Dear Parents,

“I don’t want to play with you!” or “there’s no place for you here,” are exclusionary statements that our children may hear during their social interactions with others, often due to differences in appearance, abilities, or other qualities.

This story addresses various themes such as differences, diversity, exclusion, acceptance, and inclusivity. It provides an opportunity to discuss the importance of accepting people and respecting their differences with our children. The mother in the story serves as a model for accepting differences by welcoming all animals with their unique qualities and showing high sensitivity to their diverse needs.

The book also explores the theme of fostering a sense of responsibility and self-confidence in children. The mother delegates tasks to her daughter according to her abilities, boosting her confidence and sense of belonging, which helps the girl face challenges and suggest alternatives and solutions confidently.

Let’s Talk

• About the Title: What distinguishes a hotel from a house? Are there other words with the same meaning? How should we behave in a hotel?
• About Differences: People and animals have different needs, and the girl and her mother tried to accommodate the rooms accordingly. Let’s follow the drawings, discuss the needs of each visitor, and explore how the girl responded to them.
• About Personal Traits: we can ask our child about the girl’s qualities and how they manifested in her actions. We can also discuss our child’s unique qualities compared to siblings or peers and how they are presented in their behavior.
• About fostering responsibility and a sense of belonging: we can talk to our child about the roles they enjoy taking on at home and the roles each family member plays. We can emphasize how these roles express real responsibility and a sense of belonging.
• About Solving Problems Creatively: we can recall situations at home that required unconventional solutions, and how we successfully overcame them together. We can explore further by researching information about the animals mentioned in the story and their characteristics and habitats.

Let’s Explore

• We can search the encyclopedia or the internet for information about the animals mentioned in the story, about their characteristics and how they live.

Let’s Create

• The book’s illustrations beautifully capture the harmony between the setting and the different character traits. We can delve into the charming details of the drawings, create or design rooms for other animals based on their features.

Let’s Communicate

• We can take a stroll around town and look for signs indicating accessibility for people with special challenges. We can take their picture with our phones and discuss their importance for inclusivity in general.

Enjoy your Reading!