WilderwhimWoods

For Teachers

Read-aloud discussion guides, writing prompts, and mini-lessons for K–2 classrooms — all built around Barry Is Terrific.

Read-Aloud Discussion Stops

Pause at these moments during your teacher read to practice predicting, inferring, and talking about feelings. Each stop takes just a minute or two.

Before Reading

Look at the Cover

  • What do you think the word terrific means?
  • What might a bear named Barry be like?
  • What do you predict will happen in Wilderwhim Woods?
During Reading

Into the Woods

Stop when Elliott chases his tree frog into the Woods.

  • What do you predict Elliott will find there?
  • What makes you think so?
During Reading

Follow the Butterfly

Stop when the monarch butterfly appears.

  • Where do you predict the butterfly is leading?
  • Someplace special — what could it be?
During Reading

Always "Terrific!"

Stop after Barry answers "How are you?" with "Terrific!"

  • Why do you think Barry always says that?
  • How do you think it makes his friends feel?
During Reading

Sssylvia Hides

Stop when Sssylvia hides in the grass.

  • How is Sssylvia feeling? How can you tell?
  • What could the friends do so she feels welcome?
After Reading

Check Your Predictions

  • Was your prediction right? What surprised you?
  • What made Barry terrific in the end — being big and brave, or something else?

The Writing Corner

Expository writing, sized for little writers. Kindergarteners can draw and label, first graders can share the pen in interactive writing, and second graders can build a full paragraph.

Expository Prompt

Why is kindness important?

Barry believes being terrific means being kind. Ask students to explain why kindness matters, using these starters:

Kindness is important because ___. One kind thing I can do is ___.
Expository Prompt

Why is it important to include others?

Sssylvia hid in the grass because she thought she wasn't welcome. Talk about the moment Barry showed her that everyone belongs, then write:

I can include a friend by ___. When everyone belongs, ___.
Choose Your Level

One Prompt, Three Ways

  • Kindergarten: draw a kind moment from the story and label it with a word or phrase.
  • First grade: share the pen — compose one or two sentences together as a class.
  • Second grade: write a three-sentence paragraph: a topic sentence, a reason, and an example from the story or from real life.

Word-Choice & Grammar Mini-Lessons

The author chose her words carefully — use them to teach visualizing, vivid verbs, and the sounds words make.

"The monarch butterfly floated ahead dipping and dancing as though it were leading to someplace special."

— from Barry Is Terrific
Visualizing

See It in Your Mind

Read the butterfly sentence aloud with eyes closed, then ask:

  • Which words did the author use to help you visualize what is happening in the story?
  • Circle them together: floated, dipping, dancing, someplace special.
Vivid Verbs

Better Than "Went"

The butterfly didn't just go — it floated, dipped, and danced.

  • Act out the difference between went and floated.
  • Build a class chart of plain verbs and the vivid verbs that could replace them.
Word Sounds

Words You Can Hear

Some names in the Woods sound like their owners:

  • Why does Sssylvia Hissabell start with sss? Say it like a snake!
  • Listen for the repeated w in Wilderwhim Woods — then hunt for other favorite-sounding words in the story.
Free Printable

Download the Teacher's Guide

All of the discussion stops, writing prompts, and mini-lessons on this page in one print-ready PDF for your planning binder.

Download the Teacher's Guide (PDF)
For Your Class

Student Printables

Coloring pages, a seek-and-find, mazes and puzzles, an explorer hat craft — and a Kindness Certificate ready to award to your terrific students.

Browse the Activities

Have an idea for the classroom? Debi would love to hear it — say hello.