There is a reason Wonder has been on the New York Times bestseller list over five years; it’s because the Choose Kind movement is such an important one. Wonder
is being read and discussed in classrooms across the country now. I’m so glad that they brought this story to life to share the message even further with our youth.
Wonder is out in theaters now. Get your tickets now.
Three cheers for all the Star Wars references and space gear in Auggies room! They brought a little extra love to the story.
Wonder will pull at your heartstrings and trigger some strong emotions. But right when you feel that tear roll down your cheek you’ll get a funny joke to make you burst out laughing. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house, and I suggest you bring some tissues. Wonder tells the story of Auggie Pullman, a little boy with facial differences who has been home-schooled by his mother. Isabel Pullman, Auggie’s mother, played by Julia Roberts decides that having Auggie enter into the fifth grade along with all the other kids will be best for his education. We experience Auggie’s first year in school making new friends, dealing with bullies, and smashing the science questions. 
Jacob Tremblay is stunning as Auggie Pullman. Wonder isn’t just about Auggie Pullman though; you experience what it is like for everyone around Auggie as well. You see how his friends and sister handle life as well. It’s an important topic from all angles. Parents raising special needs children, siblings dealing with the lack of attention, and children treating others with kindness. It all plays an important role. That is why it is important to share this film with your children.
“Mr. Browne’s September Precept: When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.” #ChooseKind #WonderTheMove Click to Tweet
My daughter started reading the book at school but hadn’t finished it before the movie screening. She was excited to see how Auggie’s facial differences have been brought to life on the big screen. When we left, I immediately bought the book so that we could read it together as a family. I also discovered two other great books that will be coming home with us. The Choose Kind Journal
where you do one wonderful thing every day and 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne’s Precepts
. That’s 365 days of greatness that we have planned for 2019! The journal
prompts writers to reflect on ways they can actively be kind every day to the people in their lives and to themselves. Filled with quotes from the book
and questions that are both fun and insightful, this journal is the perfect gift for a Wonder fan and a great activity for parents to do with their kids. In Mr. Browne’s Precepts, his selections celebrate the goodness of human beings, the strength of people’s hearts, and the power of people’s wills. There’s something for everyone here, with words of wisdom from such noteworthy people as Anne Frank, Martin Luther King Jr., Confucius, Goethe, Sappho—and over 100 readers of Wonder who sent R. J. Palacio their own precepts.
[ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”6″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_slideshow” gallery_width=”600″ gallery_height=”400″ cycle_effect=”fade” cycle_interval=”10″ show_thumbnail_link=”1″ thumbnail_link_text=”[Show thumbnails]” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]
Wonder opens up an important dialogue for parents to talk with their kids about why it is always better to choose kind. While Wonder does covering bullying, it misses the aspect of cyberbullying that has become the focus of recent years. Regardless, bullying is bullying. What I hope my kids take away from Wonder the most are the little details about how it’s not polite to stare, or that everyone is different on the outside and that is what makes us unique. No one is better than anyone else. Life is not a competition to see who has the most friends, the most money, or the least amount of scars. Sometimes I wish life was measured in kindness and empathy though. I think it would make our world a better place. We can start by teaching the younger generations.
“I think there should be a rule that everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their lives.” Today, that goes to Wonder.
