Ernest, The Moose Who Doesn't Fit (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
Ernest is a large moose with a very big problem, he can not fit on the page! However with the help of his friend and determination he tries all sorts of ways to be able to fit into the book. Until at the end where his friend the chipmunk helps him realise that he did not have to change anything about himself to be able to fit in, the book adapted itself to fit Ernest. So the last page folds out into a bigger page and Ernest finally fits!This is a wonderful and funny story to be read in KS1 with a great underlying message of acceptance and fitting in no matter what you look like, your shape, your size or anything else you are not confident about. It can provide younger children with the message that it is OK to be different. In instances where there may be some form of bullying in the class or a child being left out, this is a great story to read and feedback feelings and ideas with the rest of the class. It is a lovely story to read out to the class with words that stand out such as 'Large' and 'Big' to emphasize the point and clear for all children to see and perhaps read along with at those points. ‘Ernest’ is a book about an enormous moose who finds it hard to fit in-quite literally! He finds it so hard to even fit on to the pages of the book. Yet with a little determination and help from his marsupial friend they work closely together to find an alternative way of accommodating Moose. The books only downfall is that it ends so soon. I really liked the illustrations which brought the challenging plan of trying to help Ernest fit in, right into the readers lap through an open flap book style. The story wittingly points out the obvious which is that not everybody feels like they ‘fit in’ sometimes and it conveys the idea that if you try to fit in with a little bit of help you will do eventually.The appropriate age range for this book would be KS 1 simply because I would not expect children in the Early Years to understand the books subtleties-having said this-there would be an option to read the story to support curriculum work with the theme of Animals. Children in upper KS 1 would benefit from using the book during guided reading session and could discuss some of the ‘WOW’ words within the text such as, shimmy, shunt, squidge, squodge and scrumple. This could lead onto a creative writing lesson where children could apply some of the learned ‘WOW’ words into their own writing or text.The book could also be used during a PSHE lesson to talk about times when the children have had to work together with a friend to complete a task and to share times when they may have felt like they did not fit in. This could then lead onto a task where the children work in groups to try to solve a practical problem together by ensuring that every child contributes and everybody’s ideas and opinions are consider as valid.
What do You think about Ernest, The Moose Who Doesn't Fit (2010)?
Unfortunately, due to a fold out page, this book will get ruined quickly in most libraries.
—Scott
I use this regularly in Toddler Time. Love Rayner's illustrations.
—hawraehawa
This is a very cute book. The boys like it a lot!
—Anya222
The book is just too small for Ernest, or is it?
—clevy01
