Introducing a story perfect for those who strive for and feel the pressure of perfection~ a gentle reminder to love yourself and others just they way they are~ featured in MaiStoryBook Library Collection:

“The Good Egg” Written by Jory John, Illustrated by Pete Oswald

*~Click here to purchase your own copy of *The Good Egg* to start on your own reading adventure! (This is an affiliate link~ 5% of your purchase will go to MaiStoryBook to help create Reading Resources for your littles)~*

Book Synopsis and Review

There once was a *goooood* egg~ not just any good egg~ a veeeeeeerrryyyyy good egg. Good Egg was so good, that not only did he do good deeds for everyone and anyone, he also tried to make everyone else around him *good* too. But that can be tough! Especially when there are 11 other *not-so-good* eggs in his carton…and when those 11 other *not-so-good* eggs don’t appreciate Good Egg’s efforts to help right their “wrongs”~ that can cause anyone to *crack* under pressure to be perfect and good. And for Good Egg~ that means literally cracking *he is an egg after all.* So when the doctor tells Good Egg he’s *cracking under pressure* and needs to take care of himself, Good Egg leaves his home in hopes of healing himself on the inside and the outside. Join Good Egg as he makes a discovery along the way that helps him return to his family and friends, ready to accept, love, and be loved in the best possible way.

All too often, little ones, *and big ones*, can feel a pressure to be perfect~ whether it’s to always be good, to always be the best, to do this, this and this, and *whatever you do* don’t mess up..! In a society that often demands competitiveness in order to succeed, the message comes across that nothing short of perfection will do. Is it self-care or laziness, an easily remedied mistake or an utter failure? With these ideas subconsciously ingrained in children today, it becomes vitally important that they hear this other message *instead*~ it’s ok to *not be perfect*, and in fact, no one is perfect; happiness lies in being happy with who we are, just they way we are meant to be~ accepting and caring for not only others, but also for ourselves. To love and care for others, you first have to love and take care of yourself. One way to get this message across~ through children’s books of course. And once you find a book that shares this special message, such as, *The Good Egg*, you read it. And you read it again. And again. And again. Until your little one begins to believe that *balance*, not perfection, is the goal, and that *loving yourself* is one of the most important loves of all.

Vocabulary

• Dozen (p. 6) a group of 12
• Exhausted (p. 11) super tired
• Fateful (p. 12) when something has important, sometimes bad, consequences
• Pressure (p. 13) a feeling you get when you really have to do something that you might not really want to do, or feel nervous to do
• Literally (p. 14) when something happens exactly how you say it did

Themes/ Main Ideas

• Love Yourself. Self-care is important. You have to be able to first love and care for yourself, before you can love and care for others.
• Strive for balance, not perfection. You don’t have to be perfect, and no one expects you to. You are unique with all of your characteristics and personality traits. Be proud of who you are, just the way you are~ and learn to accept others for who they are as well.

YouTube Video: Guided Shared-Reading Read Aloud Example

Example of a shared-reading, interactive Read Aloud of “The Good Egg” – how to subtly introduce the vocabulary list words within the text, ask guided questions, and spark conversation!

*~Check it Out~*

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*Good Egg Self-Care/Positive Affirmation Surprise* Craft

*Self-care* ~ something so important, that, unfortunately, I’ve been no good at~ but have been intentionally practicing more of lately. Maybe it’s the guilt- the guilty feeling while I lounge in bed reading mai new library book~ that there is a whole checklist of items that need to get done, that while I tinker in the kitchen baking up a batch of muffins- or testing the chocolate chip cookie recipe for the umpteenth time- that I could be lesson planning, researching guided reading techniques, blogging, or prepping for a read aloud… all the things that the *perfect* me would definitely be doing- or better yet, already have done. I read an article recently about a new kind of stress for the younger generations. A feeling of always having to be *on*~ a stress that makes even menial day-to-day tasks hard to complete because there is *always something to be done* that the thought of having to do just one more thing can leave the brain feeling, as Good Egg puts it, *scrambled.* A new year’s resolution~ find balance. And so over winter break~ over weekends~ and over this President’s week break, I’ve given *mai*self permission to relax, and to *take care of me.* Taking a page from the *The Good Egg* , I take walks, I read books, I doodle, and play around with music, baking and cooking~ things that, no, I don’t *have to do * or *need to get done*, but things that * I want to do * that make me feel good and happy inside. And, I’ve found that, when I take the time to do these things~ I open up time to spend and share these feelings of happiness and love with mai family and friends around me. Sometimes, we all need a little reminder that it’s ok to love yourself~ practice self-care~* and if you and your little one ever need a reminder to *Love Yourself* this week’s craft *The Good Egg* Surprise has gotcha covered!

Materials

• *Good Egg Surprise* Downloadable and Printable Template
• Markers, crayons
• Tape/glue
• scissors

Directions

• Choose a ”Good Egg” template. There are colored and black and white versions. There is also a version that focuses on “Self-care” activities you can do if you are stressed or angry, or a version that focuses on positive affirmations you can tell yourself if you are stressed or sad.  Little ones who may not understand the feeling of stressed may want to use the “angry” and ”sad” versions. 

• If you chose the black and white version, color it in and don’t forget to put your name.
• Cut the egg in half on the dotted line so that you have two pieces. The “Inside Yolk” will go in between the two pieces and attach them together. 

• Next, choose an “Inside Yolk”. There are yellow-colored versions, or black and white versions. One version you can write in your own positive affirmations, or self care activities in the blank spaces, the other versions are blank and you can cut and paste the affirmations or activity examples included in the resource onto the “inside yolk.”

• If you choose to use the resource examples, cut out the different affirmations or activities that connect with you, and glue them onto the inside yolk. 

• Cut out the yolk. **Keep the top and bottom tabs on! Do not cut them off**
• To connect the Yolk and Egg, fold back the two tabs. Tape or glue the front side of the bottom tab to the top-back of the bottom half of the egg. Then, tape/glue the front side of the top tab to the bottom-back of the top half of the egg.

• Next, fold the egg yolk in on itself so that when it is folded, the top and bottom half of the egg line up.

• The yolk should fold in on itself as you close the egg to make it whole, and then when you open the egg, your affirmations or self-care activities will be revealed! Surprise!

Enjoy Your *Good Egg Surprise* Craft!

• Whenever you feel like you are about to crack~ crack open your Good Egg Surprise, and unfold it to reveal the the self-care messages within
• Use your craft to remind you to spend time doing the things that bring you happiness, joy, and peace.
• Use your craft as a reading buddy as you reread the story, sharing the surprise when Good Egg learns the importance of accepting himself and others just the way he and they are.
• Share your Good Egg craft with family and friends to remind them of the importance of self-care and self-love, and use it to help you retell the story of Good Egg

*~Overall, have fun creating, sharing, and using  your  *Good Egg Surprise* Craft,  and I hope you and your little ones indulge on the activities that being you happiness and joy!  – tag me on Instagram @MaiStoryBookLibrary, Twitter @MaiStoryBook  – or post on FaceBook to share your photos of your own *Good Egg Surprise* Crafts, and your own reading adventures! I’d love to hear from you!~*

*~Until next time, Happy Reading~*