【開學準備】親子共讀推薦 [Ready for School] Parent-Child Shared Reading - 2023/8
1/ Chill, Chomp, Chill!
推薦跟 4-7 歲的小朋友共讀
文：Chris Ayala-Kronos 圖：Paco Sordo
版本：精裝，32 頁
類別：校園生活、情緒、應對技巧
—> 點我購買 “Chill, Chomp, Chill!”
Recommendation for reading with children aged 4-7
Author: Chris Ayala-Kronos Illustrator: Paco Sordo
Hardcover: 32 pages
Category: School Life, Emotions, Coping Skills
—> Click here to purchase “Chill, Chomp, Chill!”
不知道大家有沒有看過一張長輩圖，內容大概是「生氣是本能，控制脾氣是本事」。這句概括了一隻叫 Chomp 的小霸王龍，在學校裡發生不如意事的經歷。就像上圖的例子，Chomp 正想拿最後一塊紫色積木的時候，卻被其他同學捷足先登。這種被別人「截糊」的經歷就算是我們大人自己也會有，就像是被人點了最後一塊薯餅之類的，都會有點生悶氣，只不過我們都長大了不會再為這種事發脾氣，可是如果是小朋友的話，就算不發脾氣，應該也會很不開心！
比起跟他們說「這種事沒有甚麼大不了」、或者因為怕他發脾氣而馬上給甚麼別的東西去安撫、怎至是在小朋友面前責怪令他生氣的人或事，小朋友更需要的是學會怎樣消化碰到不如意事的情緒。這繪本裡 Chomp 遇到了不同的情形，在被截糊的時候、在感到不被重視的時候、在自己不小心做錯事老羞成怒的時候 ⋯ 都是日常中小朋友會遇到的情況，而 Chomp 一開始也會生氣，但他總有方法讓自己冷靜。在共讀的時候，我們可以問一下小朋友哪一個方法是他覺得自己也可以做到，或者是哪個方法最適合自己。家長老師知道了之後，也不要再急著在他們生氣時安撫，給他們空間練習吧！
Have you seen the picture caption that says, "Being angry is human nature. Controlling your temper takes skill"? That perfectly captures the story of Chomp, a little T-Rex who faces frustration at school. Like in the picture, another classmate snatched away the last purple building block when Chomp reached for it. Adults experience "left out" feelings too. It can be a little upsetting when someone takes the last hash brown. As adults, we've learned not to get mad over small things. But kids can still feel unhappy in those moments!
Instead of brushing it off and saying, "It's no big deal," trying to distract them with something else because we're afraid of their temper, or even blaming the person or thing that made them angry in front of them, what kids need is to learn how to manage their emotions in unpleasant situations.
Chomp encounters different scenarios in this book, like feeling left out, unappreciated, making mistakes, and getting embarrassed - everyday situations kids face. At first, Chomp gets angry, but he always finds a way to calm down. While reading, we can ask kids which strategy they think they can try or best suits them. Once parents and teachers know, they shouldn't rush to console the child when angry but instead give them space to practice handling their emotions.
2/ Bunny Braves the Day
推薦跟 3-6 歲的小朋友共讀
圖文：Suzanne Bloom
版本：精裝，32 頁
類別：開學、新環境、兄弟姊妹
—> 點我購買 “Bunny Brave the Day”
Recommendation for reading with children aged 3-6
Author and Illustrator: Suzanne Bloom
Hardcover: 32 pages
Category: First-Day-of-School, New Environment, Siblings
—> Click here to purchase “Bunny Braves the Day”
你還記得第一天上學或者是升班開學的情景嗎？別以為小小孩有分離焦慮才會不想上學，其實開始知道人際關係、會在意別人看法、擔憂課業跟不上的小朋友，都會因開學而感到不少壓力。他們在開學日甚至一段時間之後，上學前總是「毛很多」，於是我們看到很多「東西找不到」、「不要這雙襪子」、「肚子痛」之類的狀況。
這本書裡面的兔子也在面對這些的難題，害怕找不到朋友、覺得自己課業不好、覺得自己很多東西都做不好⋯所以在開學日就特別多狀況，還好他有一個懂得鼓勵他的姐姐，讓他最後能安心出門上學。其實這本書除了是在給小朋友面對未知的勇氣，也是在提醒我們，當小朋友感到緊張時，最好的鼓勵並不是說「很快就過了」，或者「會越來越好」之類，虛無飄渺地把焦點放在未來的話。最好的方法是讓他們記得自己已經擁有的能力，還有在面對未知時他們可以得到甚麼幫助。
當小朋友能夠克服這些恐懼，就會發現他們莫名的長大得好快呢。
Do you remember your first day of school or starting a new grade? Not just little kids may have separation anxiety and don't want to go to school. Kids who have just begun to understand relationships, care what others think, and worry about keeping up also feel a lot of pressure when school starts. They often think a lot and feel stressed on the first day of school or even for a while afterwards. We see things like "can't find things", "don't want to wear these socks", "stomach ache", etc.
The rabbit in this book also faces these challenges. It's afraid of not making friends, thinks it's not good at school, and believes it can't do many things well...so there are many situations on the first day. Luckily, it has an encouraging sister who understands and reassures it, allowing it to go to school with peace of mind.
This book not only gives kids the courage to face the unknown but also reminds us that when children feel nervous, the best encouragement is not to say, "It'll be over soon" or "It'll get better and better", vaguely emphasising the future. The best approach is to remind them of the abilities they already have and the help available when facing the unknown.
Kids who overcome these fears grow up quickly without realising it.
3/ Can I Play Too?
推薦跟 3-7 歲的小朋友共讀
圖文：Samantha Cotterill
版本：精裝，32 頁
類別：社交技巧、情緒、自閉症
—> 點我購買 “Can I Play Too?”
Recommendation for reading with children aged 3-7
Author and Illustrator: Samantha Cotterill
Hardcover: 32 pages
Category: Social Skills, Emotions, ASD
—> Click here to purchase “Can I Play Too?”
當小朋友們聚在一起時，大家總會對遊戲怎麼玩有不同想法，而當中總會有些人比較堅持自己的想法，而沒有察覺其他人的感受。長此下去，他們可能會惹怒朋友而不自知，所以這一種小朋友需要學習怎樣察言觀色，看看朋友跟自己玩的時候是開心、覺得有點悶了（可能因為好東西都被自己拿走了）、或者是（因為沒有人聽自己的意見而）生氣了。
這樣做的目的不是要小朋友委屈自己，而是要讓他們明白與人相處，想要建立友誼，需要彼此都覺得開心。偶爾有點生氣的時候，如果我們學會察言觀色，暫停一下自己的主張，關心一下對方的感受，很快就會和好。如果常常惹怒對方，最後關係可能就沒了。
這書本用了兩位小朋友一起玩火車遊戲做主軸，裡面循序漸進帶出兩位小朋友堅持與屈就中一直疊加的情緒，我們也可以邊讀邊感受他們情緒的變化，讓小朋友也一起練習理解他人的情緒。書中也有一些視覺化工具，讓小朋友理解怎樣解讀對方的狀態，還有當下自己可以怎樣做。
When kids get together, they often have different ideas about how to play games. Some kids may insist on their own ideas without realising how others feel. If this continues, they may unintentionally upset their friends. So these children need to learn to read the room and see how others think.
They need to see if their friends are happy, a bit bored (maybe cause they took all the good stuff), or getting annoyed (maybe cause nobody is listening to them) while playing.
The point isn't to make strong-will kids feel restricted but to help them understand that both sides need to feel good to build friendships. Sometimes when we're a little mad, if we can read the room, pause our argument, and show care for the other person's feelings, we can quickly make up and move on. If we constantly upset others, our relationships may end over time.
This book uses two kids playing train tracks as the main story. It gradually introduces how the kids' emotions change as they compromise or persist with each other. As we read, we can also feel the changes in their feelings and encourage kids to practice understanding others' emotions. The book also includes visual tools to help kids interpret the other person's state and what they can do at the moment.
