Every night when Sonia goes to bed, Mami asks her the same question: How did you help today? And since Sonia wants to help her community, just like her Mami does, she always makes sure she has a good answer to Mami’s question.
In a story inspired by her own family’s desire to help others, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor takes young readers on a journey through a neighborhood where kids and adults, activists and bus drivers, friends and strangers all help one another to build a better world for themselves and their community.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think Sonia’s mother encouraged her to help others?
- What are some ways the children in the book helped others?
- Sonia says that helping can be big or small. What are some small ways you can help someone today?
- How does helping others make you feel?
- Can you think of a time when someone helped you and it made a big impact?
- Why is it important to notice when someone needs help, even if they don’t ask for it?
- How can we be more aware of others’ needs?
- What does it mean to build a better world?
- What can you do at school or at home to help build a better world?
Activities
Just Help Challenge Jar: Fill a jar with slips of paper, each with a simple helping task. Some ideas include: hole the door for someone, write a thank-you note, share a compliment. Each day, pick one slip and complete the challenge.
Family Helping Challenge: As a family, think of some ways you can help other people in your neighborhood. Decide on your favorite and do it together! Some ideas include: cleaning up a local park, volunteering at an animal shelter, donating some of your old toys to a shelter.