Dream Big, Laugh Often
on Goodreads (30)
What’s inside...
This clever, informative, and artful picture book from Hanoch Piven and Shira Hecht-Koller imagines what advice 14 Biblical figures would have given. Feel your power. Trust the journey. Change and grow. The Bible is full of stories that teach us to dream big, be curious, and be ourselves. And who better to learn these lessons from than Biblical characters themselves? Dream Big, Laugh And More Great Advice from the Bible contains portraits of 14 Biblical figures, brought to life with Hanoch Piven’s joyful and clever art made from found objects, including Abraham and Sarah, Moses and Miriam, David and Deborah and more. Read, learn, play, search, and find! You’ll love studying each portrait and imagining what piece of advice each character from the Bible would offer.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
48 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What is one big dream you have, and what do you think you can do to achieve it?
How did the characters in the book support each other's dreams? Can you think of ways we can support each other like that?
The book talks a lot about laughter. Why do you think laughter is important in our lives?
Which character did you like the most, and why?
If you could add another scene to the book, what would it be about?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading to bring the characters to life, changing your tone and pitch to match the mood of the book.
Ask your child to draw their favorite scene or character from the book. Discuss why they made those choices.
After reading, encourage your child to talk about their dreams and write them down together.
Create a comfortable and distraction-free reading environment to keep the focus on the book’s themes.
Relate themes from the book to real-life experiences or upcoming family activities to reinforce the connection.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Importance of Ambition
Explanation: The story encourages children to dream big and set high goals for themselves through the protagonist's journey.
Real-World Application: Children can be inspired to set their own goals and aspirations, understanding that it's okay to reach for the stars and dream about future possibilities.
Example Lesson: Value of Humor
Explanation: Humor is woven throughout the narrative, teaching kids that laughter is an integral part of life and coping with challenges.
Real-World Application: Children learn to incorporate humor in daily situations, helping them to relieve stress and maintain a positive outlook.
Example Lesson: Perseverance Through Challenges
Explanation: The book shows that even when the goals seem difficult, persistence and hard work lead to success.
Real-World Application: This instills resilience in children, teaching them to keep trying and not give up easily, whether it be in their studies, sports, or personal goals.
Example Lesson: Importance of Creativity
Explanation: Creativity is highlighted as a valuable skill, helping the characters solve problems and think outside the box.
Real-World Application: Children learn to use their imagination to think creatively in problem-solving, enhancing their cognitive flexibility and ability to innovate.