Our Special World: My Friends
Our special world Series
on Goodreads (1)
What’s inside...
This book explores different sorts of friends and why they are important. It's a fantastic book to explore a 'Friends or Sharing' theme in an early years setting and includes topics such as playing together, being kind, sharing and having fun. Our Special World is a series of books offering a simple text and photographs that help young children learn about the world around them. The books seek to show the diverse nature of the world with lots of photographs of children with a disability and from different ethnic backgrounds. Each book includes questions to promote speaking and listening skills. They are perfect for early years learning.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
0-5
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do the friendships in the book compare to your own friendships?
What makes someone a good friend?
How do you think you can be a good friend to others?
Why do you think it's important to have friends?
How do the characters in the book solve problems together?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think about their personal experiences with friends and relate those to the story.
Discuss the importance of empathy and understanding by reflecting on how the characters in the book interact.
Point out specific behaviors in the book that exemplify positive friendship traits and ask your child to think of ways they can incorporate those behaviors in their interactions.
After reading, engage in a fun activity where you both think of creative ways to show appreciation to your friends, just like in the book.
Use examples from the book to discuss the value of teamwork and how friends can help us overcome challenges.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Value of Friendship
Explanation: The book portrays various types of friendships through its characters, emphasizing the importance of having friends and maintaining relationships.
Real-World Application: Children learn to appreciate their friends, understand diverse friendship dynamics, and nurture their relationships both in school and outside.
Example Lesson: Inclusivity
Explanation: Characters in 'Our Special World: My Friends' come from different backgrounds, showcasing the beauty of diversity and teaching acceptance.
Real-World Application: Kids are encouraged to be inclusive and accepting of peers who might look, act, or think differently from them, promoting harmony and understanding in diverse settings.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: Through the interactions between characters, children see examples of empathy and kindness, learning to consider others' feelings.
Real-World Application: This lesson aids children in developing strong emotional intelligence, allowing them to respond compassionately in real-life situations when interacting with friends.
Example Lesson: Conflict Resolution
Explanation: The story includes scenarios where characters face conflicts and work together to find solutions, portraying peaceful conflict resolution.
Real-World Application: Children learn strategies for resolving misunderstandings and disagreements with friends, which is a vital skill for social interaction.
Example Lesson: Cooperation
Explanation: Characters often engage in activities that require teamwork, highlighting the benefits of cooperating and supporting one another.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of working together in group settings like school projects or sports, enhancing their ability to function as part of a team.