When Your Cookie Crumbles is a charming children’s book that invites the reader to share in the emotional ups and downs that every child experiences from time to time. Through the baking process, the reader is reminded that any challenge, however large or small, can be overcome as long as solid support systems are in place. Just as each ingredient is vital to the success of a recipe, so too, are all the emotions that get poured into a child’s makeup. So, if a cookie is crumbling, just like a child struggling with a personal challenge, it will be okay. They will know their safe place and feel reassured that they are loved.
1) In the book “When Your Cookie Crumbles” what does the cookie represent?
2) Why do you think that the display case on page five pictures a variety of different types of cookies?
3) On page seven, the girl is wearing sunglasses and a hat. What do you think she is feeling? What do you feel are some of the emotions that are difficult to identify?
4) What is missing on page nine (the chocolate chips)? The significance of this page is to reiterate that the emotion of sadness is just as relevant to a person’s make-up as an ingredient is to a recipe.
5) What is the girl doing on page twelve? What is the significance of the diary? (Sometimes there are emotions that are difficult to speak about. A diary is a very useful tool to work out a person’s thoughts and feelings).
6) What is the girl feeling on page fourteen, and why?
7) What is the “challenge” that the girl is facing on page sixteen?
8) What is the significance of the tiny cookie on page seventeen?
9) How did the cookie become so big on page eighteen?
10) What does “A cookie’s still a cookie, regardless of the mess” mean?
11) Who are the girls ‘trusted bakers’? Can you identify some of your own trusted bakers?
12) Why is the girl’s face blue on page twenty-four? What emotion is generally associated with the color blue? Why is she worried or sad?
13) What is the significance of the statement “As your trusted baker, I’m always there for you”?
2) Why do you think that the display case on page five pictures a variety of different types of cookies?
3) On page seven, the girl is wearing sunglasses and a hat. What do you think she is feeling? What do you feel are some of the emotions that are difficult to identify?
4) What is missing on page nine (the chocolate chips)? The significance of this page is to reiterate that the emotion of sadness is just as relevant to a person’s make-up as an ingredient is to a recipe.
5) What is the girl doing on page twelve? What is the significance of the diary? (Sometimes there are emotions that are difficult to speak about. A diary is a very useful tool to work out a person’s thoughts and feelings).
6) What is the girl feeling on page fourteen, and why?
7) What is the “challenge” that the girl is facing on page sixteen?
8) What is the significance of the tiny cookie on page seventeen?
9) How did the cookie become so big on page eighteen?
10) What does “A cookie’s still a cookie, regardless of the mess” mean?
11) Who are the girls ‘trusted bakers’? Can you identify some of your own trusted bakers?
12) Why is the girl’s face blue on page twenty-four? What emotion is generally associated with the color blue? Why is she worried or sad?
13) What is the significance of the statement “As your trusted baker, I’m always there for you”?
This delightful book explores emotions in a fun, rhyming way. As a pediatrician, I feel it is important for children to learn about emotions. This book also encourages children to share their feelings with a trusted adult. As a bonus, the book comes with some discussion questions and a delicious recipe for chocolate chip cookies!
-Dr. Carrie Jenner | Pediatrician in Tacoma, WA
When Your Cookie Crumbles is a tremendous children’s book about emotion and anxiety. To the reader, it teaches lessons on acceptance, empathy, and kindness. As an active duty military officer, and father of three (who has moved three times in the last five years), I am familiar with the stress and uncertainty children experience during relocation. This book teaches the importance of emotional support, and it emphasizes the importance of experiencing, understanding, and dealing with uncomfortable emotions. It is a great read for parents and children alike.
-Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Gomlack, United States Army; Special Forces
Working alongside families, and children for more than twelve years, When Your Cookie Crumbles, demonstrates how imperative it is for children to feel comfortable discussing their emotions with a trusted adult. This book shows that with love, support, and encouragement, children can overcome big challenges by sharing their feelings. The chocolate chip cookie recipe was an awesome bonus!
–Denise Walk, Parent Advisory Committee Chair, Exceptional Families Network
In writing this sweet book, Rachel Howard has provided a perfect tool for any adult (whether a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, mentor, etc) to engage in a discussion with a child about what the child is feeling. This is not always an easy task. More often than not, young children are unable to express (or even understand) what they are feeling. Big emotions are sometimes stifled by adults, when in fact – children need to be able to express, understand, and be validated about what they are feeling. I highly recommend this book to any parent or school.
-Anne Hartwig | Veteran Gymboree Play and Learn Preschool and Music Teacher, Para-educator for the Federal Way School District
This book beautifully opens the door for a conversation with kids about their feelings. It is so important to instill in children at a young age that they can, and should, share their feelings with full confidence that they will be supported. This a perfect book for circle time in the classroom.
-Samantha Foyil | Interventionist, Endeavor Intermediate, Fife School District
I am so thrilled to have discovered the book, When Your Cookie Crumbles. One of the most important skills students need to learn is to identify their own feelings in order to develop empathy and compassion for others. This book does an amazing job of teaching children about the importance of identifying feelings and the understanding that all feelings are important, even the uncomfortable ones. When Your Cookie Crumbles is a must read for children of all ages
-Christine Hamilton | Social Emotional Learning Educator
-Dr. Carrie Jenner | Pediatrician in Tacoma, WA
When Your Cookie Crumbles is a tremendous children’s book about emotion and anxiety. To the reader, it teaches lessons on acceptance, empathy, and kindness. As an active duty military officer, and father of three (who has moved three times in the last five years), I am familiar with the stress and uncertainty children experience during relocation. This book teaches the importance of emotional support, and it emphasizes the importance of experiencing, understanding, and dealing with uncomfortable emotions. It is a great read for parents and children alike.
-Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Gomlack, United States Army; Special Forces
Working alongside families, and children for more than twelve years, When Your Cookie Crumbles, demonstrates how imperative it is for children to feel comfortable discussing their emotions with a trusted adult. This book shows that with love, support, and encouragement, children can overcome big challenges by sharing their feelings. The chocolate chip cookie recipe was an awesome bonus!
–Denise Walk, Parent Advisory Committee Chair, Exceptional Families Network
In writing this sweet book, Rachel Howard has provided a perfect tool for any adult (whether a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, mentor, etc) to engage in a discussion with a child about what the child is feeling. This is not always an easy task. More often than not, young children are unable to express (or even understand) what they are feeling. Big emotions are sometimes stifled by adults, when in fact – children need to be able to express, understand, and be validated about what they are feeling. I highly recommend this book to any parent or school.
-Anne Hartwig | Veteran Gymboree Play and Learn Preschool and Music Teacher, Para-educator for the Federal Way School District
This book beautifully opens the door for a conversation with kids about their feelings. It is so important to instill in children at a young age that they can, and should, share their feelings with full confidence that they will be supported. This a perfect book for circle time in the classroom.
-Samantha Foyil | Interventionist, Endeavor Intermediate, Fife School District
I am so thrilled to have discovered the book, When Your Cookie Crumbles. One of the most important skills students need to learn is to identify their own feelings in order to develop empathy and compassion for others. This book does an amazing job of teaching children about the importance of identifying feelings and the understanding that all feelings are important, even the uncomfortable ones. When Your Cookie Crumbles is a must read for children of all ages
-Christine Hamilton | Social Emotional Learning Educator
