Sunday Skating

Sunday Skating captures the quiet magic of Sundays, friendships and finding your feet-literally. Clancy's friends glide effortlessly through the still streets, but Clancy hesitates, board in hand, overcome with nerves and self-doubt. Though he's just a beginner, his friends cheer him on, proving that support and encouragement can be just as important as skill. As Clancy gathers the courage to step on his board, he discovers that falling is part of the learning-and the journey. Andrea Rowe and Hannah Sommerville reunite in this follow-up to their beloved picture book, Jetty Jumping, creating another heartfelt narrative rich with emotional nuance and gentle bravery. The story resonates with any child facing a new challenge, offering a deeply relatable portrayal of the fear of not being ˜good enough' and the gentle push that friends provide. Through warm illustrations and sparse, powerful text, Sunday Skating reminds readers that confidence is built step by step-or in this case, skate by skate.

Educational Benefits:

• Supports emotional literacy by exploring fear, self-doubt, and perseverance.
• Encourages resilience and a growth mindset in challenging situations.
• Highlights the importance of friendship and peer support in early development.
• Fosters empathy and understanding through relatable storytelling.

Classroom Ideas:

• Use the story as a prompt for students to share a time they tried something new.
• Role-play peer encouragement scenarios to build supportive classroom culture.
• Incorporate into a visual arts task illustrating different emotions Clancy might feel.
• Create a class book called œMy First Try where each student shares a personal story.

Information:

• Ages: Recommended for 5 - 9 years
• Format: Picture book
• Illustrator: Hannah Sommerville