Gerald Haslam
In the essay What Horton Hatched found on this site, Gerald Haslam mentions that his mother's gift of reading was to him an ". . . enduring legacy: mother to son, son to granddaughter, granddaughter to . . . the world . . . ." What was Grandma's legacy to her family in "The Horned Toad"? Discuss your opinions with a partner.

Oildale's Own Gerald Haslam
This page describes the influence of Haslam's hometown of Oildale on him as a person and as an author. In your journal, explain why Haslam is so attached to the "much overlooked part of California" where he grew up. In what ways do you think the area in which you live is influencing your development as a person?

Hug a Horned Toad
Read this essay by Gary Bourque on the horned toad. According to Bourque, why are kids so fascinated with horned toads? Record your answer in the Web Links Activity Log. You might also like to find photographs of the horned toad to display in your classroom.