ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Awnie's House ???? Kids Book Read Aloud: THE RECESS QUEEN by Alexis O’Neill and Laura Huliska-Beith
Hi there! I’m Ani, and today we’re going to read a fun story about a girl who likes to be the boss. Have you ever met someone like that? Let’s find out what happens when a new kid comes to school in the story “The Recess Queen.” If you have the book, you can read along with me!
Mean Gene was the queen of the playground. She always went first, and nobody dared to play until she did. If someone tried, she would push them and say, “What?” Everyone listened to Mean Gene until one day, a new kid named Katie Sue came to school.
Katie Sue was small and new, and she didn’t know about Mean Gene. When the bell rang for recess, Katie Sue ran to the playground and started playing right away. She swung, kicked, and bounced before Mean Gene could even start!
Mean Gene was not happy. She pushed through the crowd and told Katie Sue, “Nobody plays until I say so!” But Katie Sue wasn’t scared. She asked Mean Gene, “Why are you so bossy?” Then she grabbed a ball and played even more!
Mean Gene chased after Katie Sue, but Katie Sue was too quick. Then, Katie Sue took out a jump rope and said, “Hey, Gene! Let’s jump together!” No one had ever asked Mean Gene to play before. Katie Sue sang, “I like ice cream, I like tea! I want Gene to jump with me!”
At first, Mean Gene was surprised, but then she joined in. They jumped and laughed together. From that day on, Mean Gene didn’t push or boss anyone around. She was too busy having fun with her new friend, Katie Sue.
Katie Sue didn’t know about Mean Gene’s reputation, but she wasn’t afraid. She thought Mean Gene might be lonely and invited her to play. That one kind act changed everything, and now Mean Gene has lots of friends!
I hope you liked our story today. Thank you for reading with me! See you next time! Don’t forget to subscribe for more story time fun!
Role-Playing Recess: Gather your friends or family and act out the story of “The Recess Queen.” Take turns being Mean Gene, Katie Sue, and other kids on the playground. How does it feel to be each character? What happens when you invite someone to play? Discuss how kindness can change how people feel and act.
Kindness Jar: Create a “Kindness Jar” at home or in the classroom. Every time you do something kind for someone, write it on a small piece of paper and put it in the jar. At the end of the week, read all the kind acts together. How did being kind make you feel? How did it make others feel?
Observation Walk: Go on a walk around your school or neighborhood with an adult. Look for examples of people being kind to each other. It could be someone holding the door open, sharing a toy, or helping a friend. Talk about what you saw and how those acts of kindness might make people feel happier and more connected.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hello, my reading friends! It’s Ani. I’ve got a question for you: Have you ever known a bully? Well, today we’re going to meet a little girl who’s very bossy and likes to get her way. Let’s see if anything changes when a new kid joins the class as we read “The Recess Queen.” If you have a copy, go get it so you can read along with me.
[Music]
“The Recess Queen,” written by Alexis O’Neill, illustrated by Laura Jalisca.
Mean Gene was the recess queen, and nobody said any different. Nobody swung until Mean Gene swung. Nobody kicked until Mean Gene kicked. Nobody bounced until Mean Gene bounced. If kids ever crossed her, she’d push them and smush them, and say, “What?” Mean Gene growled, “See who?” She howled, “Say you!” She always got her way until one day a new kid came to school: Katie Sue, a tiny kid you might scare with a jump and a boo. But when the recess bell went ringity-ring, this kid ran zingity-zing for the playground gate.
Katie Sue swung before Mean Gene swung. Katie Sue kicked before Mean Gene kicked. Katie Sue bounced before Mean Gene bounced. The kid you might scare with a jump and a boo was too new to know about Mean Gene, the recess queen.
Well, Mean Gene bullied through the playground crowd like always. She pushed kids and smushed kids, and as she charged after Katie Sue, she growled, “See who?” and grabbed Katie Sue by the collar. “Nobody swings until Queen Gene swings. Nobody kicks until Queen Gene kicks. Nobody bounces until Queen Gene bounces.”
And she figured that would set the record straight. She figured wrong. Katie Sue talked back just as sassy as could be. She said, “How did you get so bossy?” Then that puny thing grabbed the ball and bounced away. Oh, Katie Sue was one quick kid! She bolted quick as lightning, bouncing and kicking and swinging.
Gene thundered close behind, but the recess queen was not amused. She raced and chased in an intense face-off with Katie Sue. No one spoke, no one moved, no one breathed. Then from her pack, Katie Sue pulled out a jump rope, clean and bright. “Hey, Gene! Let’s try this jump rope!”
There’s one thing true: Until that day, no one dared ask Mean Gene to play. But that Katie Sue just hopped and jumped and skipped away. “I like ice cream, I like tea! I want Gene to jump with me!” Gene just gaped and stared, too scared to move at all.
So Katie Sue sang once more, “I like popcorn, I like tea! I want Gene to jump with me!” Then from the side, a kid called out, “Go, Gene, go!” And too surprised to even shout, Gene jumped in with Katie Sue. “I like cookies, I like tea! I want you to jump with me!”
The rope whizzed and slapped faster and faster until it caught in a tangled disaster, but they just giggled and jumped again.
Well, now when recess rolls around, that playground’s one great place. When the school bell rings, those two girls race out the classroom door. Gene doesn’t push kids or smush kids anymore because she’s having too much fun romping with her friends.
Yes, Katie Sue was too new to know about Mean Gene’s reputation, and when she found out, she wasn’t afraid of Gene. Katie Sue thought Gene might be lonely, so she invited her to play. That one act of kindness changed everything for Gene. Now she has lots of friends.
I hope you enjoyed our story today. Thank you for reading with me! See you next time! Subscribe for more story time, and don’t forget to click the bell so you’ll know each time a new video is posted.
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This version maintains the essence of the story while removing any inappropriate language or content.
