1. Written and Illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg
The Stranger
Written and Illustrated by
Chris Van Allsburg

2. Genre: Fantasy
Characters and events that could occur in real life combine with those that could not.

3. Selection Summary:
The Baileys take in an injured stranger. The man doesn’t speak or seem to know who he is, but strange cold drafts seem to follow him, and autumn mysteriously comes to a halt. Even so, the stranger becomes part of the family-until he suddenly realizes he must go. But he does return every fall!

4. Key Concept:
Changing Seasons

5. Key Vocabulary Autumn Draft Etched Frost Mercury Peculiar Thermometer
Timid

6. Autumn- n. the season after summer
The leaves changed colors and fell to the ground once autumn arrived.

7. Draft- n. a flow of air
We felt a cold draft from the ceiling fan while we were sitting at the dinner table.

8. Etched- v. made a design by cutting lines
We found lines of frost etched on the windows of the house.

9. Frost- n. a very thin covering of ice
The young boy slipped on the frost that covered the ground.

10. Mercury- n. silvery white metal used in thermometers
The mercury in the thermometer began to rise from the heat.

11. Peculiar- adj. Unusual, strange or odd
The boy looked peculiar when he dressed in his father’s sweater.

12. Thermometer- n. an instrument that measures temperature
The thermometer said that her temperature was above 99 degrees.

13. Timid- adj. Easily frightened; shy
The young girl seemed timid when she peeked out from behind the door.

14. Now let’s take a look at some of the reading skills we will practice as we read The Stranger…

15. Strategy focus: Monitor and Clarify
When a mysterious stranger arrives at the Baileys’ house, unusual things begin to happen.
Monitor your reading.
If something doesn’t make sense, reread to clarify.

16. Comprehension Skill Focus: Noting Details
To develop and practice this skill, use a detail map to see how the author describes the stranger and the weather.

17. Detail Map
The Stranger

18. Enjoy Selection 1: The Stranger
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