Friday, August 7, 2015

Fun and Learning with Sue Hendra Stories

 


Are you looking for funny, energetic, and highly engaging stories that children instantly love? Books by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet are a fantastic choice for young learners.

From Supertato to Barry the Fish with Fingers, Norman the Slug with the Silly Shell, and No-Bot, the Robot with No Bottom, their stories combine humor, adventure, and playful characters in a way that keeps children excited about reading.

Whether you’re teaching in an ESL classroom, homeschooling, or working in a primary school, these books are memorable, interactive, and full of learning opportunities.


About the Authors

Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet are a successful author and illustrator team known for creating funny, imaginative picture books loved by children and teachers.

Their books often feature unusual characters, silly situations, expressive illustrations, and themes such as friendship, confidence, teamwork, and problem-solving.

The language is playful and accessible, making their stories ideal for young children and language learners.


Why Use Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet Stories?

Highly Engaging and Funny

Children love stories that make them laugh. Humor increases motivation and attention during storytime.

Great for ESL Learners

Repetitive phrases, clear storylines, and strong illustrations support comprehension and vocabulary development.

Rich in Social-Emotional Learning

Themes such as teamwork, bravery, kindness, persistence, and confidence are naturally included.

Encourages Speaking and Participation

Children enjoy predicting what will happen next, retelling scenes, and reacting to funny moments.

Memorable Characters

Characters like Supertato, Evil Pea, Barry, and Norman are unforgettable and inspire creative learning.


Fun Activities for Any Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet Story

Discussion Time

After reading, ask students:

  • Who was your favorite character?
  • What problem happened in the story?
  • How was the problem solved?
  • What made the story funny?
  • What would you do differently?

This builds speaking confidence and critical thinking.


Act It Out

Turn the story into a role-play:

  • Assign characters
  • Recreate favorite scenes
  • Use simple props
  • Add voices and actions

This improves confidence, comprehension, and fluency.


Sequencing Practice

After reading, ask students to:

  • Put events in order (first, next, then, last)
  • Retell the story using simple sentences
  • Match pictures to story events

This supports both ESL learners and native speakers.


Draw and Tell

Ask students to:

  • Draw their favorite scene
  • Create a new ending
  • Design a new character
  • Illustrate another adventure

Then invite them to explain their ideas.


Vocabulary Practice

Choose key words from the story:

  • Match words to pictures
  • Use words in simple sentences
  • Sort vocabulary into groups

Examples:

  • Characters
  • Foods
  • Actions
  • Feelings
  • Places

Problem-Solving Connections

Many stories include a challenge or conflict.

Ask:

  • What was the problem?
  • Who helped solve it?
  • What other solution could work?

This develops reasoning skills.


Writing Activity

Use simple prompts such as:

  • “My favorite character was…”
  • “If I were in the story, I would…”
  • “The funniest part was…”
  • “Next, Supertato should…”

Students can write or draw responses.

Hands-On Activities

If possible:

  • Create vegetable superheroes
  • Make puppets
  • Build story scenes with blocks
  • Design character masks
  • Create comic strips

These activities make learning memorable and fun.

Create an Exciting Storytime Environment

  • Use props or puppets
  • Create a reading corner
  • Add character voices
  • Encourage audience reactions
  • Celebrate laughter and creativity

These details increase participation.


Stories by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet are more than just funny—they are powerful tools for building language, confidence, creativity, and classroom engagement.

Through playful storytelling and unforgettable characters, children develop communication skills while enjoying every moment.

Whether you focus on speaking, writing, sequencing, or vocabulary, these books adapt beautifully to your classroom.

So choose a story, gather your students, and get ready for lots of laughter and learning.




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