For children learning to navigate friendships and tricky social situations, Katie Woo offers relatable stories about telling the truth, being kind, and finding confidence at school.
A parent should reach for this book when their early elementary-aged child is facing their first social hurdles at school, like telling a fib, dealing with a teaser, or feeling nervous. This collection of four simple stories follows Katie Woo, a relatable and charming character, as she navigates common schoolyard problems. The book gently explores themes of honesty, kindness, self-confidence, and the ups and downs of friendship. Its accessible language and supportive resolutions make it perfect for children ages 6 to 8. It’s an excellent choice for opening conversations about making good choices and normalizing the tricky feelings that come with growing up.
The book deals directly with mild teasing (bullying). The approach is secular and realistic for the age group. The resolution is hopeful and empowering, as Katie learns to use her voice and gets support from her friends and teacher. The focus is on practical, pro-social solutions.
Ideal Reader
The ideal reader is a 6 to 7-year-old who is navigating the social world of kindergarten or first grade. This child might be struggling with telling the truth when they're scared, feeling anxious about a new experience like a school play, or dealing with teasing for the first time. They need clear, simple models for navigating these situations.
Parent Prep
No preparation is needed. The stories are straightforward and can be read cold. The situations are highly common, and the resolutions are positive and easy to discuss. It's a great book to have on hand to read reactively when a specific problem arises. A parent might pick this up after their child comes home and says, "I told my friend something that wasn't true," or "A boy at school keeps poking me and it bothers me," or "I'm too scared to do my part in the class show." The trigger is the first appearance of these common social and emotional challenges.
Age Experience
A younger reader (age 6) will connect with the concrete plots: the lost hamster, the mean boy. They will understand the simple lesson of "telling the truth is good." An older reader (age 8) will be more attuned to Katie's internal state: the feeling of guilt that comes with lying, the mix of excitement and fear about performing, and the courage it takes to stand up for oneself. They can better analyze the social dynamics.
What Makes It Special
Compared to other school stories, Katie Woo's strength lies in its directness and simplicity. It functions as a behavioral playbook for specific, common problems. The four-in-one format makes it a versatile resource, providing clear, gentle, and repeatable solutions that young children can easily understand and apply in their own lives. It's less about complex narrative and more about providing a clear, comforting roadmap.
Read plot summary
This book is a compilation of four previously published early reader stories. In "Katie and the Class Pet," Katie accidentally lets the hamster escape and must confess. In "No More Teasing," she learns to stand up to a classmate named Pedro who keeps bothering her. In "The Big Lie," Katie invents a story about owning a pony to impress her friends, but the lie spirals out of control. Finally, in "Star of the Show," Katie gets the lead in the class play but develops a case of stage fright.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
In 'The Big Lie', why do you think Katie told her friends she had a pony? What is another way she could have shared something special about herself?
2
When Pedro kept teasing Katie, she used her 'big, loud, stop-it-right-now voice'. What do you think gave her the courage to do that? Who helps you feel brave?
3
In 'Star of the Show', Katie felt both excited and scared about being in the play. Have you ever felt two opposite feelings at the same time? What did her friend JoJo do to help?
4
After the class pet got loose, Katie was worried she would get in trouble. What happened when she decided to tell her teacher the truth?
