The Blue Glass Heart
What’s inside...
The Blue Glass Heart is a touching story that follows the journey of a young girl as she navigates through the complexities of family, friendship, and self-discovery. When she receives a mysterious blue glass heart as a gift, it sets her on a path of exploration and understanding, leading to revelations about her family's past and her own identity. Meanwhile, another story unfolds when Sarah accidentally breaks Bubbe’s blue glass bowl, and sets a heart-shaped piece of blue glass on an adventure, touching the lives of children around the world, until it remarkably finds its way back home.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-8
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What did you feel when Lizzy found the blue glass heart?
How do you think the heart helped Lizzy make new friends?
Why is it important to be kind and help others, like Lizzy did?
What would you do if you found something special like the blue glass heart?
How did the story change your thoughts about making new friends?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the story. Connect the themes of the book to their personal experiences. Ask them to imagine alternative endings or scenarios to develop their creative thinking. Share your own experiences related to friendship and kindness to deepen the conversation. Reinforce the values of empathy and compassion discussed in the book.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: In 'The Blue Glass Heart', the protagonist demonstrates empathy by understanding and sharing the feelings of others, especially when a friend faces a tough situation.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by being attentive to the emotions of their peers and offering support or kindness when they notice someone feeling down or facing challenges.
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: The characters in the book face various obstacles but show resilience by adapting and persevering through their struggles, ultimately finding joy and satisfaction.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to persevere through their own challenges, whether it’s struggling with a subject in school or handling a personal setback.
Example Lesson: The value of friendship
Explanation: The story highlights how friendships can provide support and joy, as the characters rely on each other during difficult times.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of building and maintaining friendships, understanding that relationships can offer emotional support and enrich one’s life.
Example Lesson: Acceptance of change
Explanation: Throughout the book, characters learn to accept and adapt to changes in their lives, understanding that change is a part of life.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children to embrace changes in their lives, such as moving to a new school or welcoming a new family member, with positivity and openness.
Example Lesson: Cultural awareness
Explanation: The book introduces elements of different cultures through its characters and settings, promoting cultural sensitivity and awareness.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to learn about and respect diverse cultures, which is essential in our interconnected and multicultural world.