Pam Ayres' Animal Stories Series
I am Hattie the Hare: A Tale from our Wild and Wonderful Meadows
What’s inside...
The story follows Hattie the Hare as she embarks on various adventures in the meadows she calls home. Along the way, she meets other creatures and faces challenges that teach her valuable life lessons.
Age
3-8
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Discussion points
What do you think Hattie the Hare loves most about the meadows?
How do you think the meadow changes with the seasons, and what new things does Hattie discover?
If you were Hattie, what would you do differently when exploring the meadow?
Why do you think Hattie feels happy in the meadow? Can a place make us feel different emotions?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine themselves as Hattie, exploring the vast and vibrant meadows. Ask them how they would feel and what they would love to discover.
Highlight the sensory details in the story such as the sounds, sights, and smells Hattie might experience in the meadow. This will help your child connect more deeply with the setting.
Discuss the importance of nature and meadows in providing homes for creatures like Hattie. This can be a gateway to conversations about environmental awareness and conservation.
Pose hypothetical questions that allow your child to think creatively and express their ideas about the story, fostering a deeper connection and understanding.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Respect for Nature
Explanation: Through Hattie the Hare's adventures and interactions with other meadow creatures, children learn about the importance of respecting and caring for the environment.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by engaging in activities like recycling, planting trees, or participating in local clean-up efforts to help preserve their own community's natural spaces.
Example Lesson: Courage and curiosity
Explanation: Hattie’s journey is filled with moments requiring bravery and a sense of wonder, inspiring children to explore and face new situations with courage.
Real-World Application: Kids can embrace new experiences at school or in social settings, approach new subjects with enthusiasm, and face everyday challenges bravely.
Example Lesson: Empathy and kindness
Explanation: Hattie encounters various animals in the meadow, each with their unique challenges, promoting empathy and kindness through understanding.
Real-World Application: Children learn to recognize emotions and situations affecting others around them and can show kindness through actions like sharing, helping others in need, and speaking kindly.
Example Lesson: The value of friendship
Explanation: Throughout the book, the friendships Hattie forms provide support and joy, highlighting the importance of building strong, supportive relationships.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to nurture friendships, be good friends by listening and offering support, and appreciate the different qualities each friend brings into their lives.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving skills
Explanation: Hattie often encounters problems that require creative thinking and quick decision-making, which emphasizes the development of problem-solving skills.
Real-World Application: This lesson equips children to handle conflicts and challenges in school or play by thinking creatively and making informed decisions.