Bling Blang
on Goodreads (27)
What’s inside...
Building a house has never been such fun! Legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie is the architect, celebrated artist Vladimir Radunsky and friends are the builders - and you can join in too! The only tools you need are your vocal chords. Attention young architects! Check out the house that Woody Guthrie and Vladimir Radunsky built! Bring rocks and bricks to build and fix a nice pretty house. Making something together has never been this much fun, with zany humor and vivid colors filling the house. Feel the joy of creating, as any child who has built something out of bits and bobs will feel right at home. Sheet music is also featured on the reverse side of the jacket. Visit www.woodyguthrie.org for more info on Woody Guthrie.
Discussion points
What was your favorite part of the story and why did it stand out to you?
How do you think the characters felt when they were building something together?
If you could create something like the characters in the book, what would you build and why?
What do you think the story teaches us about working with others?
How can we apply the lesson from the story to our everyday life?
Tip: Role play these questions
While discussing the book, maintain an enthusiastic and curious tone to encourage your child to express their thoughts freely.
Relate the story's themes to your child’s own experiences of playing or building something with friends or family.
After reading, engage in a creative activity such as drawing or building a simple project together to reinforce the themes of teamwork and cooperation found in the book.
Ask follow-up questions based on your child's responses to understand their perspective better and deepen the conversation.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Collaboration
Explanation: In 'Bling Blang', various characters work together to build a musical house, demonstrating teamwork.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of working collaboratively in group settings such as school projects or sports teams.
Example Lesson: Creativity
Explanation: The characters use their imagination to turn everyday objects into musical instruments.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to use their creativity to repurpose items and solve problems in innovative ways.
Example Lesson: Persistence
Explanation: Despite challenges, the characters continue working on their musical house, illustrating the value of persistence.
Real-World Application: Teaches children the importance of perseverance in overcoming obstacles in learning and personal projects.
Example Lesson: Joy in Learning
Explanation: The book portrays learning and building as a joyful, exciting activity.
Real-World Application: Inspires children to approach educational activities and new skills with enthusiasm and positivity.
Example Lesson: Sharing
Explanation: After building the musical house, the characters share their creation with others, emphasizing the joy of sharing.
Real-World Application: Promotes the value of sharing accomplishments and creations with family and friends, enhancing social bonds.