Literacy Lessons for Little Learners: Embracing Identity & Belonging with The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to recognize the importance of emotional well-being, self-acceptance, and belonging. At the Early Excellence Project, we know that books play a powerful role in helping children navigate big emotions, develop confidence, and build connections with others.

This month, we’re featuring The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, a beautifully written and illustrated book that encourages children to embrace what makes them unique while finding common ground with others. Through its heartfelt message, this book reassures young readers that even when they feel different, they are not alone.

In this post, we’ll explore literacy lessons to help your little learner connect with the book’s themes while building essential reading and comprehension skills.

Finding Self Acceptance in Who You Are

In The Day You Begin, a young girl named Angelina feels out of place when she realizes her experiences are different from those of her classmates. She worries that no one will understand her, but as she listens to others and shares her own story, she discovers that everyone has felt like an outsider at some point, and that our differences are what make us special.

This message is especially important during Mental Health Awareness Month, as children may experience moments of self-doubt, loneliness, or uncertainty. Books like The Day You Begin help young learners develop emotional resilience, self-acceptance, and empathy for others.

Start with These Questions:

• Have you ever felt nervous or different in a new place?

• How do you feel when someone listens to your story?

• What are some things that make you special?

• Why do you think it’s important to be kind to ourselves and others?

  
  

These questions help children recognize their emotions and prepare them to engage with the book’s themes.

Building Vocabulary Through Feelings and Connection

The language in The Day You Begin introduces young readers to words that help them understand and express their emotions.

Try These Vocabulary Activities:

• Emotion Words – As you read, point out words like "brave," "nervous," "welcome," and "connection." Talk about what they mean and how they relate to real-life experiences.

• Facial Expressions Game – Say a word like "shy" or "excited," and have your child make a face that matches the emotion.

• Storytelling with Feelings – Encourage your child to tell a short story about a time they felt proud, included, or nervous.

These activities help children name their emotions and build social-emotional awareness, which is a key part of mental health development.

The Power of Sharing Our Stories

One of the most important messages in The Day You Begin is that we all have unique experiences, and sharing them can help us feel understood and connected.

Conversation Starters:

• How did Angelina feel at the beginning of the story?

• What helped her feel more comfortable?

• How do you think listening to others’ stories makes them feel?

• What are some ways we can help others feel included and welcomed?

Encouraging children to reflect on their own experiences and emotions fosters self-awareness and helps them build stronger relationships with others.

Creativity Through Art: Drawing Feelings and Stories

Art is a wonderful way for children to express their emotions and personal experiences.

Activity: "My Story, My Feelings" Collage

• Provide crayons, markers, magazines, and glue.

• Ask your child to create a collage or drawing that represents who they are—their favorite activities, family traditions, or places they love.

• Encourage them to add words that describe how these things make them feel (happy, safe, excited, loved).

• Display their artwork to celebrate their unique story.

This activity reinforces the book’s message that every child’s experience matters and that expressing emotions in creative ways is a healthy way to support mental well-being.

Reflection: How Do We Take Care of Our Emotions?

Mental Health Awareness Month is a great time to teach children how to recognize and care for their emotions.

Reflection Questions:

• What are some things that help you feel happy and calm?

• How do you feel when someone listens to you?

• What is something kind you can say to yourself when you feel nervous?

Encouraging children to talk about their emotions helps them develop lifelong skills for managing feelings, building self-confidence, and developing empathy for others.

Encouraging Self-Acceptance and Connection

The Day You Begin is a gentle yet powerful reminder that even when we feel different, we are never truly alone. By sharing our stories, listening to others, and embracing what makes us unique, we can create a world where everyone feels valued and included.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s especially important to remind children that their feelings matter and that they are surrounded by people who care about them. We hope these literacy lessons spark meaningful conversations and help your little learner build confidence in who they are.

Stay tuned for next month’s book feature in our Literacy Lessons for Little Learners series, and as always, happy reading!

Literacy Lessons for Little Learners: Protecting Our Planet with We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom

April is Earth Month, a time to reflect on the importance of protecting our planet and the natural resources we rely on every day. At the Early Excellence Project, we believe that books can empower young readers to become environmental stewards by helping them understand their connection to nature and their responsibility to care for it.

This month, we’re featuring We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, with breathtaking illustrations by Michaela Goade. This powerful story introduces children to environmental stewardship, Indigenous traditions, and the importance of protecting our water.

Through poetic language and vibrant artwork, this award-winning book helps little learners understand that water is sacred and that even young people can be leaders in protecting the earth. During Earth Month, it’s the perfect book to spark conversations about how we care for our environment and take action to ensure a healthier planet for future generations.

In this post, we’ll explore literacy lessons to help your child connect with the story while building key reading and comprehension skills.

Introducing the Story: Why Water Matters

We Are Water Protectors follows a young Indigenous girl as she learns about the importance of water and the threats posed by environmental harm. The book invites children to think about water’s role in their daily lives and what they can do to help protect it.

This story is a wonderful way to introduce conversations about environmental awareness, pollution, and the importance of conservation—topics that are especially relevant during Earth Month.

Start with These Questions:

• Why is water important?

• Where do we find water in nature?

• How do we use water every day?

• What do you think it means to be a “water protector”?

• Why do we need to take care of our planet?

These questions help children activate prior knowledge and make personal connections to the story before reading.

Building Vocabulary Through Nature and Activism

The language in We Are Water Protectors introduces young readers to powerful words related to the environment, Indigenous culture, and activism.

Try These Vocabulary Activities:

• Word Hunt – As you read, point out new words like "protect," "sacred," "pollution," and "stewardship." Explain their meanings in simple terms.

• Act It Out – Have your child act out words like "flow" (moving like a river) or "stand" (standing strong like a protector).

• Nature Walk – Take a walk and identify elements from the book in real life, like rivers, lakes, or even rain puddles. Discuss why they’re important and how we can keep them clean.

These activities help children build language skills while deepening their understanding of the book’s themes and their role in protecting the environment.

Exploring Story Themes: Protecting the Earth

This book introduces children to activism in a way they can understand—by showing how even small actions can make a difference. Earth Month is the perfect time to discuss ways we can all take care of the planet, from conserving water to reducing waste.

Discussion Questions:

• What does the main character want to protect?

• How does she feel about the water?

• Why do you think she wants to stop the "black snake" (a metaphor for oil pipelines)?

• How can we take care of the water in our community?

• What are some ways we can protect the earth during Earth Month and beyond?

Connecting the story to your child’s world helps them see that they, too, can be caretakers of the earth.

Creativity Through Art: Becoming a Water Protector

Art is a wonderful way for children to express their thoughts about the story and their role in protecting the environment.

Activity: Create a “Water is Life” Poster

• Provide crayons, markers, and paper.

• Ask your child to draw a picture of water they want to protect—maybe a lake, a river, or even a bathtub!

• Help them add words like “Water is Sacred” or “I Am a Water Protector.”

• Display the artwork to remind them of their role in caring for the planet.

This activity reinforces the book’s message and gives children a sense of ownership over environmental protection.

Reflection: What Can We Do to Help?

Encourage your little learner to think about how they can take action to care for the earth, especially during Earth Month.

Reflection Questions:

• What would you say if you were teaching someone about water?

• How can we use less water at home?

• What are small actions we can take to help the earth?

• Why is it important to take care of the environment?

Simple actions, like turning off the faucet while brushing teeth, picking up litter, or planting a tree, show children that small choices can make a big impact.

Empowering Our Youngest Protectors

We Are Water Protectors is more than just a beautiful story, it’s a call to action for young learners to care for our planet. Earth Month is the perfect time to reinforce the importance of environmental responsibility and encourage children to take small but meaningful steps to protect the world around them.

By engaging with the book’s themes and activities, children will build literacy skills while developing an early sense of responsibility for the environment.

We hope these literacy lessons spark meaningful conversations and inspire your little learner to think about how they can make a difference. Stay tuned for next month’s book feature in our Literacy Lessons for Little Learners series, and as always, happy reading!

Literacy Lessons for Little Learners: Celebrating Trailblazing Women with Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison

March is Women’s History Month, a time to honor the incredible contributions of women throughout history. At the Early Excellence Project, we celebrate books that inspire young readers to dream big and recognize the impact of women who paved the way for future generations.

This month, we’re featuring Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison, a beautifully illustrated book that introduces children to remarkable Black women who made history. From artists and scientists to activists and athletes, these stories highlight courage, perseverance, and leadership.

In this post, we’ll explore literacy lessons to help your little learner connect with these inspiring women while building essential reading and comprehension skills.

"Celebrate inspiring stories with 'Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History' by Vashti Harrison, featured in the Early Excellence Project for young learners."

Introducing the Story: Who Are the Bold Women in Black History?

This book features short biographies of 40 groundbreaking Black women who changed the world. Through engaging text and stunning illustrations, young readers learn about women like Harriet Tubman, Maya Angelou, and Katherine Johnson—leaders who broke barriers and made lasting contributions in their fields.

Start with These Questions:

• What does it mean to be a leader?

• Have you heard of any of these women before?

• Why do you think it’s important to learn about women in history?

• Can boys and girls both be leaders?

These questions help children activate prior knowledge and spark curiosity before reading.

Literacy Lessons: Building Vocabulary

The stories in Little Leaders introduce children to powerful words about leadership, activism, and success.

Try These Vocabulary Activities:

• Word Hunt – As you read about each leader, point out new words like "courage," "perseverance," and "trailblazer." Explain their meanings in simple terms.

• Act It Out – If a leader was an athlete, scientist, or writer, act out what they did! Pretend to run like Wilma Rudolph or write poetry like Maya Angelou.

• Matching Game – Write down key words from the book (e.g., "brave," "innovative," "bold") and match them to the leaders in the book.

  
  

These activities help children build language skills while reinforcing the book’s themes of resilience and determination.

Exploring Story Themes: What Makes a Leader?

The women in this book made history by standing up for what they believed in and working hard to achieve their dreams. Use their stories to inspire discussions about leadership and courage.

Discussion Questions:

• What challenges did some of these women face?

• How did they overcome obstacles?

• Which leader inspires you the most? Why?

• What kind of leader do you want to be?

  
  

Encouraging children to think about leadership in their own lives helps them see that they, too, can make a difference.

Creativity Through Art: Drawing Bold Leaders

Art is a great way to help children connect with history and express what they’ve learned.

Activity: Create a "Bold Leader" Portrait

• Provide crayons, markers, and paper.

• Ask your child to choose one woman from the book and draw her portrait.

• Help them write a sentence about why she is inspiring (e.g., "Rosa Parks was brave because she stood up for fairness").

• Display the artwork to celebrate Women's History Month!

  
  

This activity helps children connect visually with history while practicing reading and writing skills.

Reflection: How Can You Be a Leader?

Encourage your little learner to think about how they can be a leader in their community, family, or school.

Reflection Questions:

• What does being a leader mean to you?

• How can you help others?

• What would you do if you saw something unfair?

  
  

Encourage them to write or draw their own story about how they can be a leader, reinforcing the idea that leadership comes in many forms.

Empowering Our Future Leaders

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History is more than just a book—it’s an invitation for young readers to dream, lead, and make history in their own way. By engaging with the stories and activities in this post, your little learner will build literacy skills while learning valuable lessons about leadership and resilience.

We hope these literacy lessons spark meaningful conversations and inspire your little one to embrace their own boldness. Stay tuned for next month’s book feature in our Literacy Lessons for Little Learners series, and as always, happy reading!