Welcoming the newest addition to the Food Group Series~ featured in the MaiStoryBook Library Collection:

*The Sour Grape* by Jory John, Illustrated by Pete Oswald

*~Click here to purchase your own copy of “The Sour Grape” to start on your own reading adventure! ~*

*Don’t Miss the Other Books + Crafts in the Food Group Series:

The Bad Seed, The Good Egg, The Couch Potato, The Cool Bean, The Smart Cookie*

Book Synopsis/ Review

The Sour Grape holds grudges. If anyone ever did the slightest thing upsetting to him: Grudge! All the grudges make his face squishy, and have turned him into a sour grape. However, he didn’t always used to be this way. He can remember being a Sweet Grape on the vine when he was little. However, when no one showed up to his epic birthday party one year, he turned sour and began to hold grudges. But when a friend holds a grudge against Sour Grape without hearing him out, he begins to see how unfair grudges can be. And perhaps life is better when you forgive and forget, and have compassion. Can this sour grape turn sweet again?

Once again, Jory John and Pete Oswald have crafted a picture book ripe with puns throughout both the narrative and the illustrations. One of my favorite clever illustrations depicts Sour Grape’s grandparents as raisins! Overall, this story is another excellent social emotional learning read to encourage learners to see the harm in holding grudges, and to show readers the importance of communication and seeking to understand when you feel like you’ve been wronged or if you are in a conflict. It’s better to talk and listen than to walk away. Enjoy this entertaining read while also giggling at all the grape-y humor!

Vocabulary

• insults (p. 1) to say something mean about someone or treat them badly
• grudge (p. 2) staying angry at someone who did something mean or bad to you in the past
• claustrophobic (p. 5) feeling extremely uncomfortable in tight and small spaces
• considerate (p. 6) being thoughtful about others and what they need or like
• rant (p. 16) speaking angrily and complaining about something

Main Themes/ Ideas

• Forgiveness and Compassion lead to more happiness and peace than holding grudges.
• When you feel upset or frustrated with a friend, talk and listen to what they have to say instead of walking away.

YouTube Video: Guided Shared-Reading Read Aloud Example

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

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*How to Be a Sweet Grape* Surprise Craft

Have you ever held a grudge? I’ve tried to hold grudges before~ but for me, typically I get upset in the moment, but then am ready to resolve the situation. It is more exhausting to be angry, and I try to avoid tense situations. I’d rather feel relaxed and at ease than angry and tense. But that doesn’t mean I’m perfect at resolving tension! I still need reminders to take a breath, consider other people’s point of view, and to talk and listen instead of walking away. Littles need guidance in conflict resolution, and need to see models of forgiveness and compassion. This craft inspired by the story, “The Sour Grape,” provides littles with strategies to be *sweet grapes* instead of holding grudges, and gives them a toolkit of actions to help diffuse situations when they feel frustrated or upset. Check it out below!

Materials

• *How to Be a Sweet Grape* Downloadable Craft Template
• Scissors
• Glue/ Tape
• Pencil
• Coloring Utensils of Choice

Directions

• Choose a ”Grape” Cover template. There are colored and black and white versions. There is a version that focuses on “How to be a Sweet Grape / Instead of Being a Sour Grape,” or “When I Feel Frustrated/ Hurt”
• If you chose the black and white version, color it in
• Cut the Grape Cover in half on the dotted line so that you have two pieces. The “Inside Grape” Template will go in between the two pieces and attach them together.

• Next, choose an “Inside Grape”. There are 2 versions. One version you can write in your own ideas on the blank spaces. The other version is blank and you can cut and paste the idea examples included in the resource onto the blank “inside grape”
• If you choose to use the resource examples, cut out the different ideas that connect with you, and glue them onto the “inside grape”
• Cut out the Inside Grape. **Keep the top and bottom tabs on! Do not cut them off*

• To connect the Inside Grape and Grape Cover, 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 grape cover. Then, tape/glue the front side of the top tab to the bottom-back of the top half of the grape cover.
• Next, fold the top half of the Grape Cover half way down, folding the inside grape behind. Fold the bottom half of the Grape up to meet the top half in the middle, folding the inside Grape behind.

• The inside grape  should fold in on itself as you close the Grape cover halves to make it a whole grape, and then when you open the Grape Cover, your responses will be revealed! Surprise!

Enjoy Your *How to Be a Sweet Grape* Craft

• Share your Grape Craft with family and friends and share strategies for when you feel upset or frustrated.
• Share your Grape Craft with peers/ family and ask them how they cope when they feel frustrated or upset.
• Use your craft to remind you of strategies and tools to use when you feel upset, frustrated, or like you want to hold a grudge.
• Reread the story and use your Grape Craft as a reading Buddy to act out the story.
• Display the crafts to remind each other of the value of forgiveness and compassion.

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*Don’t Miss the Other Books + Crafts in the Food Group Series: (click on image)

*~ I hope you are enjoying plenty of *inspiring* reading adventures this year, Mai Friends! Tag me on Instagram @MaiStoryBookLibrary or FaceBook , find me on TikTok, or contact me via email to share your own *How to Be a Sweet Grape* Crafts and your own reading adventures! I’d love to hear how you are changing the world!~*

Enjoy More SEL Read Aloud Videos Here!

*~Until next time, Happy Reading