As you read this entertaining book, you can talk to your child about:

1. Should we ever give up?
2. Self-talk – what are we telling ourselves?
3. The different emotions we have in our life.

(Please note – When I indent, I am answering questions and sharing insights just as if I were talking to a child.)

Should we ever give up?

Leo was practicing to make his light shine when his friends found him and started to laugh at him. How did Leo react?

    Leo was embarrassed. You can tell he was embarrassed because his knees felt weak and his face got hot.          

Have you ever been embarrassed?

Do you think Leo felt like giving up?

    He was sitting in a dark cave unsure of what to do. Then he heard his mother’s words, “with a little time and practice.” He decided to take charge and practice.

Do you think it was hard to practice in the storm?

    Lightning bugs are small and I bet those raindrops hurt. But he still kept trying until he succeeded even when he was afraid of the lightning.

Self-talk – what are we telling ourselves?

What did Leo tell himself when his mother told him his name meant lion?

What did he tell himself when he was angry?

What did he tell himself when he remembered his mother’s words?

    Our words have power in them. His mother’s words from the night before helped him get out of that dark cave. If we tell ourselves that we cannot do something, or that we are not important, things will happen to prove we are right. But if we tell ourselves we can do it, eventually we will do it. Always remember that you are important to me and I am proud to be your ——.

The different emotions we have in our life.

What were the five different emotions Leo had?

     Everyday we will go through different emotions. We can be happy one minute and sad the next. Remember the next time you are sad it will not be long until you are happy, angry, or even proud. You can choose your emotions and your actions. Why don’t we choose to be happy and do something nice for someone?

Teaching life lessons through stories allows us to share wonderful insights with each other. You will be surprised about the positive impact stories can have on your child’s life. It can be so affirming.

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You can do a topic a week. With each topic, there are four activities. If you request we will send you a coloring book that you can copy for your students. That way you can read the book together. You can have them color as you discuss the questions. And you will be instilling values in them to help them in their lives.

Thank you for your dedication to your students. You have the ability to touch so many lives. It is not an easy job, but it is so important.

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I used five copies of “The Hidden Swan” with my middle and high first grade students. They loved the book, remarking on how it reminded them of “The Ugly Duckling.” We worked with the first few pages of questions and they gave very insightful responses.
They really liked the coloring pages and wanted to know if they could color them. Several wished that the book was in the “dollar store.”
They were so surprised and grateful when they each got a complete copy of the “coloring book.” They couldn’t wait to get home and share the book with their parents.

Nancy Crenshaw
1st grade teacher
Will Beckley ES