The Power of One

Name: The Power of One
Author: Trudy Ludwig

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: “One is a lot bigger and more powerful than you think. One, after all, is the starting point for change.” This quote summarizes the theme of the “Power of One”, a poignant, short, and practical guide that inspires each of us to take action when it’s needed. Acts of kindness, a smile, being a caring friend, an apology, a hug, a thoughtful idea, a handful of seeds, a harvest feast from a community garden, can all make a huge difference. Lesson Objectives:

The helpful advice in this book motivates students to do more simple acts of kindness with the awareness that it does make a difference for both the giver and the recipient.

Guiding Questions:

What does the illustration on the first page of the book tell you?
What are the children in the story working on together?
In the beginning of the story a girl is crying. Someone comes over to comfort her. Have you ever comforted someone who’s upset? What happened?
What was the result of the children working together?
What is the meaningful idea that brings the community together in this story?
“One sincere apology can heal big and little hurts.” An apology can be insincere or sincere. Demonstrate each kind of apology.
Have you ever planted seeds? If so, what did you grow?
Describe how planting seeds and acts of kindness are similar.
“One good listener can make even the smallest voice heard.” Have you ever had an experience in which you helped someone just by listening sincerely?
Were you ever helped when someone listened sincerely to you?

🌿 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.