The events of 9/11 reshaped the contours of my imagination, impressing upon me how one event, orchestrated by a minority of minds, could change our view of the world. Floridius Bloom, much like us, has built a wall around himself, trying to keep all the light and good inside. Outside the wall, he fears, are monsters scheming to take his light away. The taller the wall grows, the more terrifying the monsters become in Floridius’s imagination. For the wall, as you may have guessed, is not only made of bricks and mortar, but resides firmly in Floridius’s mind.

So… how do we keep our children from building walls? How do we teach them not to judge/fear people because of skin color, religion or where they were born? As walls of fear have been built since the dawn of humanity, the answer is not an easy one. But perhaps one way to begin is by telling stories and asking questions and gently, very gently, encouraging our children to think!

They’re here & they’re free!

1. Educator’s Discussion Guide
   

2. Monster Discussion
   

3. Compound Creatives
   

4. Reading To Kids Lesson Plan
   

5. SharingisCaring.pdf
   

6. Zrill Color Sheet
   

7. The Play
   

8. The Reader’s Theatre
   

Feel free to contact me at: coffeewriter@me.com

Friendship, Sharing, Interdependence, Connection, Friendship, Sharing, Interdependence, Connection, Friendship, Sharing, Interdependence