I just introduced this series to my 6-year-old daughter and it is a great book for the perfect age. (Bonus there are 21 books in the series right now!) The whimsical illustrations on every page hooked my daughter. It is a great introduction to read-aloud chapter books because they can still look at the illustrations on every page. It is also a great introduction to independently reading chapter books for the first time with 1st and 2nd graders.
Sophie Mouse lives in a forest with her family, goes to school, makes friends, and has small adventures. In the first book, a new student comes to school. He is a little different. Should the other students include him and be his friend, or are they afraid of his differences?
It’s always good to have an ongoing conversation with little ones about acceptance and kindness among all people. I’m always surprised at how our kids pick up on their grownup’s mannerisms and ideals. So number 1 we need to lead by example in this. We need to be kind and accepting of all people no matter their differences, even when they aren’t around! And number 2 we need to keep that conversation going. Sometimes I give my kiddos open-ended questions about whether or not we should be kind to a specific person. Of course, I always get to the answer, YES!
The Adventures of Sophie Mouse: A New Friend by Poppy Green and illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell for Little Simon Books.
Ages: 4-8
Themes: Friendship, Kindness, Acceptance
