1,2,3 Storytelling
Look at the front cover together. Ask your child to tell you what they can see and what is happening. Take
note of their questions / comments. Read the story to your child. Ask your child to tell you about the story.
Storytelling 1
Read the whole story. It is likely that your child will want to tell you what is happening and will talk about the
pictures.
Storytelling 2
Read the story and ask your child about each page and the illustrations, for example,
“How does Albert feel when his Dad gives him the present? Why does Albert start to like the potato?”
Storytelling 3
Ask your child to share the story with you. They tell you the story using the pictures on each page.
Watch Emma read The Pet Potato here
Activities
Talk
After reading the book, talk about all the things that Albert does with his potato, and compare these activities to your child’s own life. Which of the things that Albert does could we do? Build a tower, play with trains, go the library, have a bath. Carry out some of the activities from the book together.
Talk about why the potato is special to Albert and how he feels when the potato goes missing. Encourage your child to relate the story to an object or pet that is special to them. What is special about the object? How do they keep this object safe and cared for?
Experience
Grow a potato inside in a transparent container, such as half a large water bottle or jar. Observe it every day to notice the changes.
Cook
Buy potatoes at the supermarket and discuss all the different foods that are made from potatoes: chips, mash, crisps, roast potatoes, baked potatoes etc. Ask your child to help you wash the potatoes ready to be cooked and eat them together.
Make
Decorate old socks or wooden spoons to make hand puppets of the characters in the story. Children re-tell the story using their puppet. Or, ask children to make a puppet of a pet they would like to have and re-tell the story using their new character.
Songs
Poem
Dig the ground
Potatoes will grow
Dig the ground
Plant them in a row
Grow potatoes
Tasty to eat
Grow potatoes
For a yummy treat
Cook potatoes
Mash for a treat
Cook potatoes
All fluffy to eat
Eat potatoes
To make you grow
Eat potatoes
Don’t ever say, ‘No!
One potato, two potatoes
One potato, two potatoes, three potatoes, four
Five potatoes, six potatoes, seven potatoes, more
I like mashed potato, can I have some more?
Pleeeease! (begging voice)
I Dig My Garden
I Dig My Garden
I dig my garden, dig, dig, dig
I dig my garden, I dig it deep
I plant my seeds and I watch them grow
But along comes a rabbit and – Oh no!
He eats my carrots, he eats the whole bunch
I run to the garden and I shoo shoo shoo
But the rabbit comes back, oh what shall I do?
The Pet Potato is written by Josh Lacey and illustrated by Momoko Abe. It is published by Andersen Books.