Last week I talked about using picture books to talk with children about issues or other topics. Sometimes we can introduce a topic that a child hasn’t experienced. I still remember my children’s reaction when we read the book Fly Away Home, by Eve Bunting. It allowed us to talk about people who did not have all the things they had in their lives.
Sometimes we can use a book to explore things we all experience. In The Day I Ran Away, Grace is having a bad day (who hasn’t had one of those!). Her favorite shirt is dirty, her favorite cereal is all gone, she gets sent to her room after a tantrum and, when she colors her white shirt purple, Mom takes her markers away. That’s when Grace decides to run away, but how can you run away if you aren’t allowed to cross the street? We can use this book to talk with children about:
Bad days
- Have you had a bad day? Why?
- Share a bad day you’ve had
- How can we make a bad day better?
Favorite things
- What is your favorite: color, food, item of clothing, book, etc.
- What would you do if a favorite thing was missing?
Rules
- Grace wasn’t allowed to cross the street? Is that a good rule? Why?
- What rules do you have in your house?
- What happens if you don’t follow the rules?
- Why do we have rules?
- Was it right for Grace to lose her markers for a week?
Saying you’re sorry
- Grace makes a picture for her mom as a peace offering.
- What is a peace offering?
- Why is it good to say you are sorry?
- How do you feel when someone apologizes to you?
- What are ways you can tell someone you are sorry?
Yoga
- Grace is doing bedtime yoga. What is yoga?
- Have you ever done yoga?
- Why does she do it at bedtime?
- What other things can you do to calm down at bedtime?
Making Magic with Words 