Topsy Turvy Tivio loves being a pony and hanging with all of his friends, but when the time comes to start his training, he doesn't make the cut.
Why is he so different from the other horses? He doesn't think he looks or feels different?
Time and time again, his friends are chosen over him, and they get to try new things and go on new adventures. Tivio is lonely and sad.
Will Tivio ever get chosen and find a new friend to share his adventures with?
All children will be 'left out' by their peers or adults at some point in their lives either on purpose or by accident. Regardless, feelings get hurt, and children will experience sadness and loneliness when they are not chosen by other friends on the playground, at friends' parties, or in the lunchroom; they will also experience not being chosen by the teacher in the classroom. They will not get picked for one reason or another because kids develop skills, knowledge, and physical attributes at different times.
You can use Topsy Turvy Tivio's experiences of feeling left out and not getting 'picked' to talk about being a good friend, including others in play, and recognizing each individual's differences. We are all not the same, and that is okay. Tivio's strengths make him special, and he just blossomed into his best self in his own space and time.
