Grade PreK–2Nature & Community

Our Lake

Written by Angie Kang

Illustrated by Angie Kang

A lake belongs to everyone who loves it — the children who swim in it, the birds who nest beside it, the fish who live beneath it, and the families who gather at its shores. With luminous illustrations and a gentle, lyrical text, Angie Kang's debut picture book is a tender celebration of shared spaces, the natural world, and the community that forms around the places we cherish.

View Teacher Guide

From the Library Director

Angie Kang's debut is a visual and emotional gem — perfect for Earth Day, community units, or any time you want to spark a conversation about belonging and stewardship. The illustrations invite slow, careful looking, and the text is spare enough to let young readers bring their own experiences to the page.

Big Idea

When we care for the places we love, we care for each other too.

Discussion Questions

1
The lake in the story belongs to many different creatures and people. Who are some of the characters who share the lake? What does each one love about it?
2
Is there a place in your neighborhood or town that belongs to everyone — like a park, a beach, or a playground? What do you love about that place?
3
What does it mean to take care of a place? What are some ways the characters in the book take care of the lake?
4
The title is 'Our Lake' — not 'My Lake.' Why do you think the author chose the word 'our'? What does that word tell us about the story?
5
How do the illustrations help tell the story? What details did you notice in the pictures that aren't in the words?
6
What might happen to the lake if no one took care of it? How would that change the story?
7
What is one thing you could do to take care of a place in your community?
8
At the end of the story, how do you feel? What words would you use to describe the mood of this book?

Activity: Our Place Map

Students identify and celebrate a shared place in their own community through drawing, writing, and collaborative mapping.

1
Read the book aloud, pausing to let students look closely at the illustrations. Ask: Who shares this lake? What do they each bring to it?
2
Brainstorm as a class: What shared places do we have in our community? List them on the board (parks, libraries, playgrounds, community gardens, etc.).
3
Each student chooses one shared place and draws it, including at least three different people or creatures who use or love that place.
4
Students add a caption or short sentence: 'Our ___ belongs to ___.' Encourage them to use the word 'our' as Angie Kang does.
5
Combine the drawings into a class 'Our Community Map' display. Discuss: What makes a place feel like it belongs to everyone? How can we take care of these places?

Standards Connections

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.PreK-2.7 — Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.PreK-2.3 — Describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.PreK-2.2 — Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts
NGSS K-ESS3-1 — Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants or animals and the places they live
SEL — Social Awareness: Recognize the perspectives of others and appreciate diversity in shared spaces
SEL — Responsible Decision-Making: Identify ways to contribute positively to the community and natural environment