Feeling and Sensing Changes

Written by New York Times best-selling author Kobi Yamada, this is a story for everything we will do and everything we can be. It is a story about all the possibilities ahead of us. It is for who we are right now and it is for all the magical, unbounded potential we hold inside. 

With its beautiful visual storytelling and timeless message, this book invites us to believe in ourselves and our dreams. Every page is a celebration of hope, courage, and the incredible journey of becoming. Whether we are standing at the start of something new or reflecting on how far we have come, this story reminds us that the future is wide open - and it is ours to shape.

As much as we interpret the stories we reflect upon, Emily lingers on the page where a girl, a pig, and other creatures come together as part of the larger narrative. Her attention is especially drawn to the pig, who keenly observes the unfolding magic.

We take the opportunity to open up a conversation with friends about where may stand when faced with certain situations. ​

• What will we do?
• Will we take action?
• Or we simply leave things to unfold in their own?​

Fides speaks with unwavering conviction, "Set them free ... all of them!"  This moment offers a powerful insight into how he responds to difficult situations. His response reminds us that challenges can shape us into a braver, more compassionate individuals. By facing our problems. we grow stronger, not just for ourselves, but for others who may need our courage.

Whenever we need to clarify certain ideas or thoughts, we take is as another learning opportunity to assess and reassess what we understand. Kalyan, for instance, revises his idea about setting the butterflies free after gaining some clarification.

For Tvisha, it is a different perspective. She sees the creatures inside the cages as being "in the dark". Perhaps we shall extend on some examples of "shining light in dark places"? What does that look like?

Maybe, as the title of the storybook, the world has been waiting for someone exactly like us. To do things that only us can do, and to help in ways that only we can. Inspired by the enchanting tale Maybe, this adorable pig plush is ready to share in all our dreams and adventures. Let its sweet presence remind us that anything is possible. That pigs were meant to fly and that we were meant to soar!

Inspired by the story - where a young girl recognizes her uniqueness and learns to harness her own potential - Nora and Fides find their way to our very own pig stuffy. With hands full of dry-pressed leaves we have collected on walks to the nearby field, they begin creating wings for our pig stuffy. 

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These simple treasures become more than just leaves. They are memories, moments, and symbols of how we, too, can find beauty and strength in the small, quiet parts of ourselves.

While Nora and Fides lay leaves around the pig stuffy, Luka and Kalyan discover a secret of their own - an escapade tucked under the table. It is not just a table anymore. It is a fort, a reading cave, a tiny world just big enough for two curious minds and a stack of books. 

With their knees press to the floor and heads close together, they flip through pages slowly. Not a single page they like to skip. Every page holds a surprise, a question they like to laugh out loud. They are amused not just by stories, but by how the stories make them feel - wide-eyed, thoughtful, and sometimes just plain funny!

A beautiful day to breathe in the outside air, indeed! We love sitting under the tree, where sunlight dances through the leaves, to paint our dreamcatchers. With steady hands and quiet excitement, we hold our brushes and begin to fill the mandala patterns with earthy tones - soft browns, warm ochres, gentle green. Each stroke feels like a whisper from the wind, reminding us to slow down, to dream, and to create with intention.

We also explore STEM as another learning experience to understand the concept of change. With curious minds and eager hands, we dive into hands-on experiments using simple materials like baking soda, vinegar, and a splash of dood coloring. We watch, wide-eyed, as fizzing bubbles rise and colors swirl, showing us how things transform right before our eyes.

Chasing a kite on a breezy day helps us become aware of our movements. The way our feet touch the ground, how our arms reach for the sky, and how the wind guides us as much as we guide the kite. It is a dance of joy and balance, teaching us to be present in every step, every breath, every lift of the string.

Kindest,
Children & Friends.