Esi: courage in the story

English-language edition | October 2026 | bernard.ink

What makes Esi brave?

Read Esi the Brave together. Look back at the pictures when you explain your ideas.

  1. Where does Esi go with her family?
  2. What happens when Esi cannot find Mummy and Daddy?
  3. What might Esi feel in that moment? Point to a picture that helps you decide.

Feelings can change

  1. Before the festival - draw, say or write your response.
  2. When she is separated - draw, say or write your response.
  3. At the end - draw, say or write your response.

Tell a partner: Esi is brave because ...

Look closer; think further

  1. Why might the masked dancers feel frightening to Esi?
  2. Can someone feel afraid and still act bravely? Use Esi to explain.
  3. How do the pictures and sounds make the festival feel busy?

Draw a scene that helps explain your answer.

My picture shows ...

Teacher notes

Purpose and preparation

20-25 minutes. Notice how a character responds to a difficulty.

Read the book aloud first. Have one copy available to revisit words and pictures. Pupil pages are suitable for black-and-white printing.

Suggested responses

Esi visits the Kakamotobi Festival with her family. She becomes separated from her parents among masked dancers. She tries to get her parents back. Feelings and reasons may differ: require an illustration or action as evidence, not one fixed emotion. The dancers are festival performers, not proof of real monsters.

Support and stretch

Support: Use three feeling pictures or gesture choices; an adult can scribe.

Stretch: Compare Esi at the start and end; give two clues supporting an interpretation.

Teaching links

England KS1 English: discuss stories and infer from actions. US Grade 1 RL.1.3: describe characters and events; SL.1.2: answer questions about a read-aloud.

These are suggested links, not an accredited lesson or a complete curriculum. Grade 1 links do not apply automatically to younger children.

Accept spoken, drawn, dictated or written responses. Do not assess handwriting when the learning focus is understanding.

Sources and teaching references