The Blessing Box — Conversation & Activity Starter
By Liv Fuller • Illustration by Quincy Battieste
For late-elementary and middle-grade readers

These original prompts are based on the book description, not a chapter-by-chapter reading guide.

Before reading
1. What makes a gift meaningful? Can an opportunity be a gift?
2. Hugh wants to show that he is ready to care for a dog. What responsibilities would that involve?
3. What does it mean to be your true self when others expect something different?

While reading
1. Notice a moment when Hugh shows persistence. What helps him keep going?
2. How do friends help one another? When can helping become complicated?
3. Look for a choice between what a character wants and what someone else needs.

After reading
1. How has Hugh's understanding of giving changed?
2. What does courage look like in an ordinary day?
3. Which act of kindness mattered most to you, and why?

Activities
• Create an opportunity box: write down kind actions your class could take, then choose one together.
• Design a responsible pet-care plan that includes time, daily tasks, and the help you would need.
• Write or draw a gift that cannot be bought. Explain why it matters.

Facilitator note
Allow written, spoken, or illustrated responses. Invite students to discuss characters without requiring personal disclosures. Experiences of autism vary; one character does not represent everyone.

Author and visit inquiries: livfullerauthor@gmail.com