Cubbie Blue Info & Lesson Plan

This is the Cubbie Blue Doll that Mom made for a production company that had property under option
Hello there, Happy to see you here! I'm Cubbie Blue and yes I do like baseball! My friends nicknamed me Cubbie Blue and you can come along on our adventures as we discover new things about the world and each other! Yes I'm small but I do know a thing or two and my dog, Dot is even smarter than me at times! Here's a link to Amazon and the 2 books about us. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D2GJBF6/ref=series_rw_dp_sw
“Okay now! A little background about me. I’ve been around for a long while. I noticed that a few online sites out there are using my name. I’m letting that slide for now. My real name is Cobalt, I have been nicknamed, Cubbie Blue by my best friends, Derek, Brian and Chris.

I’m small, I’d say about three inches tall and from the greatest place ever, Baltar. Everyone there is always friendly and happy. It’s located about a mile below the oldest iceberg in Antarctica. Are you surprised? Don’t be! I messed up and ended up in New Hampshire. See, I played with this real powerful zoner car that I got for my birthday and ended up zooming the universe!

I do have supernatural powers many of which come from my long blue white hair. Whenever I start moralizing everything turns the color of blue. I do sometimes do that, I’m sorry. I carry magic dust in the pockets of my overalls. Come in, let me introduce you to everyone!" Cubbie Blue

Here's what some had to say!

“Very sweet book about the importance of friendship, relationships and kindness. Very poignant story with concepts that contribute to peacemaking and making the world a better place for everyone. Made me feel so lighthearted as I read the book.”Dr. Judy Itzkowitz

“Children love stories with magical other-worldly-type characters and this book offers them such a hero to fascinate them.  Beside the unusual but charming story, the book is filled with primitive likable drawings. ”Dr Israel Drazin

“This story about a tiny creature and his even tinier dog with two tails  is certain to stimulate the imagination of a young child to whom the book is read; it will also be a delight for an older child who can on his own travel with Cubbie, Dot and their new friends.”Cary (Amazon)

“Wonderful story with charming, endearing characters and gorgeous illustrations! My younger nieces and nephews loved the story and my tween daughter did too!” Terri Pietka

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This is Baltar! And here's my girlfriend Astra! Isn’t she so pretty? I miss her and Baltar so much. Everything is so see through and crystal clear there . And, my favorite time of year, the sugar rain! We all slide and cartwheel around in the snow and eat and eat it for hours and hours! I wish you can all see it and taste it!”
Why does the sugar rain make the snow taste so good?
Do the Aryon soldiers enjoy the Sugar Rain too?
Why are the Aryon soldiers so unhappy?

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Summary, Cubbie Book 1, Cubbie Blue and His Dog Dot

Three multiracial seven-year-old boys with difficult backgrounds befriend a special being, Cubbie Blue. Cubbie and his tiny dog Dot have accidently come to their area from an enchanted part of Antarctica. Even though Cubbie is only three inches tall and therefore appears vulnerable, he has supernatural powers; from highly evolved skills in telepathy, to making himself invisible, to even stopping time and the uncanny ability to only see things in a positive light.

Throughout the series, this new friendship leads to important discoveries for both the boys and Cubbie. In addition to being flown over cities in a magical bubble and exploring realms near and far, Cubbie and Dot learn the true meaning of friendship and how to solve small and big problems while feeling protected in their scary new environment. The bond between them proves that sometimes unlikely allies are found among beings who seem to have the greatest differences. In subsequent books, the tiny creatures are irresistible vehicles for conveying subtle messages, about rights and wrongs while at the same time providing entertaining interludes. Future topics will include but are not limited to abuse, bullying, protecting the environment, and recognizing true friendship. With the children’s help, Cubbie Blue is scheduled to go home in the series ' final installment.

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Summary, Cubbie Book 2, What’s Up with Mike

Derek, Chris, and Brian, three 7-year-old boys, befriend Derek’s new neighbor, Mike, who is blind. Cubbie, a 3-inch-tall special being with supernatural powers, and his dog Dot help the boys learn about Mike’s limitations and needs. This important knowledge allows the boys to properly welcome Mike to the neighborhood. In turn, the boys help Cubbie Blue escape from the evil soldiers trying to capture him, and he is saved thanks to their bravery.

Elementary school teachers have found Cubbie Blue  helpful to talk diversity and here are some shared Lesson Plan ideas. And here are a few 

#LESSONPLAN IDEA USING CUBBIE BLUE AND HIS DOG SERIES. 
EVALUATE STORY AND MAIN CHARACTERS AND DISCUSS OBJECTIVE

WHAT ELEMENTS DID RANDA HANDLER USE TO SHOW THAT CUBBIE IS VULNERABLE?

WHO ARE THE BAD CHARACTERS AND WHO ARE THE GOOD ONES?  WHY ARE THE BAD ONES BAD AND WHY ARE THE GOOD ONES GOOD?

HOW DID THE AUTHOR SHOW THAT THE BOYS CARE ABOUT THEIR NEW TINY FRIENDS?

Note: It is important for the class to read Cubbie Blue book one first as it sets up story and introduces main characters.

DISCUSSION- Randa Handler has recently animated prototypes of the characters and teachers are find video helpful in classroom. Here's a linkhttps://youtu.be/2K8xmS9UBNU
Ask the class what they think of Cubbie Blue and Dot, are they good and why?

Do they like him? Why do they like him? What qualities do they admire in him and what qualities do they admire in his dog Dot? Why was he named Dot?
Do they think Cubbie was wrong to hop into his zoner car even though his dad told him to wait?
How does Cubbie convince the boys that he is good and a friend? How do the boys convince Cubbie and especially Dot that they will protect them?
Do they think the boys will help Cubbie find his way home?
How do they think Cubbie will figure out how to get home?
Who are the bad guys? And, why are they bad?
Who is Cubbie’s girlfriend? What’s the color of her hair?
What makes the Aryon soldiers so powerful and strong?
Where does Cubbie get his powers from? What are his powers?
Describe where Cubbie and his dog dot come from?

After reading the story together ask the kids to draw Baltar. Ask them to describe the houses, the streets, the foods, the people, the sky, the ocean and so on and so on. Ask them if there are trees and if they’d live there. If they were what kind would they be and what would they look like. Ask them if they are animals and what would they look like.  If Cubbie and Dot are tiny are the houses tiny too? Are the polar bear tiny too?


DRAW YOUR OWN STORYBOARD FOR A CUBBIE STORY WITH THE CLASS AND FOLLOW WITH DISCUSSION
WHAT IS THE PLOT?
WHO ARE THE MAIN CHARACTERS?
WHAT PERILS CUBBIE AND DOT ENCOUNTER? WHAT IS THE CONFLICT?
WHY & HOW IS ANTARCTICA DIFFERENT FROM WHERE YOU LIVE?
WHAT HAPPENS IF ALL THE ICEBERGS MELT?
WHY IS CUBBIE AND HIS DOG DOT AT RISK?
HOW DO THE BOYS HELP?
WHO ARE THE BAD CHARACTERS?
WILL THE ARYON SOLDIERS GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO CAPTURE CUBBIE AND DOT?
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL WORK TO KEEP THE SOLDIERS OFF THEIR TRACK?
WILL CUBBIE AND DOT GET TIRED OF EATING STRAWBERRIES?
WHAT OTHER FOODS DO YOU THINK THEY MIGHT LIKE TO EAT?
WHAT KIND OF FOODS DO YOU THINK YOU’D LIKE IF YOU LIVED ON BALTAR?

Lesson plan questions after reading Book 2:
How did the boys figure out what’s wrong with Mike?
How did Cubbie and Dot find out why Mike didn’t want to make friends?
Is there a way to make a blind person feel welcome and invite them to join in a game?
Do you have to act differently around someone who’s blind? Did the boys act differently around Mike or did he around them?
What does it mean to be blind? Does it make you feel less, hear less, hurt less?
How did the boys welcome Mike into their neighborhood?
Do you think you can be friends with a blind person?
Can a blind person read?
How does a blind person read?
The class can take turn reading a sheet in Braille while eyes closed!
They can evaluate how difficult or how easy it is to feel the words with their fingers.

Older children can learn how to make a Braille sentence or letter.

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RANDA HANDLER

Other books by the author, If I Were King, The Boy Who Spoke To God & The Thanksgiving Dinner Platter:

READ MORE ....

http://national.macaronikid.com/article/1099142/9-thanksgiving-books-that-perfectly-celebrate-the-season

http://www.bravedaily.com/2015/11/08/thanksgiving-dinner-platter/

http://grannylovestoread.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-boy-who-spoke-to-god-by-randa.html?spref=tw