The Big Cheese (Jory John)

Title: Big Cheese

Author: Jory John 

Illustrator: Pete Oswald 

Target Ages: 6 and up

Genre: Fiction Picture Book

Summary: Big Cheese is used to being the best at everything in the village of Curdly. Whether it’s chess, high dives, or endurance, he always comes out on top—and he makes sure everyone knows it. But when a quiet, humble newcomer named Wedge wins the annual Cheese-Athlon, Big Cheese's world is turned upside down. This story follows his journey from being a boastful winner to discovering that the "greatest" thing you can be is someone who knows how to have fun and be a friend.

First Lines: “I’m the big cheese. I’m the biggest. I’m the cheesiest. I’m the… well, you get the idea.”

Memorable Moment: “I’d become so focused on winning that I was missing out on the joy of participating.”

Evaluation: Jory John masterfully tackles the topic of competitive ego in a way that is both hilarious and deeply relatable for students. The story highlights a protagonist whose entire identity is wrapped up in his "presence," "vibe," and the "energy" he emanates. This provides a perfect entry point for discussing self-worth and how it is often mistakenly tied to external achievements.

The character of Wedge is a brilliant addition, serving as a perfect literary foil to Big Cheese. While Big Cheese is loud, bold, and dominates every conversation, Wedge is quiet, shy, and keeps to himself. The author uses this stark contrast to emphasize Big Cheese’s imbalance; Wedge’s calm humility acts as a mirror that reflects Big Cheese’s exhausting need for constant validation. The turning point is "absolutely baffling" to Big Cheese, not just because he loses, but because he sees that Wedge doesn't need the spotlight to be "great."

Pete Oswald’s illustrations capture this dynamic perfectly, showing Big Cheese’s "disconcerting" journey through every emotion from "ARRGH!" to "WAHHH!" until he is finally exhausted. The shift from being a "sharp" competitor to a "mild" friend is a lesson in sportsmanship that every classroom needs.

Now, Prove It! — Theme with Evidence

Students analyze key ideas, gather supporting quotes, and use structured sentence starters to explain how the evidence proves a theme. This resource helps readers practice moving from what happens in the story to what it means. Get your copy of Now, Prove It: Big Cheese.

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Activities and Extension Ideas for Lesson Plans:

• Creative Writing: Wedge’s Perspective. Since the book is narrated by Big Cheese, have students write a "lost chapter" from Wedge's point of view. How did he feel during the race? What did he think of Big Cheese’s loud personality?

• Figurative Language: Identify and discuss the puns and other figurative language in the story.  

• History & Culture: The Origins of "The Big Cheese." Have students research the origin of the idiom "The Big Cheese" (it is often attributed to the Urdu word chiz, meaning "a thing"). Use this book to discuss other idioms.

• Literary Devices: The Power of the Foil. Discuss the definition of a "foil" (a character who contrasts with another character to highlight particular qualities). Have students create a T-chart comparing Big Cheese's traits (Loud, Bold, Boastful) to Wedge's traits (Quiet, Shy, Humble) to see how the contrast makes Big Cheese's imbalance more obvious.

• Physical Education: The Curdly Cheese-Athlon. Organize a "Cheese-Athlon" with non-traditional cheesy events. Focus the scoring on "Sportsmanship Points" rather than just who finished first to reinforce the book's theme.

• Science Connection: The Science of Cheese. Move outside the "Food Group" themes by exploring how cheese is actually made. Discuss the differences between "sharp" and "mild" cheeses and how the author uses these culinary terms to describe the characters' personalities.

• Social-Emotional Learning: Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset. Big Cheese starts with a fixed mindset where his worth is tied only to winning. Discuss how his shift to enjoying the "joy of participating" represents a growth mindset. How does his attitude toward Wedge change once he stops seeing him only as a rival?

• Symbolism: This book is ideal to use when teaching symbolism for all ages.  Grab my Teaching Symbolism with Picture Book Activity.

• Theme: Teach theme with this picture book: The Big Cheese.

The Humble Pie (Jory John)

Title: The Humble Pie

Author: Jory John 

Illustrator: Pete Oswald 

Target Ages: 6 and up

Genre: Fiction Picture Book

Summary: Humble Pie is the ultimate people-pleaser. He never brags, never gloats, and gladly lifts others up so they can shine—especially his outgoing best friend, Jake. But when his refusal to take credit or speak up leads to a mountain of work and a massive amount of stress, Humble Pie reaches his breaking point. This story follows his journey from being a "doormat" to discovering that you can be modest while still having the courage to stand up for yourself.

First Lines: “I’m a humble pie. A very humble pie. I don’t brag. I won’t gloat. I never take credit.”

Memorable Moment: “I didn’t exactly love the idea of confronting my best friend, but it had to be done. And for once, I wasn’t going to sugarcoat it.”

Evaluation: While many children's books focus on the importance of being humble, Jory John takes a sophisticated look at the "dark side" of extreme modesty. The story explores the delicate boundary between being a kind friend and losing one's own voice. It addresses a specific type of social-emotional struggle: the "people-pleaser" who becomes overwhelmed because they are afraid to say "no" or "that was my idea."

The character of Jake serves as a perfect foil. He isn't a "villain," but his natural confidence and tendency to take the spotlight create a vacuum that Humble Pie's silence fills. This dynamic brilliantly illustrates how even good friendships can become unbalanced if one person stops advocating for themselves.

John uses this workload to show that "too much humility" isn't just a personality trait—it's a recipe for burnout. The resolution is satisfying because Humble Pie doesn't change who he is; he simply adds a layer of "icing" to his character in the form of healthy boundaries.

Pete Oswald’s illustrations capture the shift in the narrator’s "crust" beautifully. The visual contrast between Humble Pie’s shrinking posture and Jake’s "room-lighting" energy helps young readers identify the power imbalance before the narrator even speaks it. The puns remain a highlight, keeping the tone light even as the book tackles the heavy topic of mental and emotional load.

I highly recommend The Humble Pie for any classroom focusing on self-advocacy and boundaries. It is a must-have for teaching students that their hard work deserves to be seen and that speaking up for yourself is a form of kindness, too.

Now, Prove It! — Theme with Evidence 

Students analyze key ideas, gather supporting quotes, and use structured sentence starters to explain how the evidence proves a theme. This resource helps readers practice moving from what happens in the story to what it means. Get your copy of Now, Prove It: The Humble Pie.

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Activities and Extension Ideas for Lesson Plans:

• Character Education: The "Doormat" vs. The "Pillar." Discuss the difference between being helpful (lifting others up) and being a "doormat" (letting others walk over you). What are the signs that you might be doing too much for others and not enough for yourself?
• Comparison: The Big Cheese vs. The Humble Pie. These two books are perfect opposites. One character has too much ego, while the other has too little. How do both characters eventually find a "middle ground"?
• Creative Writing: The Balanced Recipe. Have students write a "recipe" for a healthy personality. How many cups of humility do you need? How many tablespoons of "Speaking Up" or "Confidence"?
• Figurative Language: This book is a goldmine for baking-related idioms and puns. Explore phrases like "sugarcoating it," "icing on the cake," "piece of cake," and "half-baked idea." Have students draw the literal meaning vs. the figurative meaning.
• Role-Play: "The Tough Conversation." Humble Pie mentions that he "didn't love the idea of confronting his best friend." Have students practice role-playing a "tough conversation" where they ask for help or take credit for their work in a way that is firm but kind.
• Social Skills:  Discuss what it looks like to "share the spotlight." How can we be like the reformed Jake and make sure we are giving our friends credit for their contributions?
• Symbolism: This book is ideal to use when teaching symbolism for all ages.  Grab my Teaching Symbolism with Picture Book Activity.
• Theme: Teach theme with this picture book: The Humble Pie.
• Writing: Have students write a short paragraph describing a day in the life of Humble Pie one month after the story ends. How does he handle his chores and his friendship with Jake now that he has found his voice?

The Lion Inside (Rachel Bright)

Title:  The Lion Inside

Author:  Rachel Bright

Illustrator:  Jim Field

Target Ages: 3 and up

Genre: Picture Book

Publisher Summary:

You do not have to be BIG and BRAVE to find your roar. 

Being little isn’t always easy.  But when Mouse sets off on a journey to find his roar, his discovers that even the smallest creature can have the heart of a lion.

First Lines: 

In a dry, dusty place

where the sand sparkled gold,

Stood a might flat rock –

all craggy and old.

And under that rock

in a tinyful house;

Lived the littlest, quietest,

meekest brown mouse.

Memorable Moment:

Yes, that day they BOTH learned

that, no matter your size,

We all have a mouse

AND

a lion inside.

Evaluation: 

The rhyming lyrical language along with the energetic illustrations make The Lion Inside an entertaining read out loud book.  There are plenty of thrills from the lion lifting a hippo to show off his strength to the mouse trudging through the scary landscape to face his fear.  Illustrator Jim Field shifts to different perspectives to give readers a full sense of the tension and action. 

The author Rachel Bright has created interactive opportunities.  There are fun sound words like eeek, roar, and squeak that children will want to mimic.  She utilizes the ellipsis to build suspense and to encourage children to guess (or remember) what will happen next. 

However, the best part of the story is message.   Mouse, a small and meek character, finds his voice while lion, a loud and proud character, learns to be more humble.   The ultimate lesson learned is that everyone has a little mouse and little lion inside. 

I recommend The Lion Inside for your next storytime.  This interactive and engaging text is sure to be a hit!

Ideas for Extension Activities at Home or Lesson Plans for Teachers:

• Comparison:  Compare and contrast the lion and the mouse.  An important area of comparison is how they both have a fear. 
• Rhyming Words:  Identify the rhyming words in each poetic stanza.  Brainstorm other words that rhyme with them.
• Alliteration:  Several lines have words that begin with the same sound.  See if the child/children can identify the matching words.
• Character:  Discuss how mouse learns to be bold by finding his voice and speaking out.   Talk about the right way of being bold and the wrong way (rude, showy, arrogant). 
• Literature:  Read a comparable story like Aesop’s “The Lion and the Mouse.”  Jerry Pickney has a picture book version.  
• Art:  Plan a fun craft project to make a lion and a mouse.
• Dramatic Play:  Children can act out the story using simple props:  Lion and Mouse masks. 
• Sound Words:  Identify sounds words (onomatopoeia) in the story, such as gulp, squeak, roar, grrrr, and eeek. 
• Science:  Read about the African savannah. 

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