Few children enjoy being called weirdos. Some might like to be a little bit different, or express their own style, or even attempt to start a new trend. Others may embrace whatever is in fashion and encourage others to do the same. But most want their choices to be accepted by others as neither too ‘far out’ nor too safe. Being made fun of by others isn’t something they want to navigate.
Author/illustrator Canizales wrote Bruno’s Hat to shine a light on teasing. The story focuses on four friends whose lives are upended when one child decides to make fun of another in the group. Read the book with children 3 and older and use one or more of the following activities to explore friendship and standing up for others.
Friends. As friends, Peter and Bruno do lots of things together. Invite children to draw a picture of something they like to do with a friend. Encourage them to share stories with one another about their friend while they draw.
Teasing. Sergio laughs at Bruno’s hat. When Peter tells Sergio to stop, Sergio calls Peter a weirdo too. Peter doesn’t like being teased and he blames Bruno and his hat for setting Sergio off. He wants Bruno to stop wearing the ‘weird’ hat so Sergio will stop teasing them. Encourage children to act out this part of the story, taking turns playing Peter, Bruno, and Sergio. Ask: Why do you think Sergio called Bruno and Peter weirdos? How do you think Sergio felt? How do you think Bruno felt? How do you think Peter felt?
Silence. When Sergio takes Bruno’s hat and throws it in the mud, Peter says nothing. Later, he tries to talk to Bruno, but Bruno runs away without saying anything. Invite children to use their bodies to show how they would react if their friends said nothing when someone treated them badly. Suggest that they can adopt more than one posture and expression if they feel multiple or mixed emotions.
Hats. Peter’s mother helps him reconnect with Bruno. The two friends spend time playing together while wearing the silly hats made by Bruno’s mom. Invite children to make paper hats (see Related Resources for video) and decorate them with colorful designs. Provide glitter, pom poms, ribbons, spinners, and other items to add fancy details. Then wear your hats while playing a game together.
Dance. When Sergio tries to tease Bruno again, Peter and Leah join Bruno in dancing and singing about the fun of wearing a weird hat. They give Sergio his own hat and invite him to join in. Play dance music and encourage children to dance together. Suggest that they take turns showing one another silly moves and trying them out together.
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