Ratatouille (Little Golden Book), by RH Disney

Chocolatina, by Erik Kraft

Synopsis: "You are what you eat," Mrs. Ferdman reminds her students during every health class. But all Tina likes to eat is chocolate. One day she wishes Mrs. Ferdman's favorite saying were true, and the very next morning she wakes up as a girl made of chocolate!

Activity: Divide the group into two teams - the 'healthy food' team and the 'unhealthy food' team. Ensure the kids understand what both terms mean. Each team should brainstorm and come up with a list of the relevant food items. Re-group and go through both lists. After this, the kids can pick ONE healthy food item and ONE unhealthy food item and combine them to create a new dish (eg. chocolate-covered vegetables). They can be given plasticine to create a model of this new dish.

The Monster Who Did My Math, by Danny Schnitzlein

Synopsis: A math-phobic boy faces another dreaded evening of multiplication when a monster suddenly appears in his room and offers him a deal he cannot refuse. After a quick signature on a contract, the boy's problems are solved, and his homework is ready to turn in the next day. At first, everything adds up perfectly. But when the boy's math knowledge is tested at school, his troubles begin to multiply.

Activity: Write a letter to this boy to persuade him to complete his work on his own.

Terrific, by Jon Agee

Synopsis: Eugene Mudge lives in Dismal, ND, and has a little problem with negativity. When he wins a free trip to Bermuda, his response is "Terrific, I'll probably get a really nasty sunburn." Nothing seems to go right for him and no matter how horrible the experience – a wrecked cruise ship, a deserted island, a talking parrot, and almost dying of thirst – his response is always a snide "Terrific." Eugene's a grumpy old man, but sometimes, grumpy old men can surprise you. Sometimes, they even surprise themselves.

Activity: Each group received random items (eg. notebook, T-shirt etc) and had to pick 5 items to help them escape from Eugene's desert island. (The kids had to explain their choices)

What Does My Teddy Bear Do All Night? by Bruno Hachler

Synopsis: In this sequel to What Does My Teddy Bear Do All Day?, a young girl plays with her bear when she should be in bed. Together they read books, build with blocks, go to the potty, and jump on the bed. When she finally goes to sleep, the youngster imagines that her bear plays in the tub and keeps the scary shadows away. In the morning, teddy finally falls asleep after his busy night.

Activity: Write a story of what my soft toy of choice does all day when I am in school.

Farmer Duck, by Martin Waddell

Synopsis: A poor duck is overworked by a lazy farmer until the duck's farm friends mete out their own brand of barnyard justice.

Activity: Read this in small groups and either summarize the story (writing in full), or write an alternative version of this situation.

The Very Lazy Ladybird, by Isobel Finn

Synopsis: The very lazy ladybird likes to sleep all day and all night. And because she sleeps all day and all night, she doesn't know how to fly. One day, she decides she wants to sleep somewhere else, so hops onto a kangaroo, but that's too bouncy, the tiger is too noisy, but the elephant's trunk is great.