Just For You!: I Hate To Be Sick
Just for you! Series
What’s inside...
A young boy with a cold misses his friends and dislikes the medicine he has to take. His mood improves when his father brings soup and a book to share. The book includes activity ideas for parents and children, tips for reading with a parent, and after-reading activities. Additionally, it is part of the JUST FOR YOU!(tm) series, which features 24 beginning readers written and illustrated by people of color. These books reflect the experiences of young readers and their communities, with stories set in familiar places like home, school, and the park. Each book also contains instructional materials for caregivers focusing on comprehension and vocabulary.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-6
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think the character feels when they are sick?
What are some things you like to do when you're not feeling well?
Why is it important to let someone know when we're sick?
Can you think of other ways to take care of ourselves when we are sick?
What can we learn from how the characters handle feeling unwell?
Tip: Role play these questions
Validate your child's feelings about sickness by comparing them to the character's experiences.
Encourage empathy by discussing how the character might feel and ask how they might help a friend in a similar situation.
Link the story to real-life by asking your child about a time when they felt sick and how they dealt with it.
Use a comforting tone to make discussions about sickness less scary and more informative.
Praise your child for thoughtful responses and insights during the discussion to foster enthusiastic engagement.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and caring for others
Explanation: The story illustrates how the main character feels when they are sick and how their family and friends show care and concern. This portrays the importance of empathy and kindness.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to recognize when someone else is feeling unwell or upset and understand the importance of showing care, through kind words or actions.
Example Lesson: Importance of rest and recovery
Explanation: Throughout the book, the importance of resting when sick is emphasized to speed up the recovery process.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by understanding the need to take it easy and rest, not only when they are ill, but also when they are feeling tired or overwhelmed.
Example Lesson: Understanding and managing feelings
Explanation: The main character expresses frustration and sadness about being sick, providing an opportunity for readers to learn about managing difficult emotions.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children recognize and verbalize their feelings, learning to cope with discomfort and distress in healthy ways.
Example Lesson: Practice good hygiene
Explanation: The book covers the importance of maintaining good hygiene like washing hands and using tissues, which helps prevent the spread of germs.
Real-World Application: Children can implement these hygiene practices daily to stay healthy and keep those around them healthy as well.