Four Seasons --1997 publication.
What’s inside...
Allegra Katz has been playing piano since she was four, studying at the prestigious Julliard School in New York. Amidst strict practice schedules, music classes, and regular school, Ally feels overwhelmed and questions her passion for piano. As pressure mounts, she considers quitting, a decision that would shock her professional musician parents. She must confront her feelings and decide if her love for piano is enough to endure the intense demands of her life.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
0-8
Length
336 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Which season did you enjoy reading about the most and why?
How do the changes in the seasons affect the animals and plants we read about?
Can you think of any activities we can do together in each season?
How is the weather different in each of the seasons discussed in the book?
What new things did you learn about the seasons that you didn't know before?
Tip: Role play these questions
As you discuss each season, relate it to personal family experiences or memories to make the conversation more relatable and engaging.
Encourage your child to describe the sensory aspects of each season, like the sounds, smells, and sights, to enhance their descriptive and observational skills.
Use the illustrations in the book as a visual aid to spark deeper conversations about the changes each season brings.
Ask your child to imagine what their favorite outdoor place looks like in different seasons, fostering creativity and reinforcing the book's themes.
After discussing, plan seasonal activities that align with what’s read, providing practical applications of the book’s content.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding the concept of change
Explanation: Through the depiction of the changing seasons, children learn that change is a natural and constant part of life.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this understanding by embracing changes in their own lives, such as moving to a new place or transitioning to a new school grade.
Example Lesson: Learning about the environment
Explanation: The book teaches about the specific characteristics and events associated with each season, fostering environmental awareness.
Real-World Application: This knowledge helps children appreciate and take care of nature around them, promoting environmentally friendly behaviors.
Example Lesson: Developing observation skills
Explanation: As children learn about the signs and indicators of each season, they are encouraged to observe these changes in the world around them.
Real-World Application: Children can practice observational skills by noticing seasonal changes in their local environment, such as the types of flowers blooming or changes in weather patterns.
Example Lesson: Grasping the concept of time
Explanation: By explaining the cyclical nature of seasons, the book introduces the concept of time and its passage in a comprehensible way for young minds.
Real-World Application: This concept helps children understand the structure of a year, aiding them in grasping the scheduling of events and the timing of holidays and school terms.
Example Lesson: Valuing diversity and adaptation
Explanation: The book highlights how plants and animals adapt differently across seasons, teaching diversity and the importance of adaptation.
Real-World Application: Children learn to appreciate diversity and understand the importance of adapting to different situations, which can help them be more flexible and resilient in their own lives.