Sergio Sees the Good: The Story of a Not So Bad Day
What’s inside...
Sergio Sees the Good: The Story of a Not So Bad Day is a children's book by Linda Ryden that revolves around the main character, Sergio, who is having a tough day filled with frustrations and disappointments. Throughout the story, Sergio learns to shift his focus from the negative events to the positive aspects of his day. With the help of his teacher and friends, Sergio discovers the power of gratitude and how seeing the good in his life can change his perspective and improve his mood. By the end of the book, Sergio realizes that his day wasn't so bad after all, and he learns valuable lessons about mindfulness, positive thinking, and the importance of looking for the silver lining even on a cloudier day. When a downcast Sergio gets home from a bad day at school, his wise mother listens sympathetically to his tale of woe and then suggests an experiment. Placing a bowl of marbles next to Grandfather’s old balance scale, she asks him to go back to the beginning of his day and remember each good and bad thing that happened. For each bad thing, he places a marble on the right-hand pan of the scale; for each good thing he places a marble on the left-hand pan. Sergio is amazed to discover that even on a day that felt awful, the good outweighed the bad.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-10
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think made Sergio's bad day turn into a good one?
How did Sergio help his friends in the story?
What could you do if you were having a bad day like Sergio?
Can you think of a time when you helped someone feel better?
What does it mean to see the good in a situation?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading to demonstrate Sergio’s changing emotions throughout the story.
Relate the story to your child’s personal experiences by sharing moments when you've overcome a bad day.
Pause at key moments to ask your child how they think Sergio feels and explore alternative actions Sergio could take.
Encourage your child to draw or act out their favorite part of the story, delving deeper into Sergio’s feelings and choices.
Praise your child for insightful or thoughtful responses, affirming their understanding and empathy.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Optimism
Explanation: Through Sergio's journey, the story teaches children to maintain a positive outlook despite challenging circumstances.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply this by finding something positive in every situation, similar to how Sergio finds good aspects in his day.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: Sergio learns to understand and share the feelings of others throughout his day, particularly when interacting with friends and family.
Real-World Application: Children can practice empathy by being considerate of friends’ feelings and perspectives during interactions at school or play.
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: The book showcases Sergio handling difficulties with courage and bouncing back from setbacks, embracing each day anew.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to keep trying and not be discouraged by failure, whether it’s in academics, sports, or social settings.
Example Lesson: Gratitude
Explanation: Sergio ends his day by reflecting on the good things that happened, fostering a sense of gratitude.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to discuss or write about good things that happened to them each day to develop a habit of gratitude.
Example Lesson: Problem-Solving
Explanation: Sergio encounters several problems during his day and finds constructive ways to solve them.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children think about creative solutions to everyday problems, whether at home or in school.