“Even in rough times – Shmulek can count on his harmonica” –What helps you during hard times? You can discuss and share ideas on how to cheer yourself up when you are sad or times are hard: It can be a tune, a dream, or a hug from someone you love.
Which songs are your favorite? You can listen to songs you like when you are sad or happy, in the morning , or those that help you fall asleep. You may want to create a family soundtrack of favorite songs to listen to when the mood is right.
Shmulek places his teeth that had fallen out in a box. You can also find a box, decorate it, and place special objects in it, such as treasures that you have found, or paintings of dreams that you would like to make come true.
How does yearning feel? Have you ever missed someone? Who? – This book is an opportunity for a discussion during which you, parents, can share your own experiences of missing someone and waiting for their return.
Pupik misses his father, and Ohad knows exactly how he feels. They share their feelings, and think of things they could do while missing someone. You may want to scan this QR code to watch them, and get some good advice for times when you miss others.
Does it feel like time is standing still while you are missing someone who is away? – You may want to make a box filled with items that could make time go by faster, and make you forget about that person’s absence for a while. How about putting some photos of the two of you in it, materials with which to make a gift or a drawing for them, which you could give to them upon their return?
A minute can go by very quickly, or it can almost stand still. Would you like to try? – Set your timer for one minute, choose an activity, and do it for a full minute: Hopping on one leg, sitting still, finding items beginning with the letter G – Which activity helped time pass by faster? And which activity made it go by extra slowly?
What do we do when we can’t decide which step to take? Who do you like getting advice from? Whose advice do you find difficult to follow, and why? Sometimes good advice comes unexpectedly: you may want to discuss that with your child, be reminded of times when you chose to listen to a piece of advice you’d been given, and share the things you’ve learned from others, young as well as old.
Are you traveling on a long, perhaps boring road? You could pass the time by playing games: counting the road signs along the way, recognizing familiar letters, discovering the changes to your surroundings brought on by the different seasons, singing your favorite songs and also… looking at the road and enjoying the existence of things you have not noticed until now.
What could children teach adults? And what could adults teach children? You may want to share your knowledge with one another, and try it out together: You could teach each other a game, song, or dance, share sports knowledge, information on a certain animal or anything else that comes to mind. Did you teach? Have you learned? Now swap roles.
How do you get from one place to another by listening? Stand in the doorway with your eyes closed, and ask your family members to lead you safely to another room in the house by giving you instructions. You could follow up by playing a board game inspired by this book which we have created for you.
Once you have finished reading the book, you could discuss what Michael (originally: Nicodème) did: Why did he want to give his mother a present? What do family members give one another? And what would you like to get from yours? Would you like to receive material gifts, such as toys, or are there “gifts” of conduct, intimacy, and friendship that you would like to give and receive?
Some of the special illustrations in the book are black and white, while others are colorful. You may enjoy looking at them with your child and discovering: which illustrations did the illustrator choose to color? Why did he choose to color those items instead of others? Would you have chosen to color a different item?
We readers do not know which gift is contained in the box that Michael (originally: Nicodème) gives his mother. Perhaps the book is trying to tell us that it’s the act of giving that matters most. However… wouldn’t you love to know what was in there? Well, how about making a giftbox by taking a box, decorating it, and covering it with giftwrap. You could use the box to play a game called “What’s rattling in the box?”: Collect some “rattling” items, and place one in the box at a time. Then let each of the participants shake the box, listen to the item rattle inside, and try to guess what it is.
Michael (originally: Nicodème) waited patiently for this day to come, but many children find the wait a difficult challenge. You may want to share some waiting experiences together at home: making pastries with yeast, baking cookies, etc. or playing waiting games like the staring game. How patient are you?
The Harmonica 
Bella and Zouzou 
The Long Road 
The Gift 
שִׂיחָה
שֵׁמַע
יְצִירָה
הַעֲשָׁרָה
שִׂיחָה
שִׂיחָה
סִרְטוֹנִים
יְצִירָה
הַשְׁרָאָה
שִׂיחָה
מִשְׂחָק
כְּלָלִי
מִשְׂחָק
הַשְׁרָאָה
מִשְׂחָק
שִׂיחָה
שִׂיחָה
יְצִירָה
בִּשּׁוּל
כְּלָלִי
