Welcome to week 5 of Summer Book Club! Is summer flying by for you, too? Well, this beautiful and lyrical picture book, The World to Come, written by Robert Macfarlane and Johnny Flynn and illustrated by Emily Sutton, is the perfect way to slow down and savor the wonder of this season and the world around us.
During the pandemic, songwriter Johnny Flynn and his son would sit underneath a weeping willow tree and watch the river and wonder what the world would be like in the future. A song emerged that was rich with rhymes, sounds, and lovely lyrics about a father and son who walk together through an ever-changing landscape and imagine a world to come that's filled with hope. Beginning with "We are sat in the wish and the wave of our willow," this beautiful book sings with a love of words, sound patterns, and rhythm, and vividly conjures the magic of nature along with an enduring vision for the future of our world.
Day 1: Read & Discuss
Begin by reading the story aloud together, taking your time and pausing to look closely at the gorgeous illustrations created by artist Emily Sutton. Her vibrant and detailed illustrations make the world of this story come to life and give "loft and lift to the words."
When you've finished looking at all the illustrations and reading the story, ask your children what stood out about this book and what were some of their favorite images and moments from it. What lines made a big impression? Did any questions arise from the arrangement of different words together? These kinds slow and thoughtful conversations are simple ways that encourage a story to really sink in so that kids remember them long after turning the last page.
To help guide the conversation, we've put together a list of some discussion questions and prompts specific to The World to Come below.
- Does knowing that this picture book started out as a song change the way you hear the words?
- Have you ever read a picture book that was a song first?
- What signs of nature changing did you notice throughout the story? If you took a slow walk today, what do you think you would notice that you normally miss?
- One of the most unique and wonderful parts of this book is the surprising arrangement of words. What are some of your favorite combinations of words in this book?
- Do you have a special tree that you like to sit near and notice the world around you? If not, talk about ideas for finding one!
- What are some small things we can do today to help care for the world around us?
- Does this book make you feel hopeful for the future?
Day 2: Writing & Drawing Prompt
On the second day, return to the story and retell it together. Share some more of your favorite parts and moments. One of the beautiful traditions in Waldorf education is extending a story through art, writing, dramatic play, and conversation.
If you would like, you can use playsilks and encourage children to dance to the story and bring it to life through movement and imaginative play. You can play the song that inspired the book and move to the music as well. Or gather crayons, colored pencils, and paper and place it nearby the book, allowing for a spot where kids can draw, write, and revisit the story whenever they get inspired. To help bring this story even more to life, we've created a prompt to inspire drawing and creative writing.
- Head outside together and find a quiet place to sit for five minutes. Listen closely, notice what you see, and talk about the little details you might otherwise miss. Just like the father and son beneath the willow tree, let yourselves wonder about the world around you and the world to come.
- Then write as many details from what you notice on paper. Everything from the way the bird calls sound to the how the air feels on your skin. Draw what you see as well. This is what poets and artists do, they notice and then record. Take what you have observed and rearrange the lines and place words next to each other in silly or surprising ways. Play with the language and let it take a shape. This is how poems and songs are created.
Day 3: Paired Craft - Decorate a Tomorrow Jar
After imagining the future through the pages of The World to Come, it's time to create a "Tomorrow Jar" filled with hopes, dreams, and all the wonderful things to come. Invite your children to think about the future. What do they hope for? It could be a wish for themselves, their family, their community, nature, or even the whole world. Your Tomorrow Jar can become a lovely reminder that the future is something we help shape with kindness, curiosity, and hope. Return to it throughout the year to add new wishes or open it together one day to reflect on the dreams you shared.
View the full craft here.
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