1 red delicious apple, 1 granny smith apple, 1 orange, 1 slice of watermelon, 1 bunch of banana and 1 pineapple – what’s their story?

I love fruit. Australia has such a great variety of fruit we get to enjoy throughout the year. The government has been promoting healthy eating in schools and daycare centres/preschools jumped on the bandwagon by partnering with parents to encourage children to pack fruit in their lunch boxes. I felt it necessary to write a draw and tell story about fruit but the story turned out to be much more than just fruit.

Whilst drawing the fruit I realised how different they are to one another. They all have different appearances, colours, tastes and shapes. When eaten individually they taste delicious but when we mix them together as a fruit salad they complement one another and taste even better.

Identity and respecting one another’s uniqueness are important concepts to teach children from an early age. It is not too early to teach children as young as 3 years old about the concept of healthy sense of wellbeing and the importance of embracing one another’s uniqueness. No matter what our appearances, backgrounds and cultures are, we all have gifts and talents to contribute. When we unite and pool together all our gifts and talents we can contribute so much more to those less fortunate than ourselves and to the world at large.

Amy, the red delicious apple, is the main character of this story hence this eBook is called Draw and Tell Amy. The story is about Amy spending her School holiday at her grandma’s and one by one her ‘fruit’ friends appeared.

Draw and Tell Amy is one of the chosen stories I present at daycare centres/preschools. After storytelling we usually set up an activity where children prepare seasonal fruit together and learn about turn-taking and team work. Children also get to share the fruit salad afterwards. Feedback from the teachers so far have been positive in that after listening to Draw and Tell Amy the children were interested in participating in this activity and eating the fruit.

You can preview Draw and Tell Amy by visiting our website www.rainbowballs.com.au

Happy reading and healthy eating!

Till next time....

Simone