My child participated in book club. The book was Heartwood hotel. The children used the Heartwood Hotel job application worksheets they filled out last week and took turns interviewing each other. Each child had a turn to interview someone and to be interviewed. At the end of their interview each child presented the mock menu they made for the Heartwood Hotel Restaurant. When they were the e audience each child listened to the interview and then voted wether or not each person should be hired.

English Language Arts

• The child learned about effective communication skills through the process of interviewing and being interviewed. They had to articulate their thoughts clearly and listen actively as the interviewer.
• The activity helped the child understand the concept of character development as they had to take on the role of different Heartwood Hotel staff members during the interviews, demonstrating their understanding of the characters in the book.
• By creating a mock menu for the Heartwood Hotel Restaurant, the child explored the concept of descriptive writing and learned to use adjectives and sensory details to entice potential customers.
• The process of voting on whether each person should be hired encouraged the child to think critically about the qualities and skills required for different roles, fostering their understanding of character traits and motivations.

Encourage the child to further develop their understanding of character development by creating a character profile for a new staff member at the Heartwood Hotel, complete with a backstory and personality traits. They could also write a short story or script involving the interactions between different staff members and guests at the hotel, incorporating elements from the book and their own creative ideas.

Book Recommendations

• The Mouse Watch by J.J. Gilbert: A delightful story featuring animal characters in a similar vein to Heartwood Hotel, perfect for young readers.
• The Unadoptables by Hana Tooke: A heartwarming tale of friendship and adventure, ideal for readers who enjoyed the themes of teamwork and camaraderie in Heartwood Hotel.
• The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall: A charming series about a family of sisters and their adventures, offering a similar sense of warmth and community to Heartwood Hotel.