Enza's Story: Leading With Voice & Kindness

Meet today's lil' leader, Enza, a thoughtful and respectful classmate who inspires others by leading with kindness.

In this episode, Enza shares a powerful story about standing up for a friend who made an honest mistake and how she wished she had spoken up even sooner. She reflects on the importance of supporting others and embracing courage. Enza also opens up about her admiration for her cousin, who lives life to the fullest and always gives her best effort. Tune in to discover how Enza's actions make her a remarkable role model for her peers.

Picture Book Recommendations:

a. Sticks

Author & Illustrator: Diane Alber

A heartwarming story about finding your place in the world. Sticks is about a Popsicle that accidentally melts and becomes just a plain stick. He has a hard time adjusting to his new normal but with the help of some new friends (who happen to be sticks too) he realizes that everything happened for a reason and that melting was part of his journey.

Sticks is a story that almost anyone can relate to. It's about finding yourself in a situation that didn't turn out like you expected and having your friends and family help you find he courage to pick yourself back up and persevere. b. You Can Be A Good Friend (No Matter What)

Author: Taraji P. Henson Illustrator: Paul Kellam

In this debut picture book from Taraji P. Henson, quirky, stylish and a bit off-the-cuff Lil TJ is ready for her first day of school. But when she gets there, TJ finds that everything she does is a little different than everyone else and she's standing out in all the wrong ways. Once TJ's classmate Beau notices, he relentlessly teases her. TJ is filled with anxiety and doubt until she recalls some important words of wisdom from her Grandma Patsy. When she looks inside to her own creativity and personality, she figures out how to help herself make new friends! —and helps someone else too!

Cool Q's For Discussion:

1. Have you ever helped a friend who was being treated unfairly? How did it feel?

2. If you could do something differently when something hard happened, what would it be?

3. Who do you look up to because they are brave or always try their best? Why?

4. What does being a good role model mean to you? Can you think of a time you were one?

5. Why is it important to speak up when someone is being teased? How can we get better at doing it?

6. What is your main takeaway from today's episode with Enza?

Have a great week everyone!

Keep Leading and Keep Reading,

Tina