The Kissing Hand
By Audrey Penn
Feelings: Anxiety, school separation
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Make connections as you read by modeling times you have felt sad. (Think aloud…This
reminds me of….) Have your child discuss times they felt sad and what helped them feel
better.
Talk about what it is that Chester doesn't want to do? What would he rather do instead?
What are some things that we all have to do but don't want to? How does this make us feel?
In the book, Chester places his hand on his cheek when he needs to feel comforted. Discuss what your child can
do to comfort themselves in similar situations.
http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/literature_guides/kissinghand.html
Chrysanthemum
By Kevin Henkes
Feelings: Tolerance
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Discuss how Chrysanthemum felt about her name before she went to school. How did her
feelings change? Talk about the ways she dealt with these feelings and who helped her to
feel better. Discuss who your child can go to if they ever feel the way Chrysanthemum feels.
Discuss what it means to be special or unique. Talk about what makes your child unique.
Talk about the idea of how similarities bringing us together, but that it is our differenecs that
make us special.
Work with your child to determine the meaning of his or her name. Where did the name
come from? What makes your child’s name special?
https://books.google.com/books?id=MhyzwCBBLQC&pg=PA22&lpg=PA22&dq=chrysanthemum+activities+that+focus+on+social+emotional&source=bl&ots=h01
DVxepUJ&sig=aG-CZZdQ-5bzl6tQcfz2HSXuDA8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCIQ6AEwAWoVChMI9t_lNmDyQIVAZoeCh0nLQ_u#v=onepage&q=chrysanthemum%20activities%20that%20focus%20on%20social%20emotion
al&f=false
Ruby the Copycat
By Peggy Rothmann
Feelings: Self-esteem, teasing
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Identify and discuss the feelings Angela and Ruby have during the story. Discuss with
your child how sometimes friends may hurt our feelings unintentionally by what they
say and do. What are some ways to express feelings when a friend upsets us?
Brainstorm some ways to express these feelings with your child.
Start a discussion about empathy for your child (the ability to understand and share the
feelings of another). Relate to the characters in the story and imagine being in their place. How would you react
in similar situations and how would you feel? (Focus on the importance of being yourself and how their actions
may affect others.)
https://books.google.com/books?id=MhyzwCBBLQC&pg=PA43&lpg=PA43&dq=ruby+the+copycat+activities+that+focus+on+social+emotional&source=bl&ots=h0
1DVxfmZE&sig=tcBfi6O_wWBp06ubdHduqbyhTRI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAGoVChMIhvS699uDyQIVjzweCh2hs
wKm#v=onepage&q=ruby%20the%20copycat%20activities%20that%20focus%20on%20social%20emotional&f=false
Granddaddy’s Gift
By Margaree King Mitchell
Feeling: Responsibility
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Why do you think it was so important for granddaddy to vote? Talk with your
child about their experiences registering to vote or voting. Talk about any
difficulties you may have encountered or what was most memorable about the
experience.
Share with your child a time when you stood up for something you believed in,
even though you may have been scared. Discuss the value of standing up for
what you believe in.
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson
By Bette Boa Lord
Feeling: Respectful communication
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Compare and contrast the book with stories from your own life in order to help
make connections.
Reflect on situations where you were treated unfairly and discuss how it felt.
How would you feel if you couldn’t talk to other people and they didn’t try to talk to
you?
Think about a time you were angry with someone. How did you feel? How did you
resolve it?
Why is empathy towards people who are different so important to our world?
How is discrimination and inequality prevalent in our society today? What can be done to change this?
The Lemonade War
By Jacqueline Davies
Feelings: Accepting and appreciating differences among peers
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Ask your child if he or she has ever felt competitive with someone they are
close to, like a sibling or a good friend? What was the competition about?
What did they do? How was it resolved?
In the story, Evan is so angry with his sister. Has Jessie consciously done
anything to harm her brother? Explain the root of Evan's anger.
Even though Jessie and Evan are having a hard time with each other, they
don't want their mom to know. Can you explain why they are so careful not
to show her they are fighting? Have you ever felt like this?
How do Evan and Jessie finally resolve the conflict, both their lemonade war
and their personal war?
Both children have to admit that they've done mean things to each other before they can move on.
Have you ever done something out of anger that you wish you hadn't? What happened because of it?
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/readers_guides/davies_lemonade.shtml#discussion