Sophie la girafe: My First Christmas: A felt-flap book to read with baby
Sophie La Girafe Series
What’s inside...
This charming board book invites babies and toddlers to celebrate Christmas with Sophie la girafe and friends. Through delightful illustrations and interactive felt flaps, young readers can explore and discover what surprises the holiday season has in store.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
0-3
Length
10 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What colors can you see on the pages with Sophie and her friends? How do these colors make you feel?
How do you think Sophie feels about her first Christmas? Can you remember your first Christmas?
What do the different textures in the book feel like? Which one is your favorite and why?
Can you spot the hidden items under the flaps? What is surprising about them?
How do you think the story would change if we met another new friend? What would their name be and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive voices for different characters to make the story come alive for your child, enhancing their listening and comprehension skills.
Encourage your child to touch and feel the book’s different textures, connecting tactile exploration with cognitive development.
Ask your child to guess what might be under each flap before revealing it to spark curiosity and predictive thinking.
Link the story's themes to your child’s own experiences, like asking them to compare their Christmas with Sophie’s, fostering personal connection and empathy.
After reading, engage in a simple craft activity related to the book’s Christmas theme to reinforce the story and extend interaction.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Sensory Exploration
Explanation: The tactile elements of felt flaps in the book encourage babies to explore textures, enhancing their sensory development.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to touch and feel different objects around the house, increasing their sensory awareness.
Example Lesson: Understanding Festive Traditions
Explanation: The story introduces the concept of Christmas traditions through the characters’ activities, like decorating and gift-giving.
Real-World Application: Parents can use the book as a starting point to involve children in family holiday traditions, enriching their cultural understanding.
Example Lesson: Cause and Effect
Explanation: By lifting flaps to reveal hidden surprises, children learn the concept of cause and effect.
Real-World Application: This understanding can be applied in daily activities, such as understanding that if they help tidy up, they can find their toys more easily.
Example Lesson: Joy of Sharing
Explanation: The book shows characters sharing festive moments together, instilling the value of sharing joy with others.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to share toys and experiences with friends and family, fostering a sense of community and empathy.