thinking in Literacy
The Circle and the Star
Show students the endpapers in each book, noting the yellow circle and the red star. What do students think the circle and star represent? Are the circle and star used elsewhere in the books? Why?
Post-Reading Activities/ Critical Thinking in Literacy
The Importance of Friendship
What role does friendship have in each book? Ask students to discuss why having friends is important.
Post-Reading Activities/ Text Forms & Genres
Sense of Place
How do the illustrations contribute to the sense of place in each story?
Post-Reading Activities/ Oral Language
Discuss Moving
Lead a discussion about moving from one place to another. Why is it difficult? What are some good things about moving?