Hank Goes Honk: Classroom Read Aloud of the Month
“How can a goose be obnoxious? Oh, just you wait and see.” Hank Goes Honk by Maudie Powell-Tuck and illustrated by Duncan Beedie is the perfect read-aloud for celebrating kindness. Read it during your next elementary classroom visit or field trip to the library for endless giggles and fun. Hank’s interruptions and rude behavior will cause giggles and teach students a lesson or two about being considerate to others. Use these discussion questions and extension activities during your next school outreach event, classroom visit, book club, or book party.
Setting the Stage
This hilarious children’s picture book has wide appeal for ages 3 through 7 and features themes of kindness, listening, friendship, and not giving up. The book is made for a performance, and storytellers will have a blast making the obnoxious “HONK! BANG!” interruptions and pausing for effect to create tension with the illustrations. Will Hank pop the balloon or not???!
Here is an intro blurb to set the stage for students before reading the book aloud:
“Raise your hand if you’re good at sharing toys. What about listening? Do you ALWAYS listen when other people are talking? Do you ever interrupt them? That would be rude, right? Well, Hank isn’t just rude; he’s obnoxious and has trouble controlling himself. Let’s see if Hank can learn how to be a better friend…”
Discussion Questions
Here are some follow-up questions for further engagement:
- What did you think? Thumbs up or thumbs down for Hank Goes Honk?
- How was Hank obnoxious to his friends and classmates at the start of the book? (Interrupted, took cherries from cupcakes, honked in the library & movies, ate books, popped balloons, etc.)
- Why did Hank’s actions make him feel lonely?
- What were some changes Hank made to be more patient and considerate? (Take turns, listen to others, share toys, help others cross the street, play with everyone, NOT pop balloons, etc.)
- Was it easy for Hank to change? Why not?
Take Home Activity
Providing an extension activity for students to enjoy after you leave OR to take home will cement your visit in their minds and increase the likelihood that caregivers become aware of the library.
Provide students with blank paper to draw their favorite scene from the story. On the backside of the sheet, include a note to parents and caregivers with the library’s contact info, read-alikes for the story you read, and a list of upcoming library events for their age group.
More Extension Activities
If time and budget allow, here are more activities to enjoy with Hank Goes Honk or to use in a Book Club or Book Party:
Draw Along with Duncan Beedle
Share one of Duncan Beedle’s Draw Along videos with the kids to learn to draw a character with Hank Goes Honk illustrator Duncan Beedle. You’ll need a laptop or screen to show the video, paper, and pencils. The videos are only about five minutes each and include fun facts about Beedle’s process.
Read-Alikes
If your readers loved Hank Goes Honk, they will also enjoy:
If you read Hank Goes Honk and decide it’s not your cup of tea, that’s ok! Visit The Youth Desk’s Outreach page for more great classroom read-alouds and tips.
