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

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.

FLIP OVER! Where’s Raja?
A PUBLICATION OF
RAJA IS HIDING ON PAGE 8!
Turn the page for
standards-aligned
activities.