by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Pete Oswald
In two little houses,
on two little hills,
lived two best friends…
So begins the story of Rita and Ralph. Every day they meet to play beneath the apple tree. It’s always fun and games — until one roundly rotten day when a new game means someone ends up crying. Who knew it could be so hard to say “I’m sorry?”
Just when it seems nothing will ever be right again, a surprising thing happens. The old friends try something new, that isn’t new at all. Something they’ve done a hundred times…
WATCH and LISTEN to Carmen Agra Deedy read her picture book Rita and Ralph’s Rotten Day:
ACTION SONG: “Let’s Be Friends” (tune: London Bridge)
Let’s be friends with one another,
One another, one another,
Let’s be friends with one another,
Let’s be friends today!
You can sing with a friend,
Sing with a friend, sing with a friend,
You can sing with a friend,
Sing with me today!
You can jump with a friend,
Jump with a friend, jump with a friend,
You can jump with a friend,
Jump with me today!
You can clap with a friend,
Clap with a friend, clap with a friend,
You can clap with a friend,
Clap with me today!
WATCH and LISTEN to a ”Kid Book Review” of Rita and Ralph’s Rotten Day to learn the hand motions for the story:
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- Have you ever been REALLY mad at your best friend? If not, have you ever been REALLY mad at someone else?
- Does playing “Sticks and Stones” sound like a good idea to you?
- Have you ever made a mistake?
- Have you ever had to say you are sorry? How did it feel before you did it? How did you feel afterwards?