Much Too Busy
on Goodreads (94)
What’s inside...
In 'Much Too Busy', readers follow the story of a group of animal friends who are overwhelmed with their daily tasks and responsibilities. The story takes a turn when they realize that by working together, they can accomplish their goals more efficiently and have time to enjoy life's simple pleasures. This witty and exquisitely illustrated new picture book emphasizes the importance of appreciating the little things in life and is created by an award-winning illustrator. The tale follows a busy Pigeon and a leisurely Mouse who pair up to help Pigeon find his way home, with Mouse showing Pigeon how to appreciate the world around them. This warm, witty, and mindful tale highlights how the little things are sometimes the big things in life.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What are some things that the characters in 'Much Too Busy' were doing? Which activity would you like to try?
Why do you think the characters felt they were too busy? Have you ever felt too busy?
How did the characters resolve their feeling of being too busy? What can we learn from them?
If you could help the characters with one of their tasks, which one would you choose and why?
What can we do differently in our daily routine to not feel too busy?
Tip: Role play these questions
Set a calm and inviting reading environment, eliminating distractions to focus fully on the conversation.
Ask your child to relate personal experiences to the story, deepening their understanding and connection to the characters.
Encourage your child to think about solutions or alternative endings to the story, fostering creativity and problem-solving skills.
Validate your child's feelings and thoughts as they answer, making them feel heard and appreciated.
After discussing, plan a simple activity related to the book’s themes to reinforce the lessons learned.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of teamwork
Explanation: In 'Much Too Busy', characters work together to solve problems, showing that cooperation is key to achieving goals.
Real-World Application: Children learn to collaborate with others, whether in school projects or during play, fostering improved social skills and group problem-solving abilities.
Example Lesson: Time management
Explanation: The story highlights how characters organize their tasks efficiently, emphasizing the value of managing one's time well.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply this lesson by planning their daily activities, such as homework or chores, to become more responsible and disciplined.
Example Lesson: Understanding priorities
Explanation: The narrative showcases characters choosing which tasks are most crucial to complete first, teaching prioritization.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children in making decisions about what is most important to do first, be it in their academic life or personal choices.
Example Lesson: The joy of accomplishment
Explanation: Throughout the book, characters express happiness after completing tasks, underscoring the satisfaction that comes with accomplishing goals.
Real-World Application: Children can relate this to feeling proud after finishing their assignments or achieving personal milestones, fostering a sense of self-worth and achievement.