Candy Corn: Creating a tactile book for Halloween

Tactile jack-o-lantern
Barbara Allen, a parent from Maine, created tactile books for her son a number of years ago because she found that there was very little available to him then.  She has kindly agreed to share one of her first tactile books with us in time for Halloween.  This book has all of the best elements of children's books:
  1. A theme that the child is interested in
  2. Repetition and predictability
  3. Appeal to sighted children, as well as to those who are blind or visually impaired.  This makes a big difference when reading aloud with other children, whether at home or at school.
  4. Numbers and counting are incorporated into the story.
  5. The story is written in print and braille, with colorful tactile illustrations.  (The attached power point does not show the braille, but you can add it yourself.)
 
candy corn cover page

Candy Corn

by Barbara and Tim

picture of a pumpkin Once there was a pumpkin named Jack. One October night Jack went for a walk.
picture of a piece of candy corn As he walked, Jack found one piece of candy corn. He picked it up and walked along.
picture of a "ghost" Soon he met a ghost who was crying. "I lost my piece of candy corn," cried the ghost.
picture of a "ghost" "Here," said Jack. "This must be yours." He gave the candy to the ghost and continued walking.
picture of two pieces of candy corn As he walked, Jack found two pieces of candy corn. He picked them up and walked along.
picture of a bat Soon he met a bag who was crying. "I lost my two pieces of candy corn," cried the bat.
bat with two piece of candy corn "Here," said Jack. "These must be yours." Jack gave the candy to the bat and continued walking.
three pieces of candy corn As he walked, Jack found three pieces of candy corn. He picked them up and walked along.
a picture of a witch with a black hat and green hair Soon he met a witch who was crying. "I lost three pieces of candy corn," cried the witch.
witch with three pieces of candy corn "Here," said Jack. "These must be yours." He gave the candy to the witch and continued walking.
four pieces of candy corn As he walked, Jack found four pieces of candy corn. He picked them up and walked along.
a picture of a mummy Soon he met a mummy who was crying. "I lost four pieces of candy corn," cried the mummy.
mummy with four pieces of candy corn "Here," said Jack. "These must be yours." He gave the candy to the mummy and continued walking.
five pieces of candy corn As he walked, Jack found five pieces of candy corn. He picked them up and walked along.
picture of a spider Soon he met a spider who was crying, "I lost five pieces of candy corn," cried the spider.
five pieces of candy corn and a spider "Here," said Jack. "These must be yours." He gave the candy to the spider and continued walking.
picture of a pumpkin Jack started walking home. He was glad that he helped his new friends, but was a little sad because he had no candy.
picture of a present When Jack got home, he found a package by his door. It was a present from his new friends.
pieces of candy corn inside a present Inside were five pieces of candy corn.

 

Materials: 
  • book with large print and braille
  • tactile illustrations
Procedure: 
  • Choose a theme in which the child is interested, such as holidays or special events.
  • Repeat words or patterns, so that the child can predict what will happen next.
  • Make the illustrations tactually, as well as visually appealing.

 

Attached File(s): 
Variations: 
  • The child can help to create the book.
  • Have the child predict what will happen next.
  • Help the child to create a similar book after reading this one.

 

halloween collage

 


 

Common Core and Braille Standards
Literature: 
RL.K.2 With prompting and support, retell familiar stories, including key details.
RL.K.4 Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.
RL.K.7 With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).
RL.K.10 Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.
RL.1.1 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.

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