They Call Me No Sam!
What’s inside...
The story follows a young boy named Sam who struggles with his identity and being accepted for who he is. Throughout his adventures, he discovers the power of self-acceptance and the importance of embracing differences in others. From Drew Daywalt, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Day the Crayons Quit, and illustrator Mike Lowery comes a heavily illustrated, paper-over-board middle grade novel about Sam, a noble pug who will go to any lengths to protect his family from the bad guys! Meet an insolent pug—and incidental hero—who will stop at nothing to protect his family! When scientists Elaine and Gary Peterson adopt Sam to keep their son, Justin, company in the midst of a top-secret research project, they never imagine the precocious pup will cause more harm than good. But from chewing up Elaine’s hair dryer (the 'brain-melting heat cannon'), to his inability to be house-trained (who could resist the 'pooping rug'?), the Petersons aren’t sure how much more they can take. And that's before Sam starts harassing Justin’s crush (and potential new friend), Phoebe, who Sam is sure is an evil wizard out to harm Justin. But when a pair of crooks encroaches on the Peterson household in an attempt to steal their confidential findings, Sam’s actions—never mind his reasoning for them—just may save the day.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-10
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think No Sam felt when everyone called him that name?
What would you do if you were in No Sam's shoes and people misunderstood you?
Can you think of a time when you felt misunderstood like No Sam? How did you handle it?
Why is it important to listen and understand others before making judgments?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use a gentle and curious tone when discussing No Sam's feelings and actions to encourage your child to open up about their own experiences.
Relate the themes to your child's real-life situations to help them connect more deeply with No Sam's story.
Highlight the importance of empathy and understanding, discussing how these values help in making friends and resolving conflicts.
Encourage your child to think of ways they can be kinder or more understanding towards someone who may be different from them or misunderstood by others.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Embracing uniqueness
Explanation: The protagonist, No Sam, is different from everyone else because he has no name that people call him. Throughout the story, he learns to embrace his uniqueness.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to value what makes them unique and feel confident in their individuality.
Example Lesson: Importance of self-identity
Explanation: No Sam struggles with his identity due to not having a conventional name, but he eventually finds strength in deciding who he wants to be, rather than being defined by others.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of self-discovery and developing their personal identity.
Example Lesson: Resilience in face of challenges
Explanation: No Sam faces various challenges due to his unique situation but learns to overcome them with a positive attitude.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to navigate challenges in their lives with resilience and maintain a positive outlook.
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding
Explanation: Other characters in the book initially misunderstand No Sam, but they come to appreciate his uniqueness once they get to know him better.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to be empathetic and strive to understand others who may seem different at first.