Hairy Harold’s Horrid Hat: Making Alliteration Fun For All Types!
#2 in Alliteration Series
on Goodreads (8)
What’s inside...
Join Harold as he meets some happy animals including Honey the horse, Henry who loves hummus, and Hazel who loves to pretend to be a Hippo. This story utilizes alliteration to help readers sound out the letter H, making it an excellent choice for children. Fans of the Alliteration series and books by Nicky Gamer-Jones, such as Charlie's Cheeky Chickens and Archie's Awful Apples, will enjoy this adventure with Harold. The book features an easy to follow storyline, fun illustrations, and likeable characters, making it a great read-aloud option for families and elementary story time. It is suitable for kids ages 4-8 and serves as a good resource for early and emergent readers.
Discussion points
What do you think Hairy Harold felt when he first saw his horrid hat?
How do you think the hat changed Harold’s day? Can a piece of clothing change how we feel?
Why do you think the author chose to use so many words starting with the same letter?
If you could design a hat for Harold, what would it look like and why?
Can you think of a time when something small changed how you felt, like Harold’s hat?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the story and its characters. Use prompts from the book such as alliterations to make the discussion fun and educational. Discuss the moral of the story and relate it to personal experiences to make the conversation more meaningful. Finally, ask your child to think creatively by designing new elements for the story, enhancing their engagement and understanding of the narrative.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The joy of language and wordplay
Explanation: Through the use of alliteration, the book introduces children to the fun and rhythm of similar sounding words, enhancing their phonetic awareness.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this awareness in their reading and writing activities at school, making learning both fun and engaging.
Example Lesson: Creativity and self-expression
Explanation: Hairy Harold uses his hat to express his unique personality, encouraging children to embrace and celebrate their own distinctiveness.
Real-World Application: Kids are inspired to use their creativity in everyday life, from choosing their outfits to how they decorate their personal space.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving
Explanation: Hairy Harold faces challenges with his hat, but through creative thinking and resilience, he finds solutions, teaching problem-solving skills.
Real-World Application: Children learn to approach obstacles in their lives with a positive and creative mindset, finding solutions rather than focusing on problems.
Example Lesson: The importance of embracing differences
Explanation: The diverse characters in the book showcase a range of hats and styles, highlighting the beauty of diversity and acceptance.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand and appreciate the uniqueness of the people around them, fostering empathy and social harmony.