Our October book selection for girls in 2nd and 3rd grades is…
Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream by Jenny Han!
Next week we’ll send everyone who has signed up for Book Club a Meeting Guide with Discussion Questions.
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About the Book
3rd grader Clara Lee dreams of being Little Miss Apple Pie in her town’s fall festival, but in order to win the title she’ll have to give a speech to the whole school. When Clara Lee has a lucky dream, her belief in her good fortune gives her the extra confidence she needs to sign up for the competition.
Unfortunately, Clara Lee’s luck seems to change right before the big day. Should she withdraw from the contest? Clara Lee realizes that every day has some good parts and some bad parts, and that maybe luck has more to do with her perspective than with superstition. She decides that the best way to make good luck is to face her fears and try.
The Girls Leadership Connection
Speaking in front of a crowd makes Clara Lee nervous. To deliver her speech, she worked hard and practiced so she would be prepared. She overcame her anxiety and built her confidence with positive self-talk.
Whether it’s speaking in front of a large crowd, like Clara, or sharing an idea with your class, public speaking can be scary. If you feel scared about public speaking, how do you work through your fear? What new strategies could you try?
Buy, borrow, or download a copy of this book and read it before your October book club meeting.
About the Author
Author Jenny Han grew up in Richmond, VA, and now lives in Brooklyn, NY. She is a New York Times bestselling author of eight books for teens and two for children. To learn more about Jenny Han and her books, check out her website at jennyhan.com.
Learn More
Speaking in front of a crowd is hard for many of us. When Clara Lee has to stand up in front of her whole school and make a speech, she feels nervous but she works through it by reminding herself that she is well-prepared and capable. This is called positive self-talk, and there’s research that replacing negative thoughts (“Everyone’s going to laugh at me,” “I’ll never master this piano piece.”) with positive self-talk (“I can do this,” “I’ll keep working on it, because when I practice I get better at things.”) can positively effect our mindset and experiences.
Public speaking is even more challenging for introverts. Susan Cain, the author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking and the founder of Quiet Revolution, says that while speaking up is hard for introverts (like her), it’s important for them to find opportunities to share their ideas with others. For herself, she emphasizes the importance of preparedness. She also talks about changing our societal expectations for introverts, helping them embrace their strengths and meet their needs with quiet, independent time for working and thinking. If you’re new to Susan Cain’s ideas, watch her Ted Talk “The Power of Introverts.”
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