This is a great favourite in our classroom and has been with most children I have read it to.
The story focuses on a little old lady Called, as expected, Mrs Honey. We go through the days of the week from Monday to Sunday and follow Mrs Honey?s activities through the week.
Each day she goes somewhere- Monday the park with her grandson, Tuesday she visited a friend, Wednesday she had a day at the beach, Thursday she picked dandelions, Friday Mrs honey visited an old castle, Saturday a cat show and Sunday she went to church. I like this going through the days of the week as it gives us a chance to learn the order of the days, and children often find it easier to remember what Mrs honey did and then relate the events to the days of the week. Each time Mrs Honey goes somewhere, her hat is the focus of attention, and something is taken from her hat but something else added to her hat. So, when the cow takes the big buttercups, he leaves his bell on Mrs Honey?s hat and when the alley cat at the cat show takes a ribbon from the hat he leaves some fish bones on the hat.
When mrs Honey goes to church on Sunday and everyone is looking at her, she thinks she needs to get a new hat but when she looks in the mirror and sees how her hat has changed she realises that she HAS got a new hat. Gone is her largely feather ribbon fruit and flower hat and in its place is a hat with a cobweb, fish bone, eggs and other bits and pieces which make Mrs honey decided that she is not sure she likes her hat!
The pictures are all big and cheerful. Each double page spread has a picture on the right hand side and the text on the left hand side. Each day has two double page spreads devoted to them, with the first text telling us where Mrs honey is and the next page focusing largely on the hat and showing us what is being taken from the hat and what is being left behind. Everything is bright and cheerful and because everyone looks happy, i always think this is a real ?feel good? story
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY...
My story is the big book version because I am usually reading it to a group or class of children. The story is also available in soft and hard back smaller versions and is readily available on line and in book shops. There is also a stroy sack available costing about £30 which is a great resource for anyone knowing they will be using the book a lot because we can take off and put on the different items. However, myself and Little Miss have used a doll and made our own items for going on and off the hat so children could have fun using the pictures to make their own props.
OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES...
Mrs Honey also appears in the following books: ? Mrs Honey?s dream ? Mrs Honey?s glasses ? Mrs Honey?s Holiday ? Mrs Honey?s hat Game
VERDICT...
Great story which children will enjoy as a ?stand alone? story and It can be used to develop further days of the week, and ordering. The pictures are sure to appeal to children and when we read it for the first time, the children are usually willing Mrs Honey to realise that things are being taken from her hat. We like to make our own Mrs Honey (or other ) hats and the children talk us through what has been taken and added to their hats, so this can be taken through different subjects and concepts.
A really enjoyable book which key stage 1 children will enjoy, and which, once they know the story and format, will be able to retell themselves.
Thanks for reading.
Daniela xx
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