Be Brave, Little Penguin

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Read the story aloud to your child talking about what is happening in the story and pictures as you do. Things to make and do Role play Act out the conversation between Pip Pip and his Mummy ‘What if….’ This would be fun with you (the adult) playing Little Pip Pip with all his anxieties and your child playing his mother, reassuring him.

Mommy puts a positive spin on Pip-Pip’s fear. In the ocean Pip-Pip will find friends, treats and warmth. Thanks to Mommy’s encouragement, Pip-Pip takes the plunge and SPLASH! Children need to see characters that have fears. In identifying with characters such as Pip-Pip, children can feel empowered to take their own leaps of faith.Little Penguin Pip Pip lives with his family and friends. His friends all love swimming in the sea but Pip Pip is too scared to try and feels very sad. His mum is understanding and helps little Pip Pip take his first tentative steps into the sea. In no time at all he is having an amazing time. Some of the activity ideas here are likely to be more suitable to over threes so choose what seems most appropriate for your child. Share the story Commotion in the Ocean. Find out about illustrator Guy Parker Rees Guy Parker-Rees – Illustrator (guyparkerrees.com)

All the penguins love playing in the sea - except Little Pip-Pip who is too scared to take the plunge. What if the water is freezing or he can’t swim, or there are monsters lurking in the depths? The other penguins tease him, but Pip-Pip’s mum listens to his fears, understands, and slowly encourages him to consider what the sea might actually offer - like warmth, fun and friendship. Needless to say, she is right. Be Brave, Little Penguin brilliantly conveys the power of connection. Once his mother has attuned, validated and empathised with his anxieties, the little penguin finds he is able to face his fears. This is a great way of normalising uncomfortable emotions for the reader, and gently challenging stigma surrounding anxiety. There’s also an important message for young readers to hear about the value of sharing our feelings with a trusted adult. This rhyming, reassuring book shows us that with acceptance of our emotions, we can all start to find the courage to dip our toes in and overcome our fears. Talk about fears and bravery. Everyone is afraid of something, and that is okay. The key is learning to face those fears instead of shying away. Also, talk about what makes someone brave. The author of Giraffe’s Can’t Dance, Rumble in the Jungle and Commotion in the Ocean, some of my all-time favorite books, has come out with another winner, Be Brave, Little Penguin. This heart-warming rhyming story is about overcoming fear. Pip-Pip, the smallest penguin, is sad and lonely. The other little penguins make fun of Pip-Pip and call him names. While they splash and dive, Pip-Pip clings to the ice. His biggest fear-the ocean. Give your child a large piece of paper some paints or crayons to make a big picture of Little Penguin with lots of other penguins of different shapes and sizes. Find out more Read more books by Giles Andrae. Titles include

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A delightful rhyming, rhythmic picturebook with very appealing illustrations and a strong message about being brave enough to try things that are new to you. Children will enjoy returning to this picturebook and sharing Little Pip Pip’s excitement at the end of the story. If You Were a Penguin– In this simple, rhyming picture book, the youngest readers will learn about penguins. This is the perfect read-aloud for teachers and parents to share with young children as they imagine what life as a penguin is like! What’s included in the printable?

What if he can’t swim? What if there are monsters in the ocean that will eat him? My favorite line- “We ALL have certain fears that might be hard to understand.” How true. That saying rings true for children and grown-ups alike. As they become more familiar with the story you can encourage children to join in with some of the words eg Little Pip calling out ‘I am swimming, I am swimming’ and SPLASH Be Brave Little Penguin is an excellent story that can encourage students to be brave and face their fears. This book is suitable for 5-9 year olds, but could also be used with older students to encourage bravery in the classroom. I would most likely read this story to students at the beginning of the year to encourage them to be brave in their learning. Prior knowledge about penguins, where they live and how they survive would help students to understand the dilemma that Pip-Pip is in.

Curriculum

Trace the Lines: Kids can trace the lines from left to right. This is a great fine motor activity and perfect for prewriting practice.

Fill your book basket with a great collection of books about penguins. Most of these books can be found at your local library or used bookstore. Penguins– In Explore My World Penguins,curious kids ages 3 to 7 will be excited to learn about the delightful world of penguins:the extreme lengths they go to to care for their young and the relationship between baby penguins and their parents.