Shermy & Shake

The Not-So-Nice-Neigbor

By Kirby Larson; illustrated by Shinji Fujioka

Informational Resources:

Author Information:

Author Website:  

https://kirbylarson.com/

Illustrator Information:

Illustrator Website:  

https://shinjifujioka.com/

Activities & Resources:

Travel:

Modify some car games and see if you can play them in the classroom.

https://www.parents.com/fun/vacation/ideas/8-fun-car-game-ideas/

Museum:

Take a 3D field trip of an Imaginarium Museum, The Houston Children’s Museum.

https://www.cmhouston.org/virtual-field-trips

Stargazing:

Learn about the million trillion stars that Shermy and Shake are so excited about with your own Constellation Guide:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3xmZpo5z6uGdi1vQThBV25pX2s/edit?resourcekey=0-qmuX8lncKBZqKDm8citItQ

Check out the American Museum of Natural History’s Kid’s Guide to Stargazing.

https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/astronomy/a-kids-guide-to-stargazing

Shermy and Shake enjoyed stargazing.  Create binoculars that actually work so that you can enjoy stargazing as well.

https://www.seekingmisspoppins.com/blog/2018/2/26/make-your-own-binoculars

Art:

Create your own helmet you could wear to pretend to play aliens with friends.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j7OY7JelvsdbMPHzmJy2n_88lh0vUgu1/view?usp=sharing

Create an origami frog like Shermy:

https://origami.me/jumping-frog/

Create a Treasure Pouch like Shermy’s to store your tiny treasures.

https://craftyourhappiness.com/2015/09/16/make-a-no-sew-drawstring-pouch/?utm_campaign=tailwind_smartloop&utm_term=44997860&utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_content=smartloop

Someday List:

Create a Someday List. These could be places you want to visit someday, books you  would want to read, things you want to do.

Discussion Questions:

Based on the cover and title, what prediction can you make about this book?

What character traits do you think Shermy and Shake will have in common? What traits do you think they will have that are different?

What do you think of the title of the first chapter? Greetings, Earthling. 

What is happening in the kitchen that morning?  

Who speaks to Shermy as he takes out the trash? Where is he? What does he want?

Why is Shake staying there?  

What is a Someday List? If you had a Someday List, what would be on it?

What does everyone get in Walla Walla from the ice cream truck? What flavor does Shermy get? Why?

Where does Mrs. Brown take Shake for the day? Why do they come back early?

What does that Mean Shermy can do all day?

What is Shermy’s favorite holiday? What is yours? Why?

Where do they go? What country are they near? What do they see in the big sky?

Shermy and Shake have very different favorite activities. What are they? Do you have a friend with different hobbies? What do you also have in common?

Shake thought reading was boring. Did he change his mind? What happened to make him change his mind?

What smells so good outside? What do they hope to get out of them?  

Have you ever picked berries and made something out of them? If you could, what kind of berries would you pick and what would you make?

What category do Shermy and Shake want to win at the animal fair?  What did they do to ensure they would win? What would you have done differently or the same?

What did Shermy give Shake out of his treasure pouch? Why?

Where can we guess that Shake and his family are moving?

Farewell Earthling is the last chapter’s title. Do you see what the author did? Do you think she did this for a particular reason?

Book Talk Teasers:

Read the reader's theater for Shermy & Shake The Not-So-Nice Neighbor.

Watch the book trailer for Shermy & Shake The Not-So-Nice Neighbor.

Read Alikes: 

Barrows, Annie. Ivy + Bean.  When seven-year-old Bean plays a mean trick on her sister, she finds unexpected support for her antics from Ivy, the new neighbor, who is less boring than Bean first suspected. (NovelList Plus)

Waldo, Steph. Shell Quest. When a little slug finds new friends in the backyard, she notices they look a lot like her ... except they have shells! Maybe a shell is exactly what she needs to fit in--but finding one is a lot harder than it sounds! (NovelList Plus)

Adamson, Ged. Scribbly: A Real Imaginary Friend Tale. In need of a friend, Maude,who has just moved to a new town, draws a blue puppy she names Scribbly who gives her the courage to meet new friends, both human and four legged. (NovelList Plus)

Fogliano, Julie. My Best Friend. Two girls quickly become best friends, even before they know they learn each other’s name. (NovelList Plus)

Reviews:

Booklist: (Booklist, vol 119, number 13, p56)

Grades 2-4 Shermy  is taking out the trash when he hears a robotic voice say, “Gree-tings, Earth-ling.” But when the invisible stranger demands a blueberry Toaster Tart, Shermy  gets tough, demanding, “Show yourself . . . or no Toaster Tart.” Shake , Shermy ’s next-door neighbor’s grandson, jumps down from a tree and  introduces himself as Falzar, from Jupiter. While his mother and  stepfather are away on their honeymoon, Shake  is spending the summer with his grandmother. A high-energy kid who sees no reason to share when he can shove both the remaining Toaster Tarts into his mouth, Shake  tries Shermy ’s patience repeatedly throughout the summer, but he can also be lively, fun, and  even emotionally honest with a friend he trusts. Readers can decide for themselves whether Shermy  will miss Shake  when he goes home. Children new to chapter books will appreciate the book’s wide-spaced lines and  its many attractive black-and -white illustrations. Larson, whose Hattie Big Sky (2006) was a Newbery Honor Book, builds a strong foundation for the Shermy and Shake  series in this appealing early chapter book.