A few weeks ago, I was given a free copy of an ebook that was written precisely to teach young children about Teamwork.  CODLEY AND POKIE – TOGETHER WE CAN! by Lisl Fair is filled with colorful illustrations of delightful sea creatures that hold the interest of young children.  This book with its simple vocabulary and easy to understand context is also great for early readers.  My four-year-old girl was even able to read the entire story by herself. 

The story is about how Codley the octopus and Pokie the puffer fish cleaned their shipwreck with the help of other sea creatures residing there as well.  By using their individual capabilities and working as a team, they were able to do what seemed impossible to accomplish.

When I asked my little ones what they liked best about the story, both said that they liked it when all the animals cleaned the mess together.  My 3-year-old boy said, “they cleaned the boat together and then they were happy already.” I guess then that the book was successfully able to convey my young children that working together would lead to positive results.

My children are preschoolers and can relate to Pokie’s initial apprehension about being too small to be of any help.  They too sometimes get frustrated about not being big or strong enough to do certain things.  At their young age, they still need plenty of encouragement (and guidance) as they discover their abilities.

Though this is a children’s book, we adults could learn a lot also about teamwork.  I’m certain that most of us also feel at one point or another that we can’t do anything to help others or even our society because we lack the proper resources or skills needed.  It would be wise for us to heed Pokie’s grandma’s advice, “Just think about one way you can help, no matter how small.”

Codley and the Big Storm – Together We Can! is available in Kindle Edition.  This wonderfully illustrated picture book is a must read for children, especially those who have siblings.  To know more about this book and other great reads, visit http://www.BrainyConnections.com or http://www.facebook.com/BrainyConnections.