Teach Your Buffalo to Play Drums
Buffalo Series
What’s inside...
Encourages the reader, through practical advice, to support his or her buffalo's desire to play the drums, even if he has quickly lost interest in other activities in the past. Does your buffalo pound on pots and pans? Tap out rhythms at the dinner table? It’s not as unusual as you might think. He’s simply at the start of an exciting new journey. A very loud musical journey that begins by teaching your buffalo to play drums. (Did we mention it might be loud?) From the author and illustrator of Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? comes this hilarious musical romp about encouraging your buffalo to find his inner rock star.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
The Child
Buffalo
Discussion points
What do you think made the boy decide to teach his buffalo to play drums?
How do you think the buffalo felt when he learned how to play the drums?
Why is it important to help our friends learn new things?
How would you teach your pet or a friend a new skill?
What challenges do you think they faced while practicing and how did they overcome them?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate to the boy’s perseverance by discussing a time they had to teach someone something.
Ask your child to imagine they have a pet buffalo. Explore what unique activities they would teach their buffalo and why.
Highlight the themes of friendship and patience. Discuss with your child the importance of being supportive and patient while helping others learn.
Use empathy prompts to discuss how the characters might feel throughout the story. This can help your child develop emotional understanding and expression.
After reading, engage in a fun activity where you and your child pretend to teach each other a simple new skill, mirroring the boy and his buffalo.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Persistence pays off
Explanation: The storyline follows a child teaching their buffalo to play drums, showcasing the challenges and repeated attempts before achieving success.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of persisting with difficult tasks in their daily activities, understanding that success often comes after continuous effort.
Example Lesson: Embracing uniqueness
Explanation: The book highlights the unconventional choice of a buffalo playing drums, encouraging the celebration of unique interests and talents.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches children to appreciate and embrace their unique qualities and those of others around them, promoting individuality.
Example Lesson: Creativity and innovation
Explanation: The imaginative concept of a buffalo playing drums serves as a metaphor for thinking outside the box and being creative.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to apply creative thinking in problem-solving and expressing themselves in unique ways in school projects or play.
Example Lesson: Patience
Explanation: The narrative illustrates the patience required by the child as they teach the buffalo, highlighting that some skills take time to develop.
Real-World Application: This story helps children understand the value of being patient while learning new skills or when interacting with others.
Example Lesson: Encouragement and support
Explanation: The child’s continuous support and encouragement towards the buffalo underpins the story, emphasizing the impact of positive reinforcement.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of supporting and encouraging their peers and family members, fostering a supportive environment at home and school.