lovemybooks | FREE reading resources for parents

Linda Sarah, Benji Davies (illus)
Simon and Schuster
Age 3-7

Birt and Etho are best friends; they play wonderful games together using just their imagination… and two very large cardboard boxes. One day another boy called Shu arrives with a box of his own wanting to join the fun. What will happen to Birt and Etho’s friendship if Shu joins in too? This is a beautifully illustrated and sensitively told story about friendship, feeling left out and coping with change. It is also a story full of wonderfully imaginative play ideas.

lovemybooksactivitiesorangecentre

Share the story

Read aloud
Before reading the book to your child, talk about the illustrations on the front and back covers together and encourage your child to think what might happen in the story. Then read the story aloud pausing to talk about the story when your child wants to.

Join in
As you read the book again leave gaps so your child can join in with all the things the characters in the story do.

Look at some of the double page spreads together and have imaginary conversations as if you are the characters in the story. You could add sound effects as well for example knocking on the door.

Talk about the story
Share favourite pages and talk about them.
Talk about how Birt feels at different points in the story. How do we know?

Things to make and do

Images from Catherine Ward and her son

Story play with boxes
Collect some big boxes to play imaginary games, for example you could help your child create a rocket, a castle or a pirate ship with a cardboard tube, telescope and paper flag. If you are feeling very creative join several boxes together, add some paint or decoration and make an incredible monster box!

Draw a picture
Fold a piece of paper into four sections. Your child could draw four pictures of some of the things the friends in the story do with their boxes.

Write a message
Your child could write an imaginary message as if they are Etho or Birt inviting Shu to play with them. Or a thank you message from Shu to his two friends for making him the incredible monster box.

Find out more

Find out about the illustrator, Benji Davies here

Find more ways to play with boxes here

On Sudden Hill

Linda Sarah, Benji Davies (illus)
Simon and Schuster
Age 3-7

Share the story

Read aloud
Before reading the book to your child, talk about the illustrations on the front and back covers together and encourage your child to think what might happen in the story. Then read the story aloud pausing to talk about the story when your child wants to.

Join in
As you read the book again leave gaps so your child can join in with all the things the characters in the story do.

Look at some of the double page spreads together and have imaginary conversations as if you are the characters in the story. You could add sound effects as well for example knocking on the door.

Talk about the story
Share favourite pages and talk about them.
Talk about how Birt feels at different points in the story. How do we know?

Things to make and do

Draw a picture
Fold a piece of paper into four sections. Your child could draw four pictures of some of the things the friends in the story do with their boxes.

Write a message
Your child could write an imaginary message as if they are Etho or Birt inviting Shu to play with them. Or a thank you message from Shu to his two friends for making him the incredible monster box.

Find out more

Find out about the illustrator, Benji Davies here

Find more ways to play with boxes here

Looking for something?

lovemybooks newsletter

Meet our patrons

Follow us on Facebook

Follow @lovemybooksUK

Follow lovemybooksUK15

About lovemybooks

Linda Sarah, Benji Davies (illus) Simon and Schuster Age 3-7

Share the story

Read aloud Before reading the book to your child, talk about the illustrations on the front and back covers together and encourage your child to think what might happen in the story. Then read the story aloud pausing to talk about the story when your child wants to.

Join in As you read the book again leave gaps so your child can join in with all the things the characters in the story do.

Look at some of the double page spreads together and have imaginary conversations as if you are the characters in the story. You could add sound effects as well for example knocking on the door.

Talk about the story Share favourite pages and talk about them. Talk about how Birt feels at different points in the story. How do we know?

Things to make and do

Draw a picture Fold a piece of paper into four sections. Your child could draw four pictures of some of the things the friends in the story do with their boxes.

Write a message Your child could write an imaginary message as if they are Etho or Birt inviting Shu to play with them. Or a thank you message from Shu to his two friends for making him the incredible monster box.

Find out more

Find out about the illustrator, Benji Davies here

Find more ways to play with boxes here

Looking for something?

Linda Sarah, Benji Davies (illus)
Simon and Schuster
Age 3-7

Read aloud
Before reading the book to your child, talk about the illustrations on the front and back covers together and encourage your child to think what might happen in the story. Then read the story aloud pausing to talk about the story when your child wants to.

Join in
As you read the book again leave gaps so your child can join in with all the things the characters in the story do.

Talk about the story
Share favourite pages and talk about them.
Talk about how Birt feels at different points in the story. How do we know?

Draw a picture
Fold a piece of paper into four sections. Your child could draw four pictures of some of the things the friends in the story do with their boxes.

Write a message
Your child could write an imaginary message as if they are Etho or Birt inviting Shu to play with them. Or a thank you message from Shu to his two friends for making him the incredible monster box.