Our very last Book of the Month for this school year is Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival. In this book, Ruby has a worry. It starts out small, but then it starts to grow and grow until it is enormous. Ruby worries that she is the only one that has a worry until she discovers a boy who has one too. She discovers that talking about her worry makes it get smaller and smaller until it finally disappears.
Confidence is our theme to accompany the book and we will be discussing ways we can feel and be confident in ourselves. We will also explore a variety of calming activities that students can use when they have a worry or feel anxious. Check out the questions and activities below!
Thank you to the Crozet PTO for the funding to make our Book of the Month Club a possibility. This literacy initiative would not have been a possibility without their support! While this school year has been a variety of ups and downs, our one constant has been our Book of the Month Club. No matter the learning group format or stage, it has been a blessing to have the Book of the Month Club as a common schoolwide activity to enhance and support our Crozet community.
The Literacy Engagement Team
Read the book!
Mindful Music for Relaxation (for when you might have some worries)
Before, During and After Reading Questions
Connect: During the pandemic, everyone has worries about work or school, health or family. The coronavirus has us all worried. Talk about some of your worries with a safe friend.
Show: Look at the picture of Ruby with her worry. Talk about how it feels to have a worry that big. Draw a picture of your worries.
Ask: What do you notice about Ruby’s worry? (Look at the color choices the illustrator uses.) While listening to the story, think about the ways you are like Ruby and watch for how she handles her worries.
Ask: Pause at the page that reads “Each day it got a little bit bigger.” How does Ruby feel about her worry? How can you tell?
Show: Describe what you notice is happening to the worry. Where is it? What is its size and color? How does Ruby change?
Connect: Ruby tried to ignore her worry. What happens when you pretend you are not worried?
Show: Go back to the page where Ruby and the boy are on the bench. Describe what you notice about the different worries.
Ask: What happened when Ruby met the boy? How did she help him? How did talking with him help her manage her worry?
Connect: Sharing our worries with someone who cares about us is one way to handle our worries. What are other positive things we can do to handle feelings of worry or stress?
Questions from https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/ruby-finds-worry-literature-guide
Activities for at Home
Talk about what things help you feel better when you have a worry.
Draw a picture of yourself with your worries next to you when you want to do your favorite activities.
Some people have many worries because they have needs. Talk about the difference between needs and wants. Visit a nonprofit in the community that helps address a need that someone might worry about, such as where to get food, where to get supplies for school, what we are doing to the environment. Learn about their work and what you can do. Make a plan to take action.
There are so many great children’s books with similar themes:
“Wemberly Worried” by Kevin Henkes
“The Dot” by Peter Reynolds