The Secret Shortcut by Mark Teague

Kids are full of excuses. Their answers to these questions contain several different explanations...Where is your homework? Why didn't you do your homework? Why were you late to school? The Secret Shortcut by Mark Teague explores this last question. Wendell and Floyd are perpetually late to school. They tend to come across unexpected obstacles on their way to school, from space creatures, to pirates, to a plague of frogs and unsuccessfully attempt to explain the situation to their teacher. One day Wendell says they'll take his shortcut to school. It starts off as an ordinary trek, but then they encounter all kinds of jungle animals including crocodiles as they jump, climb trees and swing vine to vine. Amazingly, they eventually hear their school bell and make it to class on time. Wendell and Floyd do end up getting to school on time for a long time, but they never find the perfect shortcut.

I found this story very entertaining and humorous as Wendell and Floyd encounter one ridiculous situation after another on their way to school. Mark Teauge has a wild imagination that works successfully for this story as he has created all kinds of obstacles. Wendell and Floyd are typical boys-adventurous and ready to explore. Although most kids wouldn't pick up on this, it also shows how boys (and men) are unwilling to ask for directions. They say they know where they're going even they don't. The acrylic illustrations really brighten the story too. Mark Teague is the illustrator of many children's books, and his use of color adds life to the story. All of his pictures span the width of two pages, allowing him to extend his imagination.

Students can use their creativity to imagine their own unique journeys on the way to school. They can write it out, envisioning new obstacles. Students can come up with a theme such as farms, oceans, food, etc. and think of what could happen such as jumping over haystacks or climbing over a volcano. Besides writing a story, students can make their own map including a key and a legend of this adventure. Let the kids' imaginations run wild, just like Wendell and Floyd's.