In the first grade of De Zevensprong, the HÖNGRY books bring the classroom to life every year. What started with a discovery on social media grew into an extensive theme around healthy eating, full of stories, play and recognizable emotions.
A classroom full of energy and curiosity
Miss Valerie stands in front of a class with 21 energetic and lively children. Reading aloud plays an important role in her classroom.
“My class consists of 21 impulsive, energetic, very active children who have a great need for recognizable situations and playful learning methods. Although many have a rather limited vocabulary, they enjoy it immensely when I read aloud. That's why I do this daily, sometimes even multiple times.”
When teacher Valerie discovered the books on social media, she was immediately drawn to the playful puns, the colorful covers, and the recognizable characters. The characters were so appealing that she immediately ordered the books.
In her class, she works several weeks each year on the theme of healthy eating, so the HÖNGRY stories perfectly matched what was happening in the classroom. Since she didn't have many thematic books on this topic yet, she decided to start working with the books right away.
What also strikes her is that the stories continue to appeal to older children:
“The nice thing is that the books are not only great to read in the lower grades, but these reading sessions were also a real success in the higher grades thanks to the many small wordplays and humorous illustrations. Every time we discover something more or something new.”
More than just reading aloud
In Miss Valerie's class, the stories don't just stay in the books. The fruity characters pop up everywhere: on the theme board, in games, and in various classroom activities.
“I have almost ALL HÖNGRY materials. I can't do without them.”
Posters visually bring the stories to life in the classroom, while puzzles, tattoos, the memory game, and the quartet game are eagerly used during playtimes. Even the hands-on activities were such a success that some students gladly took them home just before the spring break to finish them.
A vibrant theme about fruits and vegetables
In Miss Valerie's class, the HÖNGRY books perfectly complement a larger project around healthy eating, along with initiatives such as De Proefkampioen and Het Land van Calcimus. The stories bring the theme to life and make it relatable for the children.
“The books perfectly support these projects and ensure that this theme really resonates with the children. They want to taste, discover, and learn because Gina Eggplant or Robby Raspberry also show recognizable emotions.”
During reading moments, the characters sometimes even literally become part of the story. "The children are immensely proud when suddenly the Freddie Broccoli plush toy sits on their lap during the story time."
The materials are used a lot in class, but also in small groups. Especially the book Framboos and the accompanying bundle from Miss Sara get a permanent place during the theme weeks. Children want to keep discovering and are often sad when the project is over.
How books about emotions help children in the classroom
The stories generate a lot of engagement in the classroom and some characters turn out to be strikingly recognizable for the students. “Robby Raspberry was a recognizable character for an explosive little character in my class. The story felt familiar and safe to him. He could easily talk about his feelings.”
Interactive stories also prove to be a big hit. For example, De Brock-'n-Rollshow was told multiple times, each time with different choices and thus a different outcome. “I read Freddie Broccoli's book 3 times. Each time, the children were curious about the outcome of the story. 1 book and told 3 different ways. The children found the book hilarious and together we all played air guitar."
These different choices always sparked new conversations in the classroom. And the characters? They clearly stick around. “Currently, they no longer talk about a tomato, but Teddy Tomato.” Sometimes the enthusiasm even continues at home:
“This school year I had a child for the first time who was so enthusiastic that his parents ordered the storyboards of Framboos. He proudly came to tell me that he could now read aloud at home.”
Why HÖNGRY books continue to surprise
What Miss Valerie particularly appreciates about the books is that they continue to surprise. “Every time we discover new details. Sometimes the children show me new things, sometimes I point out funny puns or small details in the illustrations.”
According to her, that is precisely the power of the books: stories that continue to captivate, characters that are recognizable, and humor that always sparks something in the classroom. “The enthusiasm of the children and myself makes me absolutely love working with the HÖNGRY materials.”
HÖNGRY year after year in the classroom
After several years of working with the books, the enthusiasm in the classroom remains high. “It's a shame you can't see how many genuine smiles you've put on my kids' faces (year after year). The enthusiasm and eagerness to learn of the children is truly priceless!”
And Miss Valerie is already looking forward to new stories. “I remain a loyal fan and hope for many more new adventures (maybe even new characters? Cherries are my favorite ;-) ).”
Do you also feel like getting started with the HÖNGRY gang in the classroom? On our education page you will find free lesson inspiration, materials and ideas to keep the stories alive in the classroom.