Carl and the Meaning of Life
Picture Book Read Aloud
book summary
Carl is an earthworm who spends his day tunneling happily in the soil until one day when a field mouse asks him why he was tunneling in the ground and Carl didn’t have an answer. Not having an answer bothered Carl so much that he stopped tunneling through the soil and set off to find the answer. In search for the answer, Carl meets other animals of the forest, each of whom seems to know exactly what they were put on this earth to do. It is while Carl is seeking the answer to why he spends everyday burrowing, tunneling, digesting, and casting, that he begins to notice what happens to the world around him when he’s not doing the task he was placed on Earth to do. Carl realizes that when he neglects the soil, it soon hardens and becomes incapable of supporting life. After realizing what he is meant to do, he gets back to work, creating the rich earth that everyone around him depends upon.
This book beautifully showcases how we are all connected and depending on one another. This is a story of community, about being needed, how each individual is important, and how we are all a part of a larger picture.
suggested teaching point
On page 13, study the illustrations carefully.
Notice the fox in the illustration. Based on the illustration and what you know about foxes, what do you think the fox is thinking? Turn to your partner, and share your thoughts. This illustration is also great for showing what the rabbit and the fox’s purposes or missions in life are. What do you think the fox is trying to accomplish in this picture (and throughout his life)? What do you think the rabbit is trying to accomplish in this picture (and throughout her life)?
Looking for more teaching points for this book and other similar books? Check out more Interactive Read Aloud Lessons HERE
