Setting a spooky tone, first grade students enjoyed sharing another Peter Brown book, Creepy Carrots.  In addition to reviewing basic story elements (character, setting, plot) students were introduced to the literary device of mood. We discussed mood as the feeling or emotion an author and illustrator create in a book.  We examined word choice and visual cues prompting a variety of emotions and feelings.  Visiting the Peter Brown website, students viewed  The Creepy Carrots Zone, a video in which Peter Brown details the inspiration for his illustrations in Creepy Carrots.  The music and tone of the video served to explain and reinforce the creepy and spooky feelings evoked by the book. In a follow up activity students will be writing about the mood of the story.  Working through the writing process, students brainstormed ideas and  completed a prewriting activity in which they selected the mood of the story and wrote or drew pictures of details supporting the selected mood.  Later this week, students will complete the writing process by drafting, sharing, editing, and publishing their writing.  Linking math and literature, students are creating their own symmetrical creepy carrots.  Student writing and symmetrical creepy carrots will be on display in the first grade classroom.