Resource Filters Description More information about this book
More information about this book

Book Description

Resource Type

  • Pre-Reading Activities
  • During Reading Activities
  • Post-Reading Activities

Skills and Subjects

  • Making Connections
  • Oral Language
  • Social & Emotional Learning
  • Vocabulary Acquisition
  • Comprehension Strategies
  • Make Predictions
  • Visual Elements
  • Character Development
  • Critical Thinking in Literacy
  • Key Ideas & Details
  • Developing & Creating Texts
  • Integrated Learning
  • Writing
  • Just for Fun!
  • Further Research
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Lonely Me

A young child talks about the times when they feel lonely, and the ways they find to cope — now in the bestselling Emotions and Me series.

    Book Genre:

  • Picture Books

    Audience:

  • ages 3 to 6 / grades P to 1

Written by

  • Sandra V. Feder

Illustrated by

  • Ashley Barron

  • Book Description

    Lonely Me explores the many ways children experience loneliness in their everyday lives. Through simple yet powerful examples, readers learn that loneliness can happen when they feel ignored, left out, afraid, different, overwhelmed or disconnected from others. As the story unfolds, the child discovers healthy ways to respond to lonely feelings by reaching out, asking for help, finding connection and showing kindness to others. Through gentle text and expressive illustrations, the book reassures young readers that loneliness is a normal feeling and that meaningful relationships can help us feel connected and supported again.

    Loneliness is a universal human experience that can affect children in many ways. Lonely Me helps young readers recognize, name and understand feelings of loneliness while exploring healthy coping strategies and relationship-building skills. The book encourages emotional awareness, self-reflection, communication, empathy and resilience, while reinforcing that everyone experiences lonely feelings at times.

  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Making Connections, Oral Language, Social & Emotional Learning
    Belonging Brainstorm

    Ask students to complete the sentence, “I feel like I belong when … .” Record responses on a class chart. Discuss common themes and help students understand the importance of feeling included and connected.

  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Social & Emotional Learning, Vocabulary Acquisition
    What Does Lonely Feel Like?

    Display emotion cards featuring different facial expressions. Invite students to identify each emotion and discuss situations that might cause those feelings. Introduce the word “lonely” and encourage students to share examples of times when people might feel lonely. Record student responses on chart paper and revisit the chart after reading the book.

  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies, Make Predictions, Visual Elements
    Picture Walk Predictions

    Conduct a picture walk using the illustrations. Ask students what they notice about the child’s facial expressions, body language, and surroundings. Encourage students to predict what the story may be about and how the child might be feeling.

  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Character Development, Oral Language, Social & Emotional Learning
    Friendship Web

    Using a ball of yarn, students sit in a circle and share the name of someone who helps them feel connected. Each student holds onto the yarn and passes it to another classmate. Discuss how everyone is connected through relationships.

  • Pre-Reading Activities/ Social & Emotional Learning, Vocabulary Acquisition
    Feeling Words Collection

    Students brainstorm words related to feelings and emotions. Create a classroom word wall featuring emotional vocabulary that can be referenced throughout the study.

  • During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies, Critical Thinking in Literacy, Key Ideas & Details
    Feelings Detective

    Pause throughout the story and ask students how they know the child is feeling lonely. Encourage them to use clues from both the text and illustrations.

  • During Reading Activities/ Making Connections, Oral Language, Social & Emotional Learning
    Text-to-Self Connections

    After each loneliness example in the book, invite students to quietly reflect on whether they have experienced something similar. Discuss how people may experience loneliness in different ways.

  • During Reading Activities/ Critical Thinking in Literacy, Social & Emotional Learning
    Lonely Thoughts and Helpful Thoughts
    Create a T-chart comparing lonely thoughts and helpful responses. As students encounter examples in the story, discuss positive coping strategies.
  • During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies, Make Predictions
    Prediction Pause

    Before reaching the solutions section in the book, ask students to predict what the child might do to feel less lonely. Compare student predictions with the strategies presented in the text.

  • During Reading Activities/ Critical Thinking in Literacy, Visual Elements
    Illustration Investigation

    Study the illustrations closely and discuss how color, size, placement and artistic choices help communicate feelings of loneliness and connection.

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Developing & Creating Texts, Social & Emotional Learning
    My Connection Plan

    Students create a personal plan describing healthy ways they can respond when they feel lonely.

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Character Development, Oral Language, Social & Emotional Learning
    Friendship Role Play

    Students act out scenarios involving loneliness and practice supportive responses that promote inclusion and kindness.

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Integrated Learning, Social & Emotional Learning, Visual Elements
    We All Belong Mural
    Students create self-portraits and combine them into a class mural celebrating diversity, belonging and friendship.
  • Post-Reading Activities/ Character Development, Social & Emotional Learning
    Kindness Challenge

    Students complete daily acts of kindness for one week and reflect on how their actions impact others.

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Developing & Creating Texts, Social & Emotional Learning, Writing
    From Lonely to Connected Storybook

    Students create a simple storybook showing a character moving from loneliness to connection through healthy actions and supportive relationships.

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Just for Fun!
    Ribbon Connections Craft

    Students create ribbon chains featuring photos or their own drawings of people who help them feel connected.

     

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Just for Fun!
    Feelings Collage

    Students create collages showing different emotions using magazines and classroom materials.

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Just for Fun!
    Emotional Charades

    Students act out emotions while classmates guess the feeling being represented.

  • Post-Reading Activities/ Further Research
    Community Helpers

    Students research counselors, teachers, coaches and other adults who help children feel connected.