Book guide: Klara Ek and the dog that wasn't a hamster
Do you wish for a cute little animal?
Klara has always wanted a small hamster. But dad's new girl Malin has a dog. A big dog. Suddenly it is always at Klara's house.
Questions about the book
1. Klara has a little brother, a mother and mother's new boyfriend. But she lives most of the time with her father. How do you live? What is the best thing about living like that?
2. Klara's father tells us that he met a new girl. How do you think Klara feels then? How do you feel when you meet a new person?
3. Klara goes out with Jacky even though she doesn't really want to. Why do you think she does that? When can it be good to do things you don't feel like doing, and when can it be bad?
4. Klara gives some of her ice cream to Jacky. Why do you think she does that?
5. Klara wants a hamster. Why do you think it is precisely a hamster that she wants? Do you want any animal, why or why not?
6. What is important to consider before getting a pet?
7. At first, Klara only likes small animals. Why do you think she does that? What are the good and bad things about small animals?
8. Jacky is a guide dog. Do you know what it means? Is there anything good to think about when you meet a guide dog wearing his white harness?
About visual impairments
Malin in the book has a visual impairment. Anyone who has difficulty reading or who has difficulty orienting themselves with the help of sight has a visual impairment. Many visually impaired testifies to exclusion and obstacles to participation in society in a number of areas. Naturally including visually impaired people in children's books is a way of contributing to countering discrimination. Jacky in the book is a guide dog who through training has learned to lead his handler. When a dog is wearing a white harness, it is working and must not be disturbed. When the guide dog is working, you should therefore avoid petting or talking to it. Something edible near the nose can also break concentration. Other dogs that come too close can also make the guide dog insecure.
About family
Families look different. In Sweden, there are 1.2 million families with children under the age of 18. Three out of ten families are not nuclear families with mother-father-children, despite this the family norm is strong and
many families are made invisible in films, books and magazines. Approximately two out of ten families consist of one parent and one out of ten families have bonus parents (SCB 2022).
Examine the bookshelf
Choose 5-10 books, or more if you want, from your bookshelf at school. What different families are in the books? Do the children have siblings or not and do the children in the books live in one or more places? Compare with how it looks in your class. What do your different families look like?
