- Title: The Energy Bus
- Author: Jon Bordon
- Reviewed at Nativity by:
The Energy Bus for Kids by Jon Gordon is an illustrated fable that teaches children how to overcome negativity, bullies and daily challenges by cultivating a positive attitude. Following a boy named George who learns to “fuel” his life with positivity, the book introduces five rules to help kids find inner motivation, stay positive, and share positive energy with others. As the book begins, nothing is going right for George and he is struggling with daily life tasks. But as he boards the school bus, the driver magically helps the students learn how to navigate the challenges of life. The illustrations are large and colorful so very appropriate for a group reading of the story. This book might be most appropriate toward the end of summer when students are preparing for back to school and a new year.
Possible Activities:
“Fueling”Your Ride Journaling: Have students identify what brings them joy and positive energy (“fuel”) and what drains them, encouraging them to fill their “tank” with positive thoughts and people.
Bus Tickets to Kindness: Distribute “Bus Tickets’ to students to write positive messages or “good news” to their classmates, promoting positivity and strengthening relationships with the classroom.
“No Energy Vampires” Activity: Discuss what negative behaviors (energy vampires) bring down an individual, and have students create “No Energy Vampires Allowed” signs for their desk to focus on positive self-talk.