At the Early Excellence Project, we love books that inspire little learners to dream big, be bold, and understand the power of their own potential. A is for Ambitious by Meena Harris does just that by taking children on an alphabetical journey of confidence, perseverance, and ambition. Through vibrant illustrations and empowering words, this book encourages young readers to embrace their strengths and believe in themselves.
In this post, we’ll explore literacy lessons that help your little learner tap into the power of ambition while enhancing their reading and comprehension skills.
Introducing Big Words to Little Learners
One of the fun aspects of A is for Ambitious is that it introduces children to a variety of new and exciting vocabulary words, many of which may be unfamiliar to them. As you read the book with your child, take time to pause on each word and talk about its meaning. You can:
Encourage your child to come up with their own sentence or example for each word.
For younger learners, simplify the word's meaning and ask them to use it in a conversation.
This practice helps build a child’s vocabulary and confidence in using ambitious language!
Alphabet Awareness: Learning from A to Z
While A is for Ambitious celebrates big ideas, it also offers a great opportunity to reinforce alphabet knowledge. Here are a few ways to use the book to boost letter recognition:
As you read each page, point to the letter and have your child say the letter out loud.
Encourage your child to find objects around the house that begin with the same letter featured on the page.
For older children, have them come up with their own ambitious words for each letter of the alphabet.
By making connections between letters, sounds, and words, your child will strengthen their early literacy skills.
Celebrating Ambition: What’s Your Dream?
The book showcases various forms of ambition, from being “Bold” to “Fearless” to “Visionary.” After reading the story, ask your child to think about their own big dreams. What do they want to accomplish? Who do they want to be?
This can lead into a fun and creative activity:
Have your child draw a picture of themselves doing something ambitious—whether it's flying to space, becoming a leader, or helping others in their community.
Encourage older learners to write a sentence or two about their ambition, using one of the powerful words from the book.
This activity not only supports creative expression but also helps children articulate their dreams and see themselves as capable of achieving great things.
Confidence-Building Conversations
A is for Ambitious promotes self-confidence, which is a critical part of early childhood development. Use the book as a starting point to talk with your child about the qualities they possess that make them strong, unique, and ambitious. Ask:
“What makes you feel confident?”
“Can you think of a time when you were brave or bold?”
“What do you want to do when you grow up that will make you feel proud?”
These conversations help children practice self-reflection while also reinforcing the themes of the book.
Using Art to Explore Ambition
Art can be a wonderful way for children to express their understanding of big ideas. After reading A is for Ambitious, engage your child in a simple art activity:
Create an “Ambition Poster” where your child draws different things they want to do or achieve, each labeled with a word from the book.
Encourage them to add colors, patterns, or even cut out images from magazines that represent their dreams.
Art projects like these allow children to process ideas through creativity and reinforce the ambitious mindset promoted in the book.
Storytelling: How Do We Achieve Our Goals?
This book is also a fantastic tool to introduce young children to the idea of working toward goals. You can:
Ask your child to pick one of their dreams or ambitions and walk them through how they can achieve it.
Break down the steps into small, manageable tasks—just like learning the alphabet, one letter at a time!
By discussing goal-setting in a simple and fun way, you’re helping your child understand the value of perseverance and effort.
Empowering Our Little Learners
A is for Ambitious by Meena Harris is more than just an alphabet book—it’s an invitation for young readers to believe in themselves and their power to do incredible things. By incorporating these literacy lessons, you can help your child practice reading skills while building the confidence and drive to chase their dreams.
We hope these ideas spark meaningful conversations and activities with your little learners. Stay tuned for more literacy lessons, and as always, happy reading!
