Baloney and Friends
#1 of 3 in Baloney And Friends Series
on Goodreads (795)
What’s inside...
Baloney and Friends is a delightful graphic novel series that follows the escapades of Baloney the pig, Peanut the horse, Bizz the bumblebee, and Krabbit the cranky rabbit. The series captures the essence of childhood and the value of friendship through their daily adventures and challenges. Readers are encouraged to engage creatively with the story by drawing and writing their own tales, as inspired by the characters’ antics. The stories are designed to be accessible for newly independent readers, offering a blend of short tales and mini-comics. The series has been well-received, with endorsements from prominent authors and comparisons to other popular children's books.
Discussion points
Why do you think Baloney wanted to make new friends? How would you make new friends?
What was your favorite part of Baloney's adventures? What made it special?
How did Baloney and his friends solve problems together? Can you think of a time when you worked with friends to solve a problem?
What did Baloney learn about friendship in the story?
If you could be friends with Baloney or one of his friends, who would you choose and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading to bring characters to life and enhance the excitement of the story.
Pause after funny or meaningful moments in the story to discuss your child's thoughts and feelings about the events.
Encourage your child to draw their favorite scene from the book. This can deepen their connection to the story and its characters.
Relate the themes of friendship in the book to your child’s real-life experiences with their friends.
Ask your child to predict what might happen next in Baloney's world, fostering their imagination and analytical thinking.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of friendship
Explanation: Throughout the book, Baloney the pig and his friends Peanut, Bizzy, and Krabbit engage in various activities that showcase the value of teamwork and support among friends.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to value and nurture their friendships, understanding that cooperating and supporting each other makes experiences more enjoyable and obstacles easier to overcome.
Example Lesson: Creative problem-solving
Explanation: The characters frequently encounter minor challenges or puzzles that they solve together, often using imaginative and unconventional methods.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think creatively when faced with problems, understanding that sometimes thinking 'outside the box' can lead to effective solutions.
Example Lesson: Expressing oneself
Explanation: Baloney and his friends are depicted engaging in various forms of self-expression, whether it’s through art, science experiments, or storytelling.
Real-World Application: Kids are encouraged to explore different ways of expressing themselves and to understand that everyone has a unique voice and a distinctive way to share their thoughts and feelings.
Example Lesson: Handling disappointment
Explanation: In some stories, characters face disappointments or setbacks, such as a plan not going as expected, but they learn to cope and look for the positive side.
Real-World Application: Teaches children resilience and the ability to handle life's ups and downs with a positive attitude, preparing them for inevitable disappointments and helping them to focus on finding solutions rather than dwelling on problems.
Example Lesson: The joy of learning
Explanation: Baloney and friends show curiosity and excitement about learning new things, whether it’s facts about nature, how things work, or learning a new game.
Real-World Application: Inspires children to embrace learning as a fun and endless adventure, encouraging them to be curious and enthusiastic learners in their everyday lives.