::: room on the broom
Children in preschool generally desire to have friendships with other children however developing those friendship can be tough when you four and five years old. Some children thrive on the belief – ‘the more the merrier’ while others really struggle with the concept of having more than one friend.
We like the idea of using books, poetry and songs to support children with their development of friendships. We’ve spoken before of our passion for Julia Donaldson books, and one of our very favourites is called Room on the Broom – a terrific story you can read in the lead up to discussions with the children on what good friends and friendships mean to them.
Every year our children fell in love with this story …
and requested it over and over again!
We don’t know if it is the way Julia Donaldson manages to engage the children with her rhyming, repetitive language …
or Axel Scheffler’s delightful illustrations …
with his expressive animals …
and the friendliest witch you ever did see.
Or is it the message in the story the children pick up on?
Regardless of why the children love this story it has always been a great tool in the support of the children’s development of new and lasting friendships … and we always LOVE that!
For more picture books suitable for supporting the development of friendship you can click here.
Tags: Alex Scheffler, friendship, Julia Donaldson
that is one of our all time favourites in this house!
::: We LOVE it too Clodagh!
Delighted that you’ve featured a Scottish author!
::: We think she’s one of the best Juliet!
Love this story and of course the “Gruffalo”! “Stanley Paste” – Is another great story about friendships also – I think it was shortlisted last year for Book Week. Stanley is small and is teased about this and then he meets his friend that is really tall and they discover that they have something in common and the rest is history – I love it!!!!!
::: We don’t know Stanley but we will be sure to look him up … Thanks Kaelene!
A brilliant author and a gifted illustrator. Thanks for the link to friendship related books they are so valuable. @Kaelene…have you seen the Gruffalo’s Child??? I stumbled accross it at the ABC shop and my children have fallen in love with it.
::: You’re welcome for the link Bianca … And she’s right Kaelene, the Gruffalo’s Child is a ripper!
I am performing this fabulous story to two lots of children and have to say that it truly lends itself to so many wonderful messages [the friends helping the witch and she in turn helping them by giving them a special seat on her broomstick]. It is fun and magical.
::: It is certainly one of our very favourites too Poppy.
