Still Stuck
It would be difficult to find a child (or an adult!) who cannot relate to this book. Still Stuck tells the tale of an independent young boy preparing for his bath and bedtime routine. After insisting that he can “do it himself,” he becomes stuck when his shirt is just halfway off. The story brings a chuckle as he imagines what life would be like if he remained that way forever. By the end of the story, Mom comes in to speed up the bath time routine. Her intervention solves the problem…but a twist ending will cause a laugh that will “stick” with you long after the book is put down.
Pennsylvania Center for the Book Awards
Book Activities & Discussion Ideas
Before reading this story to children, take time to talk about routines. Make a list of those tasks and ask children to add their ideas to the list. Provide dress-up clothes that have buttons, zippers, snaps, and ties for children to explore and practice dressing. Children might also have fun acting out the story, using the clothing props in a safe and supervised way with dolls or stuffed animals as the main character. Be prepared for some children to enjoy getting stuck!
After reading and enjoying the story, families can talk about bedtime routines. Encourage children to develop independence in dressing. What are some strategies parents could use to prevent children getting stuck or strategies to help them stay calm until the problem can be solved? What dressing tasks require help from an adult? Encourage families to share strategies that have been successful with their children.