My New Friend Is So Fun! An Elephant & Piggie Book
#21 of 5 in Elephant & Piggie Series
on Goodreads (3,700)
What’s inside...
Gerald and Piggie are best friends with contrasting personalities; Gerald is careful and worries, while Piggie is carefree and always smiling. In 'My New Friend Is So Fun!', Piggie enjoys spending time with a new friend, leaving Gerald feeling left out and concerned about their friendship. This story, written by award-winning author Mo Willems, explores themes of friendship, emotions, and coping with change.
Discussion points
How do you think Piggie felt when making a new friend?
What does friendship mean to you?
Can you have more than one best friend? Why or why not?
What would you do if your best friend made a new friend?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading to convey the emotions of the characters, such as excitement or concern, to make the story more relatable.
After reading the book, encourage your child to share personal experiences related to making new friends or feelings about their existing friends.
Discuss the importance of being open to new friendships and how they can coexist with old ones.
Ask your child to draw a picture of themselves with their friends, highlighting fun activities they enjoy together.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of trust in friendships
Explanation: In 'My New Friend Is So Fun!', Elephant and Piggie become anxious about their friends having fun without them, but ultimately learn to trust their friends and understand that friendships can be multifaceted.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by learning to trust their friends and understand that it's okay for their friends to have other friends and enjoy different activities.
Example Lesson: Understanding and managing feelings of jealousy
Explanation: The characters in the book deal with feelings of jealousy when they see their friends having fun with others. The story demonstrates that it's normal to feel jealous, but it’s crucial to communicate and understand the situation before jumping to conclusions.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children recognize their emotions of jealousy and teaches them to talk about their feelings with parents or friends rather than harboring negative feelings.
Example Lesson: Celebrating others' happiness
Explanation: Elephant and Piggie learn to be happy for their friends' happiness with other peers, promoting a sense of selflessness and joy for others' success and contentment.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to celebrate their friends' achievements and happy moments, which enhances their ability to build empathetic and supportive friendships.