“Edward the Emu” by Sheela Knowles, illustrated by Rod Clement. 1988. HaroperTrophy. Picture Book. Ages 3-7.
Edward is an emu who lives a lackluster life at the zoo. Bored of being an emu, he decides to try being something else. He attempts the outrageous, like swimming with seals, roaring in the lions’ den and slithering with snakes. Unltimately, his explorations lead him to the one obvious conclusion- that he is really best when he is himself.
Told in rhyming verse, with eye-catching illustrations that emphasize the absurdity of Edward’s exploits- this book is an attention grabber for reading aloud with kids, whether individually or in groups.
You could have a discussion with your child after reading. Ask her if there are some things she doesn’t like about herself. Ask her what they are. Are they other people or story characters that they wish they could be instead? Why? At the end of your discussion, assure her that she is special as she is and that you value her . Tell her five things about her that you like best. Let her take her turn telling you which five things she likes best about you!
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