When a reader asks Arizona for ways to share Valentine’s Day with a friend who is out of sorts, our resident storyteller and adviser reveals her own nearly perfect solution. Check out her idea on pages 40–41 of the February 2018 issue—or read the recap below. Then help your child come up with her own unique ways to express compassion and empathy—and help her sharpen her reading skills at the same time!

Recap: A reader who calls himself Buddy in Bloomington wants to cheer up a down-in-the-dumps friend in time for Valentine’s Day but isn’t sure how to do it. Arizona offers Buddy a few ideas but says, too, that just showing you care is enough.

Conversation Starters:

• In what ways do you think you might be like Buddy, a kid who seems to look out for others’ feelings?
• What have you done recently to help another child feel better or cheer up?
• What cheers you up when you aren’t happy?
• Gran called her grandchildren Arizona, Tex, and Indi her “little sweet potatoes.” What nicknames do family and friends have for you? What’s the story behind them?
• Describe a time you planned a surprise for someone special. What did you do? Was the surprise a success?

Reading Comprehension Boosters:

• Who missed the family outing?
• Why did Gran think it was best not to go?
• Who on the trip decided to take pictures at the zoo and share them with Gran to make her feel better?
• Was that a good idea? Why or why not?
• Did the gift work out as planned?
• What changed?
• Why did Arizona, Tex, and Indi decide not to hide the book they made?