Lesson Plan
Luis and Tabitha
Story Summary
Luis is a charming alley cat. Tabitha is a sophisticated
show cat. They live in two different worlds - their love
thwarted by a thick glass door, and by Tabitha’s own-
er. After all, Luis is an outside cat, Tabitha is an inside
cat, and that’s just the way it is. But, these two love
struck kitties will do anything to be together. For Luis,
that may mean even risking his own safety, to save
the life of the cat he loves.
This star-crossed feline love story is bursting with
Book Information charm. You might say: it’s purrfect!
Run Time 8:42
Author Stephanie Campisi
Activity Ideas
Characteristics Focus
Illustrator Hollie Mengert
Many characteristics were used to describe Luis
Narrator Annalise Southwood and Tabitha. Encourage children to talk about what
characteristics are and how they are descriptive
Publisher Familius
adjectives. Characteristics can even be used to
Ages 5 - 8; Grades 3 - 5 describe paper, the sky, trees, and just about
anything!
Genre Fiction
The pages of this document contain additional
Text Structure Third person narrative with dialogue
discussion sheets and activities.
Themes & Ideas Love, friendship, differences, risk, feelings
of not belonging
Language & Succinct, interesting, and engaging;
Literary Features cadence; details.
Many context clues presented in
illustrations.
Sentence Simple and compound sentences. Dialogue
Complexity
Vocabulary dashing, suave, scorch, elegant,
sophisticated, thwarted, fretted, vast,
bouquet, sirens, wailed, emerged, plopped,
clutched, inseparable
Special alley cat, show cat, purrfectly,
Vocabulary characteristics
Illustrations Charming and intentional illustrations add
to understanding of the story
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Book Chat
Luis and Tabitha
NAME
Today our class read Luis and Tabitha on Vooks. Discuss the story and write your
answers together.
Luis is an outside cat, Tabitha is an inside cat, and that’s just
the way it is. But, these two lovestruck kitties will do anything
to be together.
What is Luis and Tabitha about?
Luis and Tabitha missed each other when they were apart.
How do you feel when you’re away from someone you love?
Luis asked his friends for advice about Tabitha.
Who do you go to for advice?
What characteristics do you look for Discuss the characteristics you see in
each other.
in a friend?
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Vooks Pause & Ponder
Luis and Tabitha Pause at the indicated time
stamps and discuss the story
0:37 What does this picture tell you about Luis?
The characteristics that Luis first noticed about Tabitha were that she was “Elegant.
1:52 Silky. Purrfectly Sophisticated.” Have you ever met someone you immediately liked?
2:55 Why were the balloons not easy for Luis to give to Tabitha?
3:39 What does this poster tell you? What do you think Luis’ idea might be?
3:45 Why does Luis paint his tail?
4:10 Who do you think Tabitha’s owner is calling?
Why did Luis have a new home and a new name and all the sardines
4:47 and cheese he could eat?
7:15 What danger was Tabitha in?
7:44 Why is Tabitha’s owner smiling?
After viewing the Book:
1. Go back and find Luis’ little mouse friend in the 3. What are some things that can keep you from
illustrations. Why do you think the illustrator put being with someone you love?
the mouse in the pictures and not in the story?
4. What are some ways that you can stay in touch
2. Luis painted his tail to look like the lost cat in the with someone you love even when you cannot be
poster, can you think of any other ideas that you with them?
might have come up with to get close to Tabitha?
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Describe Yourself With Characteristics
NAME
Characteristics are descriptive and are often adjectives (words that
describe you). Include as many adjectives as you can to describe
yourself.
An example from the story that describes Luis using characteristics:
“Luis was a cat about town. Dashing. Charming. Purrfectly
suave.” He lived at the fire station. His tail had scorch marks
from a fire he survived when he was little.
An example from the story that describes Tabitha using characteristics:
“Tabitha was elegant. Silky. Purrfectly sophisticated.”
What are some of your characteristics?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
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Design a Bouquet NAME
Luis made a bouquet for Tabitha. The bouquet was made from sardine
tins, twine, and feathers because he knew she liked each of those things.
Choose a person to make a bouquet for, and write their name in the
space below.
This bouquet is for
What 3 things would you include in your bouquet? Share aloud why you
would include those 3 things and then draw a picture of the bouquet.
1. 2. 3.
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Characteristics Dice
Luis and Tabitha
MESSY
FUR
FINDS
CLEAN FED BY
ITS OWN
& SILKY OWNER
FOOD
How to play
1. Cut the pattern out, fold on
the solid lines and add glue LOVEABLE
to the angled tabs. Fold into
a cube and let it dry.
2. Roll the dice.
3. Describe whether the
characteristic describes an
“inside cat”, an “outside
cat”, or both
HAS A
TAIL
4. Bonus: You can use the
Venn Diagram on the next
page as a mat to place the
rolled side where it belongs
in the diagram.
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Venn Diagram
NAME
How are outside cats and inside cats different?
How are they the same?
Outside Cat Inside Cat
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