Our Favorite Day of the Year
What’s inside...
A heartwarming picture book following a group of boys from different backgrounds throughout the school year as they become the best of friends. Musa’s feeling nervous about his first day of school. He’s not used to being away from home and he doesn’t know any of the other kids in his class. And when he meets classmates Moisés, Mo, and Kevin, Musa isn’t sure they’ll have much in common. But over the course of the year, the four boys learn more about each other, the holidays they celebrate, their favorite foods, and what they like about school. The more they share with each other, the closer they become, until Musa can’t imagine any better friends. In this charming story of friendship and celebrating differences, young readers can discover how entering a new friendship with an open mind and sharing parts of yourself brings people together. And the calendar of holidays at the end of the book will delight children as they identify special events they can celebrate with friends throughout the year. 'Gorgeously inviting illustrations and a joyful theme…the consummate first day read.'
Discussion points
What makes Musa's favorite day special to him? Can you think of a day that is very special to you?
Each friend in the story shares something unique about their culture. What did you find interesting about the different celebrations?
How do the friends show respect and curiosity about each other's traditions?
How did the story make you feel about learning new things from friends?
If you could create a special day to celebrate with your friends, what would it look like and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about each character’s favorite day, relating it to their own experiences and traditions.
Discuss the importance of diversity and learning from others, highlighting how the characters in the book enjoy discovering new things about each other.
Ask your child to describe a tradition or celebration from the book that they found intriguing, and explore more about it together.
Use the book as a springboard to plan a 'Favorite Day' of your own, incorporating elements from the various cultures and traditions mentioned.
Reinforce the themes of friendship and acceptance, prompting your child to share stories of how they have learned from or helped friends in their own life.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Celebrating Diversity
Explanation: In 'Our Favorite Day of the Year,' the story showcases children from diverse backgrounds sharing their favorite holidays and traditions with classmates. This fosters a sense of understanding and appreciation for different cultures.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to embrace and respect the cultural differences among their peers, promoting inclusivity in their own social interactions.
Example Lesson: Importance of Friendship
Explanation: The book illustrates how sharing personal traditions can strengthen bonds between friends. The characters grow closer as they learn more about each other’s cultures and customs.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply this lesson by being open to making friends with peers who might come from different backgrounds. They can share their own traditions and learn from others to build meaningful relationships.
Example Lesson: Value of Learning
Explanation: Each child in the book teaches their classmates about a special holiday, demonstrating that everyone has something valuable to share. This highlights the importance of learning from one another.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to actively learn from their peers and to see every social interaction as an opportunity to gain new knowledge and perspectives.
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: As each child presents their favorite day, others listen and engage respectfully, helping to build a classroom environment based on empathy.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand the power of listening to and appreciating different perspectives, which can lead to more empathetic interactions in their daily lives.
Example Lesson: Celebration of Individuality
Explanation: The book shows that every child’s favorite day is unique to their own cultural or personal significance, celebrating individuality within a community setting.
Real-World Application: Kids learn to be proud of what makes them unique and to honor the uniqueness of others, fostering a healthy self-esteem and mutual respect in diverse settings.