What If Everybody Did That?
By Ellen Javernick
The Story
A child breaks one small rule after another — feeding popcorn to a zoo bear, dropping a can out the car window — while an adult keeps asking a simple question: what if everybody did that?
Why It's Special
For the kid who insists 'it's just one little thing,' this book gently walks through what happens when everybody thinks that way too.
- Big idea: Small choices add up — one person's 'just this once' becomes everyone's mess.
- Vibes: Playful but pointed, with a repeating question that turns into a lesson.
Perfect For Kids Who
- are working on understanding rules and consequences
- enjoy spotting the silly results of bad behavior
- respond well to a repeated question they can answer themselves
- like to talk through cause and effect
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: What happened after the can got dropped out of the car window?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever thought 'it's just one time' before doing something you weren't supposed to?
- Imagination: What do you think would happen if everybody fed popcorn to the bear at the zoo?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think the animals at the zoo felt about being fed the wrong food?
- Story & problem-solving: Why do you think the grown-up kept asking 'what if everybody did that?'
