The Big Green Pocketbook {Book Unit}

The Big Green Pocketbook tells the story of a young girl who spends a day in town running errands with her mother, carrying along her very own empty green pocketbook. As they visit different places—the bus, the shops, and various stops around town—she collects small treasures like a bus ticket, a sample calendar, crayons, and a lollipop, each item becoming a special reminder of their shared adventure. By the end of the day the pocketbook is filled with memories, but when she accidentally leaves it behind on the bus, she experiences a moment of worry and loss. Thankfully, the kind bus driver returns it to her, restoring not only her cherished items but also her sense of comfort and happiness. The story gently celebrates the magic in everyday experiences, the joy of collecting little moments, and the warmth of simple kindness.

Read More: All of my book units collected into one place – I will be adding to them so please do check back!

🎯 Themes & Why The Big Green Pocketbook Resonates

• Everyday magic / small moments matter — The book beautifully highlights how ordinary bits of daily life (a ticket, a lollipop) can become precious memories when we slow down and pay attention.
• Belongings as memory-holders — The pocketbook isn’t just a bag: it’s a collection of experiences, small joys and even the comfort of routine.
• Childhood wonder & imagination — Through the girl’s eyes, mundane errands become little adventures, showing how children can find delight in the everyday.
• Security, loss, and kindness — The moment of losing the pocketbook gives a gentle nod to feelings many children know: worry, fear of loss — and then relief, kindness, and the comfort of things returning safely.

🌟 Discussion Questions

These work beautifully for ages 4–8 and help build comprehension, emotional literacy, and storytelling skills.

🟢 Understanding the Story

1. Where does the girl go with her mother?
   What kinds of errands do they run together?
2. What kinds of things does she collect for her pocketbook?
   Why do you think each item felt important to her?
3. How do you think she felt when she realized the pocketbook was missing?
   Have you ever lost something special?
4. How did the bus driver show kindness?
   Why is kindness important in everyday life?
5. Why do you think the author chose a green pocketbook?
   Does color ever make something feel more special?

💬 Deeper Thinking Questions

6. The pocketbook becomes a memory holder.
   What memories do you keep from big or small adventures?
7. If you carried a pocketbook of your day, what items would be inside?
   What would those things say about who you are?
8. Do small things sometimes remind you of big feelings or moments?
   Why do you think that happens?
9. Why is spending a simple day with a parent special?
   What part of the day in the book do you think the girl will remember the most?
10. What does the story teach us about slowing down?
    How can we notice the “little treasures” in everyday life?

Theme of the Week – Daily Routine

Teaching Their Morning Routine

I used various images from google to make a set of routine cards and a routine board for the little ones to have in their room.  The routine cards are an exact replica of the routine board but are obviously more transportable as they can be attached to a child’s clothes.  I happened to have a frame, whose glass had been shattered, so I framed a set of the cards to make their routine board and popped it up onto the girl’s bedroom wall.  Gary added a screw to the frame for the girls to hang their routine cards:

This is very similar to the schedule she has been on for a little while but without any times attached.  Because of B2’s inconsistent moods (!), time allotments were not working for the younger ones, so we are trying routine rather than schedule.  My goal here is to train her to independently follow her routine rather than relying on me or one of her siblings to remind or help her.  This week all her tray activities have been linked to learning these skills.  She has been really enthusiastic and it shows me how neglected she has been these past couple of years with regards to teaching her useful skills.  Sorry, sweetie-pie!  Here she is wearing her routine prompt cards:

Routine Themed Trays

Breakfast Tray

Learning how to put out her and her little sister’s breakfast.  Usually T11 gives them their breakfasts, simply because he is the first to finish bedroom chores and they are too starving to wait for me.  This skill will remove their need to wait on T11 and will increase their independence.  A4 and I will make up the tray each night, whilst her bath is running in.  The tray, which will contain the bowls, spoons and Weetabix in a pot, will be kept in a low cupboard to enable A4 to reach it.  The milk will be kept in two bottles in the lower shelf of the fridge door.  In the morning she will place a biscuit in each bowl and add the milk:

Brushing Teeth Tray

She has always had a go at brushing her own teeth, but I have never taught her and always brush them for her afterwards.  The goal here is to teach and then observe, until she does it correctly:

Face and Hand Wash Tray

Chore Basket with Apron, Wipes and Duster. 

This will be used to wipe down the cabinets in the kitchen each morning.  I also included a home-made air freshener to spray around the house, which she LOVED!

Making a Snack Tray 

During the morning meeting, before school starts we have a snack of fruit and oat biscuits.  I thought this was a simple enough meal for A4 to prepare as part of her chores and as a way to serve her siblings:

Bedroom chores

A4 already tidies and makes her bed beautifully, and she gets dressed by herself each morning, but B2 does none of these things.  So this will be a good opportunity to teach her.  In fact A4, without me asking, makes both their beds and she dresses B2 (not always in the most attractive combination of clothes, but I never say anything!).  I have made up a sticker chart which they will both use to remind them what they need to do.  Each day they got a sticker in every box they popped a marble in their reward jar, to be exchanged for M’n’Ms at the end of the day:

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🎨 More Activity Ideas Inspired by The Big Green Pocketbook

1. Create Your Own Pocketbook (Craft)

• Fold cardstock or felt into a pocketbook shape.
• Decorate with crayons, stickers, markers, or fabric scraps.
• Add a handle made from yarn or ribbon.
• You could even make it look just like the big green pocketbook from the story.

2. “Memory Treasures” Scavenger Hunt

Let your child collect 5–10 small objects from around the house or outdoors that
represent their day (a leaf, ticket stub, drawing, sticker).
Add them to their big green pocketbook!

3. Pocketbook Journaling Page (Writing / Early Literacy)

Prompt: “Today my pocketbook holds…”
Children draw or write items that would go in their big green pocketbook.

4. Kindness Role-Play

Act out the moment the bus driver returns the pocketbook.
Talk about:

• How kindness feels
• Ways they can be helpers like the bus driver

5. Timeline of the Girl’s Day (Math + Literacy)

List the events in order and create a simple timeline with pictures.
Helps build sequencing skills.

6. Color Exploration Activity

Ask: Why green?
Talk about what different colors can symbolize and how colors make us feel.
Let kids create a “color mood page.”

7. Create a “Little Things Matter” Collage

Cut pictures from magazines or printouts of
small joys (lollipop, bus ticket, crayons, calendar).
Glue into a collage that celebrates ordinary moments.

8. Community Helpers Mini-Lesson

Discuss people who help in everyday life:

• Bus drivers
• Shopkeepers
• Librarians
• Teachers
  Have your child draw one helper and write (or dictate) what they do.

I hope you’ve enjoyed all the fun we’ve had with The Big Green Pocketbook. Next week I will be rowing Prayer for a Child and the theme, of course, will be prayer!

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