Meesha Makes Friends: A Big Bright Feelings Book
Big Bright Feelings Series
on Goodreads (873)
What’s inside...
Meesha Makes Friends is a heartwarming story about a young girl named Meesha who finds it difficult to make friends. She is very good at making things, but when it comes to making friends, she feels lost and unsure. However, with a little bit of creativity and courage, Meesha discovers that she can connect with others and find her place in the world. A warm and affectionate look at the joys and difficulties of making and keeping friends, relating to others, and finding your place in the world. Empowering and emotionally resonant, Tom Percival's Big Bright Feelings series is the perfect springboard for conversations about mental and emotional health, building self-confidence and managing feelings. Every child's bookshelf should contain his books.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-6
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Meesha
Discussion points
How did Meesha feel when she was trying to make friends? Can you relate to her feelings?
What are the different ways Meesha tried to connect with others? Which way do you think was most effective?
How did the friends react when Meesha made mistakes? What did she learn from those situations?
Why do you think it's important to have friends? How do you think friends can help us?
What would you do if you were in Meesha's place? How would you try to make new friends?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start by sharing your own experiences with making friends to create a safe space for open discussion.
Focus on the feelings portrayed in the story, asking your child to express when they have felt similar emotions.
Encourage your child to think of specific times they made a friend, and what made those experiences special or challenging.
After discussing each question, relate their responses back to the story to reinforce understanding and empathy.
Conclude by brainstorming ways they might reach out to make new friends or strengthen existing friendships, drawing parallels with Meesha’s successful strategies.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of empathy
Explanation: Meesha learns to understand and share the feelings of others as she navigates making friends.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by recognizing emotions in their peers and responding kindly, fostering stronger friendships.
Example Lesson: Creativity as a form of expression
Explanation: Meesha uses her creative skills to make her own friends, showcasing how creativity can help express inner thoughts and feelings.
Real-World Application: Kids can use various forms of art to express themselves and communicate their feelings when words are hard to find.
Example Lesson: Overcoming social anxiety
Explanation: Meesha faces challenges in social interactions but learns to overcome them by finding her own way to connect with others.
Real-World Application: Children learn that feeling nervous is normal and can be managed by finding personal comfort in social environments.
Example Lesson: The value of perseverance
Explanation: Despite initial difficulties, Meesha keeps trying to make friends and eventually succeeds, highlighting the importance of not giving up.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the significance of persistence in achieving goals, regardless of the obstacles they face.