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KING ARTHUR’S VERY GREAT GRANDSON  by Kenneth Kraegel

(a story about aggression, power, and friendship)

Henry Alfred Grummorson, a “knight of King Arthur’s blood,” wants nothing more than to be a fighter. He doesn’t just want to pretend to fight. He wants to be aggressive and powerful. His problem is he can’t get anyone to fight with him. He wants “… a struggle of arms, a test of might and courage!” He was “… determined to have a battle, come what may.” But, when Henry gives in to playing a friendly game with a monster he learns the benefits of friendship.

What Adults Can Learn from This Story

Make this Story Come Alive for Your Child

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MY VERY BIG LITTLE WORLD by Peter H. Reynolds

(a story about what preschoolers are like)

MY VERY BIG LITTLE WORLD is all about SugarLoaf figuring out about her world and the people in it. First, what kind of person is she? When SugarLoaf was born, her mom said that she “… looked as sweet as sugar.” Her dad said she “ … felt as warm as a freshly baked loaf of bread.” Voila! SugarLoaf puts two and two together – this is why she is SugarLoaf. She measures all things against herself, even Dad’s truck. “It’s very BIG. I’m smaller. The truck won’t grow. But I will.“ She figures out that what she likes is what others like too. She and Dad are “morning people.” She and Mom like tea. And, She and Gramma both have the same favorite color. SugarLoaf’s views are simple, fun, honest, interesting, amusing, and remind us that at this preschool age, children see themselves as the center of their world.

What Adults Can Learn from This Story

• Labels are messages. They end up in children’s heads as though they were on a CD playing over and over again. Commercials from TV are good examples of how messages get in a person’s head. One way to fight hurtful messages that go along with labels is to fill children’s heads with so many positive messages that the hurtful ones become less often heard or paid attention to. Read more about labeling children at Correct; Don’t Criticize – Part 1.

• Making amends is important for preschoolers. As they test out different ways of acting, they will no doubt mess up some of the time. They need to know they can make up for those mess ups – that they can make things right and still be loved. For more information about making amends, see Your Child Is a Star!

Make this Story Come Alive for Your Child 

• Encourage your child to play make-believe about different jobs. When he is playing, ask him what he likes about the jobs he is pretending about. Have fun with both his really smart answers and his really funny ones. Sometimes the answers can lead you to hear about other types of jobs he might want to try on for size.

• Opposites are of great interest to preschoolers. Try this as a quick, easy, in-the-car, anywhere game to play with your preschoolers – to find the opposites of things. What’s the opposite of red? Sweet? Mean? These are questions that have no one right answer – questions that are very good for helping preschoolers develop their thinking.

• Be sure your child knows you love who she is. Even on days when it is hard to love how she might be acting, be sure she knows you love who she is and who she can become. Find as many ways to tell her that you enjoy her and want to be around her. Remember to do that with both your words and actions.

Past 2025 PICTURE BOOK CLUB postings:

2025 PICTURE BOOK CLUB – WEEK ONE

2025 PICTURE BOOK CLUB – WEEK TWO

2025 PICTURE BOOK CLUB – WEEK THREE

2025 PICTURE BOOK CLUB – WEEK FOUR