Mimi's Strategy

Mimi's Strategy Synopsis

What can a child do when green vegetables look strange, smell different, and seem impossible to eat?

Hildy does not like green vegetables, and dinner becomes a struggle whenever Mama serves them. Mimi tells Hildy that Mama once disliked green vegetables too, and she shares the "Noodle" song Zeze used to sing to encourage Mama to taste unfamiliar foods. Hildy learns that refusing something before trying it means she may never discover whether or not she actually likes it, so she uses Mimi's strategy at the dinner table.

Mimi's Strategy: "The next time you sit down for dinner, I want you to STOP and picture in your mind your Mama as a little girl with Zeze singing to her."

What children will learn:
- Consider trying something first before deciding you dislike it.
- Use memory and imagination to approach an unpleasant task differently.
- Recognize that preferences can change through experience.
- Practice calm, constructive decision-making during family meals.
Perfect for:
- Homeschool and public-school families discussing food, habits, and willingness to try new things.
- Homeschool and public-school educators teaching practical life skills through stories.
- Parents handling recurring mealtime resistance with a values-based approach.
- Grandparents who want a family read-aloud that connects generations.

Part of the growing Mimi's Strategy series, an expanding collection of illustrated books by Linda Goudsmit that turn everyday childhood problems into opportunities to stop, think, and choose a successful strategy to solve each problem. Designed for ages 3-8, the series gives families and educators a warm, repeatable way to talk about responsibility, independence, competence, self-control, critical thinking, and family life.

"Learning to think strategically rather than react emotionally is a valuable skill that will empower any child throughout his or her life. Plus, I have yet to meet the child who would prefer a reprimand to a kiss." - Linda Goudsmit