Fair Shares: questions to ask and activities to try
Bear and Hare want the juicy pears, but Hare is much smaller than Bear. Fair Shares is a simple, funny way to talk about a very big question: what does fair really mean?
What age is it for? Fair Shares is best for ages 3–6. Good for: What's fair, and why fair isn't always the same.
Fair Shares (Pippa Goodhart and Anna Doherty)
- Age
- 3-6
- Best for
- What's fair, and why fair isn't always the same
Read it once and enjoy the chairs piling up. Next time, stop when Bear and Hare each have the same number of chairs and ask your child if that's fair. Many children think fair always means equal, so this one is great for sibling squabbles.
Why I like this one
Fair Shares is a clever little book about the difference between equal and fair, which is a hard idea for young children and an argument most families have weekly.
I'd read it when siblings are squabbling over who got more, but not in the middle of the squabble. Once everyone is calm, ask, “Is it fair if everyone gets exactly the same?” It's a good one for showing that fair sometimes means different things for different people.
Apoorva, Growing Wise
What it helps with
- “It's not fair!” moments, especially between siblings
- Seeing that fair can mean everyone gets what they need
- Sharing and working out problems together
- Thinking about how someone else sees a situation
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “Why couldn’t Hare reach the pears?”
- “Was it fair that Hare had two chairs and Bear had one?”
- “When they had the same, why didn’t it work?”
- “What did the little friend suggest?”
- “When have you said “that’s not fair”? What happened?”
- “Is fair always the same for everyone?”
5-minute activities to try together
Fair or same?
Share a few snacks between people of different sizes or ages. Talk about what's fair, and whether that's the same as equal.
Reach the pear
Hang a soft toy just out of reach. Take turns working out what each person needs to reach it, and notice it's different for everyone.
Free printables: Fair Shares worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
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If your child liked this, try
The Highway Rat (Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler)
- Best for
- Taking what isn't yours, greed and learning to share
- Age
- 3-6
The Smartest Giant in Town (Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler)
- Best for
- Kindness, generosity and giving to others
- Age
- 3-6
The Day the Crayons Quit (Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers)
- Best for
- Seeing things from someone else's point of view
- Age
- 3-7
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 10 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.