Page 1 - Kind News, Parent Guide, Nov/Dec 2022
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Parent Guide





                                                                             NOV/DEC 2022

                                                                      Teaching kindness while
                                                                       helping to instill good
                                                                     reading habits in children.



                                                                       BOOK NOOK




         KIND TIME                                                               Charlotte’s Web
                                                                                 Written by E.B. White
         ‘Tis the season of celebration and thanks!  In this issue, we’re        Illustrated by Garth Williams
         exploring a vibrant Mexican holiday and the prized dog who               Recommended for age 8 & up
         leads the way — the xolo made famous by the movie Coco.                  This is a timeless tale of a pig
         We’ll learn how two girls helped an abandoned rabbit, the                named Wilbur who learns about
         differences between wild and domestic animals, and ways to                life from his barnyard friends,
         show gratitude for the people caring for homeless pets in                 especially a beautiful black spider
         our communities.                                                  named Charlotte. A special friendship
                                                                  between Charlotte and Wilbur develops and every night
         To access an interactive version of this issue online,    Charlotte creates intricate spider webs with words written
         visit KindNews.org. Check out our recommended book list   in them to help save Wilbur from being killed and eaten.
         at RedRover.org/books.                                   The reader learns about friendship and compassion in this
                                                                  remarkable story. Themes include friendship, kindness,
         SUPPLEMENTAL ACTIVITY                                    and the cycle of life.
         Try this with your child at home:                        Fans of Charlotte’s Web will find a more modern
         CASEL* CORE COMPETENCIES: SELF-AWARENESS,                pig-friendly tale in The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City
         SOCIAL AWARENESS                                         by Jodi Kendall (HarperCollins, 2017), recommended for
         To go with “Day of the Dog”: After reading the article, ask your   grades 3-7.
         child what the overall themes of Day of the Dead are. Of the        About the Author: E.B. White’s love for
         customs to celebrate a loved one who has passed away, what is       animals is evident in his classic books for
         their favorite? Have your child put one of them into action for a   children: Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little, and
         human or pet they have lost or a relative or ancestor they          Trumpet of the Swan. He raised and bonded
         haven’t met. Talk about what that person was like and the           with several pigs on his Maine farm, including
         things they loved, such as foods and activities. Find a photo of    one who fell ill and died in 1947, moving him
                                                                             to write the 1948 essay, “Death of a Pig.”
         the loved one or have your child make a drawing. Create a   White also had several Dachshunds and described one named
         popsicle-stick frame for it using this YouTube video: Search   Fred making regular visits to the ill pig. In 1949, a spider
         “How to make Ice Cream Sticks Photo Frame? | Popsicle Stick   spinning an egg sac in White’s barn and her offspring hatched
         Picture Frame.” Decorate it with images of your loved one’s   in his New York apartment inspired him to write Charlotte’s
         favorite things. Alternate activity: Find a recipe of your loved   Web, first released three years later.

         one’s favorite foods. Make it together and invite family and   CHARLOTTE’S WEB  © 2012 BY HARPERCOLLINS;
                                                                  AUTHOR PHOTO CREDIT DONALD E. JOHNSON
         friends to celebrate, Día de Muertos style!
         *Learn more about CASEL (the Collaborative for Academic, Social and
         Emotional Learning) at casel.org.



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