Welcome to our conversation space. Here you will find resources and videos to help kids discuss their feelings, questions, and thoughts related to the themes in each story.
Choose a book to view conversation starters & resources:
Abuelito
Conversation Starter Topic(s): multigenerational families, friendship, death, grief, love
CONVERSATION STARTER QUESTIONS:
Have you ever wanted to play with someone, but didn’t know how to ask? What did you do?
Have you lost anyone close to you? How do you remember that person or pet?
What do you do when you are sad?
Are your grandparents alive? What do you call your grandfather and/or grandmother? What are (or were) your favorite activities to do with them?
Have you ever helped someone who was sad? What did you do?
Watch the Book Trailer for Abuelito
Afraid of Your Neighbor
Conversation Starter Topic(s): assumptions, prejudice, making friends, peer pressure, kindness
CONVERSATION STARTER QUESTIONS:
An assumption is an idea that someone believes is true, without knowing for sure if it is true. What assumptions do Frog and most of his friends make about the new neighbor?
Have you ever made assumptions about someone or something? How did the person or experience compare with your assumptions?
Imagine that a new family had just moved to your neighborhood. How could you make them feel welcome?
If your friend was being unkind to someone, what could you do to help?
Watch the Book Trailer for Afraid of Your Neighbor
Teacher’s Guide for Afraid of Your Neighbor
Teacher’s Guide
Resources for Afraid of Your Neighbor
Coloring Sheets
How to Make New Friends
Friendship Rules Poster
I’ve Never Met My Grandpa
Conversation Starter Topic(s): death, grief, love, family relationships, curiosity
CONVERSATION STARTER QUESTIONS:
Have you met your grandparents?
How do you feel when you hear stories about your grandpa or grandma?
What is one thing you wish you could ask your grandpa or grandma?
What do you do when you feel sad?
Watch the Book Trailer for I’ve Never Met My Grandpa
Resources for I’ve Never Met My Grandpa
Sharing My Emotions Chart
My Grandpa’s Scrapbook
Lumber Baby
Conversation Starter Topic(s): humor, bedtime routines, sibling relationships, problem-solving, family dynamics
CONVERSATION STARTER QUESTIONS:
Have you ever helped someone solve a problem? If so, what was the challenge? How did you help make it better?
Have you ever had a hard time going to sleep? If so, what helps you?
What did you think of Lumber Baby’s big sister’s bedtime helpers? Would those things help you sleep?
Resources for Lumber Baby
Coloring Sheets
Help Lumber Baby Find His Crib Maze
Maddie and Mabel: Book 1
Conversation Starter Topic(s): sibling relationships, managing conflict, imagination, play
CONVERSATION STARTER QUESTIONS:
Why do you think the girls got into a fight? How did they fix it?
Have you ever gotten into an argument with your sibling or best friend? How did that make you feel?
What is the story of you and your siblings? If you don’t have a sibling, what is the story of you and your best friend?
What do you like to do with your siblings or your family?
Watch the Book Trailer for Maddie and Mabel
Teacher’s Guide for Maddie and Mabel
Teacher’s Guide
Resources for Maddie and Mabel
Coloring Sheets
Maddie & Mabel’s Musings
Club Kit
Maddie and Mabel Take the Lead: Book 2
Conversation Starter Topic(s): siblings, friendship, first experiences, leadership, overcoming fears
CONVERSATION STARTER QUESTIONS:
In these stories, Maddie and Mabel take turns and practice sharing. When do you share with others? How do you share? Do you take turns? What are other ways to share?
How do you feel when you have to wait for your turn to try something?
What do you do when you are nervous about something new? How do you prepare when you are going to do something for the first time?
How do you teach someone else how to do something you love to do?
Teacher’s Guide for Maddie and Mabel Take the Lead
Teacher’s Guide
Resources for Maddie and Mabel Take the Lead
Coloring Sheets
Maddie and Mabel Know They Can: Book 3
Conversation Starter Topic(s): siblings, friendship
CONVERSATION STARTER QUESTIONS:
In these stories, Maddie and Mabel help each other out. How do you help others?
What do you do when you have a problem? How do you try to solve it?
What is your favorite flower? How does it make you feel?
Have you ever had an idea that someone else thought was their idea too? How did you move forward with that idea?
Scary Fairy in Wicked Wood
Conversation Starter Topic(s): managing conflict, making friends, learning from mistakes
CONVERSATION STARTER QUESTIONS:
Scary Fairy seems to get into a lot of trouble. Talk about a time you saw someone in trouble. Did you help the person? What did you do? How did things change after that?
At first, Scary Fairy didn’t fit in with the animal friends in Wicked Wood. Have you ever felt like you didn’t fit in? Why did you feel that way?
Sometimes things seem scarier than they really are. What is something you have been scared of that turned out to be not scary when you finally saw it or did it? When you’re afraid of something, what do you do to make yourself less afraid?
At the end of the story, Scary Fairy is leaving Wicked Wood and the animals are unhappy. What would you do if your friend was moving? Write it down or draw a picture of what you would do. Have you ever had to move to a new place? What helped you feel more at home?
Watch the Book Trailer for Scary Fairy in Wicked Wood
Teacher’s Guide for Scary Fairy in Wicked Wood
Teacher’s Guide
The Struggle Bus
Conversation Starter Topic(s): frustration, perseverance, social emotional learning
CONVERSATION STARTER QUESTIONS:
What is one thing that was hard for you today?
What feelings do you have when something is hard?
What happens in your body when something is hard?
What are three things you can do to help yourself feel better if you are upset?
What is one new thing you learned today?
How can you help someone else going through a hard time?
Watch the Book Trailer for The Struggle Bus
Teacher’s Guide and Reader’s Guide for The Struggle Bus
Teacher’s Guide
Reader’s Guide
Resources for The Struggle Bus
Coloring Sheets
Question Cube
Coping Poster
This Art is for the Birds
Conversation Starter Topic(s): art, friendship, perseverance, ingenuity, humor
CONVERSATION STARTER QUESTIONS:
Have you ever wanted to be friends with someone, but you weren’t sure if they wanted to be friends with you?
How would you describe each pigeon’s personality? Which name would you give each one? Which pigeon seems most like you and why?
What did you think of the crow’s art?
What is something you created that you think of as art?
Did the pigeons make you laugh? What else makes you laugh?
Viva’s Voice
Conversation Starter Topic(s): courage, unions, workers’ rights, father/daughter relationships, community
CONVERSATION STARTER QUESTIONS:
Why do you think workers go on strike?
What is something you or your family might go on strike for?
Viva was Papi’s good luck charm. Do you have a good luck charm? Who or what is yours?
Have you ever been to work with your mom and dad? What was your favorite part?
Viva loves riding the bus and going to the picket line with her Papi. What do you love to do with the adults in your life? How does that make you feel?
When you feel afraid, how do you make yourself feel brave?
How do you support members of your family when they need it?
Watch the Book Trailer for Viva’s Voice
Resources for Viva’s Voice
Protest Signs
My Day at Work Template
Free Downloadable Activities
Kindness in Action: Simple Things You Can Do to Create a Kinder World
Meaningful change comes from many small steps. In that same spirit, we can do a lot to create a kinder world as part of our everyday lives. Here are some simple things you and the kids in your life can do to get started.
We’re Going on a Road Trip Game
A perfect game for testing memory and the imagination, especially as we’re not really going on any road trips lately. Our family loves this memory recall game from my own childhood. Try it out, even (and especially if) you’re not on an actual trip.
Mindfulness for Kids: Five Senses
Meditation and mindfulness help us
cultivate calm, kind brains — and it’s never
too early to start. But it’s a lot to ask of
youngsters to simply sit still and breathe!
Instead, this “active meditation” exercise
will teach kids to slow down as they connect
to their senses and surroundings.