When my middle daughter was 2, a large dog suddenly jumped and slobbered all over her face. She was so startled that she couldn’t move or utter a sound. Her eyes were wide with shock. The dog retreated and she began to cry. It would be years before she overcame the fear of dogs precipitated by that event.
Childhood fears have their roots in past experiences and the imagination. They often exist to help children navigate the world safely. But sometimes fears can get in the way of a happy and engaged life. Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell invites readers to follow a little squirrel as she manages her fears in order to take soup to her sick granny. As you read Evergreen together, use one or more of the following activities with children 4+ to explore being afraid and what it takes to become brave.
Scary things. When Mama asks Evergreen to take the soup to Granny, Evergreen recalls how scary the forest is and declares, “I can’t do it!” Invite children to share some of the things that they find scary. Ask them to make a face that shows how they would feel if someone asked them to do something that scared them.
Scary noises. While traveling through Buckthorn Forest, Evergreen hears lots of scary noises. Some turn out to be cries for help and Evergreen has to decide what she is going to do. Play a sound game with children. Make a scary noise (e.g., barking, screeching, thunking) and then invite kids to imagine who might make it and why. Encourage them to think of both sinister and needy possibilities. Then act out ways of helping if the noise signals a need for assistance.
Scary situations. When Ember the hawk scoops her up, Evergreen thinks she’s a goner. But Ember just wants help with the thorns from the bramble. Invite children to think about their thought process when they are in a scary situation. Name a situation (e.g., someone is calling them names, daring them to do something unsafe, or bullying another child) and create a decision matrix (see Related Resources) to help them analyze options for understanding and acting.
Scary surprises. It’s a big surprise when Granny Oak turns out to be a bear! Explore how emotions shift as events unfold. Ask children: How did you feel when the bear growled at Evergreen? How did you feel when Evergreen screamed, “Oh, no!” How did you feel when you realized the bear was Granny Oak? How did you feel when Evergreen tucked Granny Oak in and fed her the soup?
Scary brave. Even though Evergreen still feels scared, she figures out ways to be brave. Invite children to reenact Evergreen’s journey across Silver Stream to rescue Squirt. Then encourage them to draw a picture of themselves doing something brave despite feeling afraid. Suggest that they also imagine who might support them in being brave and add those people to their picture.
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