Poor Hankie the horse is allergic to hay! And every 20 minutes he sneezes. But that’s only the beginning of his boring predictability, of which pasture-mates Jazz and Majesty waste no time making fun. “Just watch,” says Jazz to Majesty.” Hankie will come out of the barn at exactly ten o’clock.” They know that Hankie’s owner Susan takes him out about an hour after she arrives at the barn, and she arrived at nine o’clock. They also know which week Hankie will wear a blue saddle pad, and when he likes to roll in the grass and take a long cool drink. Hankie’s buddy Spark Plug assures him that predictability isn’t always such a bad thing. Still, Hankie may have a surprise in store for everyone. 

Making predictions based on the observation of patterns is an important part of logical thinking.

Illustrated by Steve Björkman. 

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Change the patterns in the charts in the book. For example, change the chart on page 11 that notes when Hankie’s owner Susan arrives at the barn, and when she takes Hankie outside to read:

Have your child or class examine each new chart and predict what Hankie will do now. Ask them to explain their thinking.

 For three or four days, have your child (or students) keep a chart of certain activities each one does every day. For example:

Ask the children if they see patterns. Are their classmates predictable, like Hankie?