My Little Friend and Growing On Me
What’s inside...
This collection of stories includes 'My Little Friend' and 'Growing On Me'. In 'My Little Friend', the narrator befriends a cute caterpillar, but soon finds themselves wondering where their new friend has disappeared to. 'Growing On Me' explores the narrator's initial disdain for babies, describing them as stinky and noisy, but ultimately suggests that babies are an acquired taste that one may grow to appreciate over time.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How did the friendship between the characters change throughout the story?
What qualities do you think make someone a good friend?
Can you think of a time when a friend helped you like they did in the book?
How would you help a friend who was feeling sad or upset?
What do you think the characters learned by the end of the story?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use empathetic listening and validate the child's feelings and thoughts as they respond.
Relate the book's scenarios to the child’s real-life experiences to make the conversation more relatable and meaningful.
Encourage the child to think about the characters' emotions and motives, asking how they might feel in similar situations.
Highlight the importance of kindness and understanding in friendships, drawing examples from the book.
Praise the child for thoughtful responses and encourage them to elaborate on their ideas.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: The story portrays how the main character learns to understand and empathize with his little friend's feelings and perspectives.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by learning to recognize and respect the feelings of their friends and family members, promoting kindness and cooperation in their daily interactions.
Example Lesson: Adaptability
Explanation: The narrative follows the characters as they face various challenges and adapt to changes in their environment together.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of being flexible and adaptable in the face of new situations or changes, skills that are essential for personal growth and problem solving.
Example Lesson: Friendship and Teamwork
Explanation: Throughout the book, the importance of building strong, supportive relationships is highlighted, showcasing how teamwork can help overcome obstacles.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to build and maintain healthy relationships, understanding that teamwork can lead to achieving common goals and dealing with difficulties more effectively.
Example Lesson: Growth Mindset
Explanation: The title 'Growing On Me' itself suggests themes of growth and personal development, as characters evolve and learn from each other throughout the book.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to embrace learning and personal development, understanding that skills and knowledge can be developed with time and effort.
Example Lesson: Joy in Discovery
Explanation: The story celebrates the joy and wonder of discovering new things through the adventures of the characters.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to stay curious and enthusiastic about learning, inspiring them to explore the world around them and continually seek new knowledge.