What’s the most boring thing you know about _? What’s the most interesting thing you know about _? What’s the most beautiful thing you know about _? (older students can be challenged to focus on the use of poetic language). From this discussion, ask students how they might decide on the most beautiful thing about you. Model this investigation by asking, “What is beautiful about me?” and list your special features (e.g., I sing and play guitar, I tell funny stories, I let the class have centres). Using yourself as the example, examine what might be beautiful about people, going beyond physical features to include talents, gifts, background and interests. The story ends with the question, “What’s the Most beautiful thing you know about you?” Ask, “How would you investigate this question?” Brainstorm possible ways of investigating (e.g., ask a friend, ask their parents, get ideas from the picture book about what is beautiful).

Draw attention to the various features suggested–no answer is wrong, each adds to our information about horses. Make a list of wonderful the qualities that Van Camp discovers. List the characters and their responses on a chart. Ask students, “What does this mean and how did the author investigate?” Ask students to identify the people consulted and what the author asked them as he investigated what was beautiful about horses.

After reading the story, draw students’ attention to the word “investigating” used by the author. Richard Van Camp lists many lovely traits and features of horses.

This challenge invites students to investigate the most beautiful (lovely or wonderful) feature about them as individuals.

Discuss how using comparisons in writing helps the reader to create imagery and to better understand the text and what the author is trying to say.

Reread the story a second time to try to add to the list of comparisons. Read “What’s the Most Beautiful…”book to students once, then make a list of the comparisons they remember from the story. The book lists many comparisons, some obvious some more subtle.Van Camp’s Board books are excellent resources for a Roots of Empathy program.

Create a Venn Diagram about horses and dogs to compare and contrast their characteristics.

Little you by richard van camp