Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

Name: Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch
Author: Eileen Spinelli

A story that explores service and opens a conversation with your child.

★★★★★ Loved by families

Read the Guiding Questions Find this book →

♥ This book teaches: Service. using what you have to help others.

Before, During & After Reading

Guiding Questions for Parents.

Definition: Service is doing something nice or helpful for someone else. Summary: Mr. Hatch doesn’t smile and he keeps to himself. One day, things change when he receives a special gift in the mail. He happily concludes that he has a secret admirer, which inspires him to do lots of good deeds for his neighbors. Eventually Mr. Hatch finds out that the gift was actually for someone else and this makes him feel that “nobody loves me after all.” He stops smiling and giving until the neighbors do something very special to show him how much he is loved and appreciated! Lesson Objectives:

Students understand that when someone does something for them, it’s important to show appreciation.

Guiding Questions:

Describe Mr. Hatch. What does he look like and what kind of person is he in the beginning of the book?
What does the postman deliver to Mr. Hatch and how does this make Mr. Hatch feel?
After Mr. Hatch receives the gift, how does his behavior change? Do his neighbors notice the change in his behavior?
What are some of the good deeds Mr. Hatch does?
What does the postman tell Mr. Hatch that makes him feel unloved and unmotivated to help his neighbors?
Why are the neighbors worried about Mr. Hatch?
What do the neighbors do to show Mr. Hatch that they appreciate him?
Do you know anyone who seems lonely? If so, think about something you could do to help them feel cared for and do it!
When you get a nice gift that shows someone cares for you, how does that make you feel? Share about a time when you received a special gift. What was it, who gave it, and how did it make you feel?
If you see a stranger that looks very lonely and unloved, ask your parents or grandparents to help you do something to show you care.

🌿 Virtue Connection: Service means using what you have been given to help others.

About the Story.

This guide is part of the Values & Virtues library, a free collection of 400+ book guides and activities organized around 12 core virtues for children from pre-K to 6th grade. Each guide includes Guiding Questions designed to open a real conversation with your child in 10 minutes or less.