The Straight Line Wonder By: Mem Fox

This was probably my favorite book out of the five short stories I have read so far for this class. It is just so unique in how the author uses lines to demonstrate the moral of the story (the moral of this story is so important.... (being like everyone else is boring, being yourself and doing what you want to do with your life is key!)

So this is a story about three straight lines and they are all best friends. The first line decides he wants to hop, jump, bend and creep in heaps instead of stay in a straight line. The two other lines are appalled by this, and say to the first line "Stop! People will stare!" but the first line would just respond and say " I don't mind". Eventually the two lines leave the first line because they do not want to be associated with this line that is so different from everyone else. The first line liked being different from everyone else and enjoyed doing the different actions .

One day, a famous film producer spots the unique line and says what a wonder the line is, and he loves how he moves, and he should be in his new upcoming film! So, the line now is famous and gets to jump in humps everyday. At the end of the story, the two old friend lines say they are pleased to have him as their friend, and the first line is so happy because he is accepted by his friends and he never has to be straight again.

This book can be used as a metaphor for many different things. But the most important lesson from the story is that it is good to be different from everyone else. I think kids would really like this book, because it has fun action verbs and illustrations, and it teaches them that being different and doing what you love is very important in life. Also, I thought that this would be a good book to make into a story drama. Kids could act out the different actions that the text provides, and the students can really understand the idea that being "straight" and doing what everyone else wants to do isn't always the best way to go.