Reprinted with explicit permission of All4MyChild as it appeared on their blog

Title: Me First

Author: Helen Lester. Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

Description: Pinkerton the pig always has to be first. No matter what! He learns a lesson that “being first isn’t always best.”

Goals:

• Perspective Taking
• Figurative Language
• Narrative Language
• Social Skills

Why I like this book: In our social groups we have many kiddos who HAVE to be first.  A good silly story to address the concept. Also a great story for language flexibility, and narrative skills.

Ideas for this book:

• Discuss and demonstrate the body language when Pinkerton pushes past them to be first. Use thinking bubbles (a white board, regular paper) and discuss how those characters feel and why. What are friends thinking of Pinkerton? Problem solve ways to cope when you aren’t first.
• A great story to tie to discussion around personal body space. We have used after reading Personal Space Camp by Julia Cook. Practice lining up in a group, managing space, and using words to negotiate who is “first” and next in line.
• “sandwich” vs. a “sand witch” is demonstrated in this story, as well as “care for” meaning want vs. taking care of. Great example of language flexibility. The author makes a great picture of what Pinkerton was thinking vs. what actually happened. Tie to discussion around idioms and other figurative language. For more examples (check for age appropriateness of course) see Proverbidioms app. Also can pair with other figurative language stories reviewed on all4mychild. Click on “figurative language” on our home page for more.
• Great for narrative skills. Have students “retell” the story using the pictures to help. I use with Mindwingconcepts “Braidy,” to help students identify story grammar elements.

Submitted by; Meghan G. Graham M.S. CCC-SLP

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