Hello there! How are you feeling today? Is it sunny or rainy where you are? Here, it’s raining, but that’s okay because the sun will come back soon. I hope you had a fun day at school and now you’re ready to enjoy a nice story with me!
Today, we have a special book called “My Dad, My Rock” by Victor Dio Santos and Anna Forladi. Let’s dive into the story!
In the story, a little boy talks about his dad. He says his dad has two eyes, two arms, and two legs like most dads, but sometimes it feels like he has more because he’s always there to help. The boy calls him “Octopus Dad” because he seems to have many arms to catch him if he falls.
The boy’s dad loves to be silly and make him laugh. He believes that laughing and loving help us live longer. Instead of doing everything for the boy, his dad teaches him how to do things by himself, like learning to fish instead of just giving him fish.
Every night, the dad reads stories with the boy. He says that books are like windows for the mind. When the boy feels sad, his dad listens and comforts him. They even cry together sometimes because real men can cry too.
When the boy gets angry, his dad tells him to count to ten. By the time he finishes counting, he forgets why he was mad! If the boy can’t sleep, his dad stays awake too, showing how much he cares.
The dad always believes in the boy and tells him he can be anything he wants when he grows up. The boy dreams of being like his dad, but with more hair!
Even though the boy’s grandpa never met his dad, he knows grandpa would be proud. The boy feels lucky to have such a wonderful family.
Wasn’t that a sweet story? If you love your dad, give him a big hug and tell him how much you appreciate him. If he’s not home right now, you can hug him when he gets back!
If you enjoyed this story and want to read it again, you can find a copy of the book. Thank you for joining us for Story Time. We hope to see you again soon. Take care and bye-bye!
Octopus Dad Drawing: Imagine your dad or someone special in your life as an “Octopus Dad” with many arms. Draw a picture of them with extra arms doing different things to help you. What are some of the things they do that make you feel loved and supported? Share your drawing with the class and talk about why you chose those activities.
Counting to Calm: Practice the counting technique the boy’s dad taught him. Next time you feel upset or angry, try counting to ten slowly. Afterward, talk about how you feel. Did it help you calm down? You can also try this with a friend and see if it works for them too!
Storytime Role Play: With a friend or family member, take turns being the storyteller and the listener. Choose a favorite book and read it together. How does it feel to be the storyteller? How does it feel to listen to the story? Discuss how reading together can be a special way to bond, just like the boy and his dad in the story.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Welcome back to Story Time! How are you today? How’s the weather where you are? It’s raining here today, not very nice, but I’ll take what I can get, I guess. I’m sure the sun will be back again tomorrow. I hope you had a good day at school and now you’re taking the time to sit down, read a book, and relax. Am I right?
Well, today we have a book called “My Dad, My Rock” by Victor Dio Santos and Anna Forladi. Let’s have a look, shall we?
“My Dad, My Rock”
Now that I know my love, then why did he disappear? I never met my grandpa, and my grandpa never met my dad. If I could meet my grandpa, this is what I would tell him: my dad has two eyes, two arms, and two legs like most other dads, but sometimes I think he has at least five of each. Even when I’m behind him, he always knows what I’m doing. If I let go of his hand, he always catches me. Sometimes I call him “Octopus Dad.” If I hurt myself, he runs to me faster than a monkey when he sees a banana. I sometimes climb on his back and pretend I’m on top of the world—nothing can hurt me up here. My dad is my rock.
My dad likes being goofy with me, even if other people are watching. He says, “Those who laugh, joke, and love live longer.” He doesn’t do everything for me; instead, he shows me how to do it on my own. It’s something about teaching a boy how to fish instead of always giving him the fish.
He always reads with me at bedtime. He says that a child without books is like a house with no windows. When I am sad, he listens to me. Even if I cry a river, he’s always there to wipe away my tears, and sometimes he cries with me. He says some people say real men don’t cry. I think men who don’t cry aren’t real.
When I’m angry, he asks me to count to ten. I’m not sure why; it always takes so long that when I’m done, I don’t even remember why I was counting. When I can’t sleep, he can’t sleep either. It’s as if he can feel what I’m feeling. When he drops me off at school, we always hug. He says hugs are food for the heart.
Sometimes I don’t understand everything my dad says, but he always believes in me and tells me I can achieve anything if I try. He says that I can be anything I want when I grow up. When I grow up, I want to be like my dad, but with more hair, that’s for sure.
My grandpa never met my dad, but I’m sure he will be proud of him, just like my children will one day. What a beautiful family, don’t you think?
That was a super sweet story! I hope you love your dad so much that you give him a big hug the next time you see him. If you want to give him a hug now, well, if he’s not home, maybe you can give him a hug when he gets home, okay? And tell him how much you appreciate him.
If you enjoyed this book and would like a copy of your own, the links to purchase it are in our description below. Give us a like if you loved this story, and if you haven’t, do subscribe for more stories like this. Thank you so much for reading with us! We’ll see you back here soon. You take care, bye!
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This version removes any unnecessary or repetitive phrases while maintaining the essence of the original transcript.