Hello, friends! I’m so happy you’re here today. We’re going to read a fun story called “A Small Thing But Big” by Tony Johnson, with pictures by Hadley Hooper. Let’s jump into the story!
Once upon a time, a little girl named Lizzy went to the park. She loved to play and run really fast, zoom, zoom, zoom! While she was running, she saw a dog and stopped suddenly.
Lizzy felt a little scared. But then, an old man with the dog said, “Don’t worry!” Lizzy asked if the dog barks, and the old man said, “Not at little children.”
Lizzy was curious and asked if the dog eats sheep. The old man laughed and said, “Only her food!” He encouraged Lizzy to give the dog, named Cecil, a gentle pat.
Lizzy felt brave and patted Cecil. The dog was soft and calm, and Lizzy was happy. “I patted a dog,” she said. The old man smiled and said, “A small thing but big.”
The old man asked if Lizzy liked gelato, and they both agreed they did! He told Lizzy that Cecil would love to walk with her. Lizzy felt a little nervous, but the old man said Cecil enjoyed being with her.
They all walked together, and Lizzy noticed how bouncy Cecil walked. Lizzy felt bouncy too! Do you like to bounce when you’re happy?
The old man asked Lizzy if she wanted to hold Cecil’s leash. Lizzy was a bit scared, but the old man showed her how to do it. Lizzy held the leash, and they walked quietly around the park.
The old man told Lizzy that she could walk Cecil by herself. Lizzy felt excited and said, “I could!” So, she walked Cecil all around the park, feeling more and more confident.
Lizzy was proud of herself for walking Cecil. The old man was happy too. He told Lizzy that he used to be afraid of dogs, and Lizzy said she used to be afraid of kids. But now, they were both brave!
Isn’t that a sweet story? Lizzy learned that sometimes small things, like patting a dog or making a new friend, can be really big and special.
Are you afraid of anything? Maybe you can try something new, like making friends with a dog or taking your dog for a walk. You might find it’s a small thing but big!
Thanks for reading with us today! We hope you enjoyed “A Small Thing But Big.” Come back soon for more fun stories. Bye for now!
Bravery Badge: Create a “Bravery Badge” craft. Provide each child with a paper circle and some coloring materials. Ask them to draw or write about a time they felt brave, just like Lizzy did when she patted Cecil. Once they finish, let them wear their badge proudly and share their story with the class. This activity helps children recognize and celebrate their own brave moments.
Animal Friend Observation: Encourage children to observe an animal, like a pet or a bird in the park, and notice how it behaves. Ask them questions like, “What does the animal do when it’s happy?” or “How does it move?” Have them draw a picture of the animal and describe what they saw. This activity helps children connect with animals and understand their behaviors, just like Lizzy did with Cecil.
Role-Playing Adventure: Set up a simple role-playing activity where children can take turns being Lizzy, the old man, and Cecil the dog. Use props like a toy dog and a leash. Encourage them to act out the story, focusing on how Lizzy overcame her fear and felt brave. This hands-on activity helps children empathize with the characters and understand the story’s message about courage and friendship.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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[Music]
Hi kids! Welcome to the Story Time Family. Hope you’ve been doing well! Today we’re going to be reading “A Small Thing But Big” by Tony Johnson, pictures by Hadley Hooper. Let’s check it out!
“A Small Thing But Big”
Blizzy went to the park. She played and ran zoom, zoom, zoom! She ran close to a dog. Lizzy froze.
“Why is that?” you think?
“Do not be worried,” said the old man with the dog timidly.
“Does she bark?” asked Lizzy with worry.
“Not at little children,” said the old man.
“The sheep?” asked Lizzy anxiously.
“Only her food,” said the old man, a bit anxious also but with a sparkle.
“Go ahead, give Cecil a pat.”
Feeling reassured, Lizzy carefully patted Cecil. Cecil sat soft and still. She seemed to enjoy those pats.
“I patted a dog,” said Lizzy quietly.
“A small thing but big,” said the old man quietly too.
“Shall we walk, Cecil?” he ventured in this quiet way.
“Ooh, gelato! Do you like gelato?”
“We do!”
Lizzy felt uneasy.
“Do not be worried,” said the old man. “Cecil will adore walking with a child. She’s quite adoring being with you,” the old man said shyly.
“How springy she walks!”
“Lizzy walks springingly too! Do you walk springingly when you’re happy, or do you hop?”
“Walking with a dog, a small thing but big.”
“She’s such a good dog,” Lizzy said, patting Cecil.
“All dogs are good if you give them a chance. Would you like to hold her leash?”
“How?” asked Lizzy, a little fearful.
“Just so.”
“Do you have a dog? Do you take your dog out for walks?”
Lizzy held the leash just so, and she, the quiet old man, and the quiet dog Cecil walked quietly around the park.
“Do you find it calming to walk your dog? A small thing but big.”
“You know,” ventured the old man, “I believe you could take a little walk with Cecil by yourself.”
“I could!”
“You could!”
Lizzy and Cecil walked around the park, hesitant at first, then springingly—oh, springingly—while the old man watched from a bench.
“Walking a dog alone, a small thing but big.”
“I walk Cecil,” said Lizzy.
“Aglo magnificently!” said the old man, aglow as well.
“Before today, I was very afraid of dogs,” he told her.
“Before today, I was very afraid of children,” the quiet old man replied.
Isn’t that such a sweet story? She’s no longer scared of dogs anymore, and he’s no longer scared of kids anymore.
Are you afraid of hugs? Well, maybe you should take a chance and make friends with a dog sometime. Or if you have a dog, maybe you could try taking the dog out for walks by yourself.
Hope you enjoyed “A Small Thing But Big.” Thanks for dropping by! Remember to subscribe and tap on the notification button for the next story.
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For more information about this book and where you can get it, just click on the link in our description.
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Take care and see you again soon! Bye!
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