Paired Texts > Jared to the Rescue

by Carole Duncan Buckman 2015

We've identified these texts as great options for text pairings based on similar themes, literary devices, topic, or writing style. Supplement your lesson with one or more of these options and challenge students to compare and contrast the texts. To assign a paired text, click on the text to go to its page and click the "Assign Text" button there.

The Lion and the Mouse
The Lion and the Mouse
Aesop

In this classic fable by Aesop, the ancient Greek storyteller, a tiny mouse proves to a powerful lion that she is greater than she seems.

Pair “The Lion and the Mouse” with “Jared to the Rescue” and ask students to discuss how friendship develops in the two texts. How does the first meeting between the mouse and the lion compare to Jessica and Jared’s relationship at the beginning of “Jared to the Rescue”? What changes allows the characters to become friends in the two texts?

5th Grade Fable 880L
The Rescue of the Tin Woodman
The Rescue of the Tin Woodman
L. Frank Baum

In L. Frank Baum's "The Rescue of the Tin Woodman," Dorothy and the Scarecrow help the Tin Woodman.

Pair “The Rescue of the Tin Woodman” with “Jared to the Rescue” and ask students to discuss how friendships develop in the two texts. How does the kindness that Jared shows Jessica compare to the kindness Dorothy shows the Tin Woodman?

4th Grade Fiction - General 930L
Jasmine Girl
Jasmine Girl
Jey Manokaran

In Jey Manokaran's short story "Jasmine Girl," a girl gives the money she was saving to buy a doll to a friend in need. 

Pair “Jared to the Rescue” with “Jasmine Girl” and ask students to discuss how the characters show others kindness in the two texts. Why do Shanti and Jared help someone else in need in the two texts? How does showing kindness to another person strengthen Shanti and Jared’s relationship with the other characters?

3rd Grade Short Story 530L
Zebra and Wasp
Zebra and Wasp
Clare Mishica

In Clare Mishica's fable "Zebra and Wasp," a zebra helps a wasp escape from a spider web.

Pair “Jared to the Rescue” with “Zebra and Wasp” and ask students to discuss the friendships in the two stories. How does Jessica and Jared’s friendship develop? How does this compare to Zebra and Wasp’s friendship? Why is showing others kindness an important part of friendship?

3rd Grade Fable 540L
Reading to Max
Reading to Max
Heather Klassen

In Heather Klassen's short story "Reading to Max," a boy reads to a special cat at the animal shelter. 

Pair “Jared to the Rescue” with “Reading to Max” to provide students with another story about cats. How does Jared help the kittens in “Jared to the Rescue”? How do Jared’s actions compare to what Ben does for Max in “Reading to Max”?

3rd Grade Short Story 580L
Gren's Ghost
Gren's Ghost
Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick

In Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick's short story "Gren's Ghost," a boy agrees to meet his classmate at a castle, unsure of what to expect.

Pair “Jared to the Rescue” with “Gren’s Ghost” to provide students with another story about unlikely friends. How does Jared and Jessica’s relationship change throughout “Jared to the Rescue”? How does this compare to the shifting relationship between Finn and Gren? How do Jared and Finn prove themselves to the other characters in the two stories?

7th Grade Short Story 680L
Reaching Out to the New Kid
Reaching Out to the New Kid
Lissa Rovetch

In "Reaching Out to the New Kid," a magazine author offers advice on helping a new kid at school. 

Pair “Jared to the Rescue” with “Reaching Out to the New Kid” and ask students to think about the problems the new kids face and how they solve them. How did Jared feel on his first day of second grade? How does Jared’s first day compare to Abbey’s first day in “Reaching Out to the New Kid”? How do both Jared and Abbey’s experiences get better? What could their classmates have done differently to help them?

3rd Grade Fiction - General
Hugo and the Seal
Hugo and the Seal
Nora Nickum

In "Hugo and the Seal," a boy learns a lesson about friendship while caring for a seal.

Pair “Jared to the Rescue” and Hugo and the Seal” and ask students to discuss how animals are important to both stories. How do Jared from “Jared to the Rescue” and Hugo’s relationships with animals help them to make new friends?

3rd Grade Short Story 590L
Nasbah's Rescue
Nasbah's Rescue
Catherine Grace Jones

In "Nasbah's Rescue," a young girl acts quickly to rescue her grandfather's sheep.

Pair “Jared to the Rescue” with “Nasbah’s Rescue” and have students discuss how both characters thought of clever ways to rescue animals. How were Jared from “Jared to the Rescue” and Nasbah’s methods similar and different? What made each of them want to save the animals? How did the people around them respond when they realized the animals had been saved?

4th Grade Fiction - General 630L
No Shoes Aloud
No Shoes Aloud
Stacey Lane Smith

In "No Shoes Aloud," Ryan, a member of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community, welcomes his hearing friends to dance class.

Pair “Jared to the Rescue” with “No Shoes Aloud” to have students compare characters whose feelings change over time. How do Jared’s feelings about Jessica and her kittens change over time in “Jared to the Rescue”? How are these changes similar and different to the way Ryan’s feelings change in “No Shoes Aloud”?

3rd Grade Short Story 580L
Game On!
Game On!
Kris Bitar

A girl uses video games to help a new student feel welcome at the start of the school year.

Pair “Jared to the Rescue” with “Game On!” and ask students to discuss how the characters act toward each other. How does Jared help Jessica in “Jared to the Rescue”? How does Jo-Jo help Dee in “Game On!”? What lessons do the two stories teach about helping others?

3rd Grade Short Story 780L