Read About the Book

Read Aloud, Read Along

For Teachers and Librarians

From Johanna Hurwitz:

" A few years ago I read a news article in The New York Times about some guinea pigs that were abandoned in Central Park. I decided to write about one guinea pig (PeeWee) and how he managed to survive. Since he'd always lived in a cage in the past, I decided the guinea pig needed a friend to help him out. I immediately thought it should be a squirrel. There may not be many guinea pigs in the park, but everyone knows there are loads of squirrels. Furthermore, squirrels have lots of street smarts. I named the squirrel "Lexi" after Lexington Avenue."

Activity : Writers' Workshop: Ideas

Stories are Everywhere

1. Pair children and have them bring their writing journals. Borrow dozens of nature and animal magazines from the library media center.
2. Read the excerpt from Mrs. Hurwitz about how she came upon the idea of writing about PeeWee.
3. Tell the children to title one of the pages in their writing journals: IDEAS: What would happen if . . .
4. Give each pair 4 or 5 periodicals to browse through, read, and talk about (10 minutes).
5. "Now, write down in your journal any ideas about animals that your discussions may have sparked, or  any story that reminded you of something from your own experience.  You will want to have plenty of ideas, when it comes time to write some stories."
6. "If you want to remember which magazine you used, you will need the TITLE, the MONTH, and the YEAR of the publication."

Author: Johanna Hurwitz  biographical sketch

Photograph used with permission of the author.

• Johanna Hurwitz
• Johanna Hurwitz
• Scholastic's "In The Spotlight"

Illustrator: Patience Brewster

Patience Brewster -- photograph used with permission of the artist

• Patience Brewster Website
• Patience Brewster biographical sketch
• Patience Brewster Gallery

Read Alone

 For Students:  Guinea Pig Stories

Hurwitz, Johanna. PeeWee and Plush; Illus. by Patricia Brewster. SeaStar Books, 2002. Pee Wee is back and still living in New York's Central Park. PeeWee has a crush on pretty little Plush, who was raised in a pet store then set free in the park. Plush misses life in the pet store. Can PeeWee help Plush see the joys of living in the wild?