Phyllis's Orange Shirt: questions to ask and activities to try
Phyllis's granny bought her a shiny new orange shirt for her first day at school, and it was taken away. This gentle true story for young children explains Orange Shirt Day and why every child matters.
What age is Phyllis's Orange Shirt for?
Phyllis's Orange Shirt is best for ages 4–7.
Phyllis's Orange Shirt (Phyllis Webstad and Brock Nicol)
- Age
- 4-7
- Best for
- Introducing Orange Shirt Day and why every child matters
Only 50pPhyllis’s Orange Shirt activity sheet3 printable pages: questions to talk about, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the grown-up. Instant PDF.
Just want the questions? Get the free question card ↓
Read it calmly and let your child lead with questions. Keep answers simple and honest, and focus on how Phyllis felt and how people remember her story today.
Is this book right for your child?
- Age
- 4–7 (Reception to Year 2)
- What they'll enjoy
- Phyllis's granny bought her a shiny new orange shirt for her first day at school, and it was taken away. This gentle true story for young children explains Orange Shirt Day and why every child matters.
- Helps with
- Introducing Orange Shirt Day and why every child matters
- Buy or borrow?
- Borrow it from the library first if you can. If your child asks for it again and again, it’s one worth owning, and the questions and activities on this page work best with the book open next to you.
What it helps with
- Understanding Orange Shirt Day
- Fairness and how others feel
- Knowing every child matters
- Talking about hard history gently
Comprehension and discussion questions for Phyllis's Orange Shirt
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.
- “Who gave Phyllis her orange shirt?”
- “How did she feel when she got it?”
- “How do you think she felt when it was taken away?”
- “Why do people wear orange shirts on Orange Shirt Day?”
- “What does ’every child matters’ mean to you?”
- “How can we make sure everyone feels they matter?”
For the full list of questions and more, download the PDF below.
Print these questions: free question card for Phyllis's Orange Shirt
All 6 questions for Phyllis's Orange Shirt on one printable page, each marked with the reading skill it practises. Enter your email and download it straight away.
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5-minute activities to try together
Every child matters
Colour an orange shirt shape together and write or draw something kind about another child on it.
Special things
Talk about a special thing your child owns and why it matters to them, and how it would feel if it was taken.
Phyllis's Orange Shirt activity sheet: printable worksheet and questions
All the questions and activities above on a ready-to-print activity sheet: questions tagged by reading skill with space to answer, a drawing and writing page with a self-check, and notes for the adult with curriculum links and a 20-minute session plan. Pay by card, PayPal or Payhip and download straight away.
- Page 1, talk about it: questions about the story, each tagged with the reading skill it practises, with space to answer or tick
- Page 2, my favourite part: a drawing box, a sentence starter and a “how did I do?” self-check
- Page 3, notes for the adult: curriculum links, a 20-minute session plan, extension activities, and support and challenge ideas
- Read it togetherEnjoy the story first.
- Ask 2 or 3 questionsFrom the list above, while everyone is calm.
- Print the activity sheetAn activity sheet with questions, a drawing page and notes for you.
Big Feelings bundle15 activity sheets for books on the same themeThe 15 books:The Colour MonsterThe Paper DollsTiddlerWhen Sophie Gets Angry—Really, Really Angry…Where the Wild Things AreGrumpy MonkeyNot Now, BernardA Great Big CuddleAnna Hibiscus' SongAugustus and His SmileHappyHarry and the Bucketful of DinosaursI Love You, Blue Kangaroo!Knuffle BunnyPenguin£4.99 3 sheets for £1.25Phyllis’s Orange Shirt + The Colour Monster + The Paper DollsThe 3 books:Phyllis’s Orange ShirtThe Colour MonsterThe Paper Dolls£1.25 Pick your own books: build a bundle with this one, up to 15% off →
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Use it as a lesson plan
Children can listen to Phyllis's Orange Shirt, answer questions about it and give a reason for their ideas, and talk about understanding Orange Shirt Day.
A 20-minute session for ages 4–7 (Reception to Year 2), for a class, a small group or one child at home.
- Warm up (2 minutes). Show the cover and read the title. Ask: “What do you think this story will be about?”
- Read aloud (6 minutes). Read it all the way through. Tip: Read it calmly and let your child lead with questions. Keep answers simple and honest, and focus on how Phyllis felt and how people remember her story today.
- Talk about it (4 minutes). Pick two or three of the comprehension and discussion questions above. “Who gave Phyllis her orange shirt?” works well to start.
- Activity (6 minutes). Do Every child matters. Colour an orange shirt shape together and write or draw something kind about another child on it. Children who finish early can try Special things.
- Wrap up (2 minutes). Ask each child for one thing they will remember from the story, and why.
Want to go further? The Phyllis's Orange Shirt activity sheet has these questions with space to answer, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the adult.
If your child liked this, try
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (Judith Viorst and Ray Cruz)
- Best for
- A day where nothing goes right, and feeling that life is unfair
- Age
- 4-8
Anna Hibiscus' Song (Atinuke and Lauren Tobia)
- Best for
- Big happy feelings, and how to let them out
- Age
- 3-7
Badger's Parting Gifts (Susan Varley)
- Best for
- Death, grief and remembering someone you love
- Age
- 4-8
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 25 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.