Enemies

I can't say that I have enemies, but I know that kids always have someone who they just can't seem to get a long with.  As caretakers (whether we are parents, aunts, teacher or babysitters) are always looking for ways to encourage our children to be kind and respectful to anyone.  Well my friends- look no more!  I have the perfect book for teaching (or perhaps tricking) kids into liking even their most hated enemy.  The book is Enemy Pie by Derek Munson.

It was the perfect summer until Jeremy Ross moved into the neighborhood.  Jeremy was on the enemy list for all the reasons that kids have enemies (strike you out at baseball, don't invite you to jump on the trampoline).  

Then dad suggests to his son a way to get rid of his enemy, by making enemy pie.  While dad makes enemy pie the speaker goes outside to collect works, rocks and leaves to put into the pie but dad just shakes his head and sends him away.  When the pie is finished dad tells his son that to make sure enemy pie works you have to spend an entire day with your enemy.  

The two boys spend the entire day together playing and having a great time.  They jump on the trampoline, eat lunch together, throw boomerangs and have so much fun!  He even lets Jeremy Ross into his tree house.  

Then it is time for dinner. The boys eat together and then dad brings out enemy pie.  The boy doesn't want Jeremy Ross to eat the pie anymore because he isn't an enemy anymore and he didn't want anything to happen to him.  What a great lesson to teach to kids.  Sometimes we just have to get to know someone to see how much fun they can be!  

This book does not just offer a great story line but awesome pictures and the speaker has great voice.  This is a book that was often read several times in my classroom. 

If you don't have a copy of the book check out Storyline Online here they have a celebrity reading aloud the book.  

What book do your kids always want you to read over and over?

Happy Reading!

Laura