Grade K–3Honesty & Friendship

Nothing's Wrong!

Written by Jory John

Illustrated by Erin Kraan

Hare is making a pie for Bear — and everything is absolutely, completely, totally fine. The kitchen is not a disaster. The pie is not a catastrophe. And Hare is definitely not panicking. In this hilarious and heartfelt picture book from #1 New York Times-bestselling author Jory John, a hare who can't quite admit things have gone wrong discovers that true friendship means being honest — even when the pie is a mess.

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From the Library Director

Jory John has done it again. Nothing's Wrong! is exactly the kind of book that makes children laugh out loud and then quietly think — which is the best kind of picture book there is. The comedy is perfectly calibrated: Hare's increasingly frantic insistence that everything is fine while the kitchen descends into chaos is both hilarious and deeply relatable. But underneath the humor is something genuinely important: the difficulty of admitting when things have gone wrong, and the relief of having a friend who doesn't care. Erin Kraan's illustrations are an absolute delight — warm, chaotic, and full of expressive detail. This is a perfect read-aloud for conversations about honesty, vulnerability, and what it means to be a good friend. It pairs beautifully with social-emotional learning units on communication and trust. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser for K–3.

Big Idea

Real friendship means being honest about your mistakes — because a good friend cares more about you than about a perfect pie.

Discussion Questions

1
Hare keeps saying 'Nothing's wrong!' even when things clearly are going wrong. Why do you think Hare does that? Have you ever done something like that? Why is it sometimes hard to admit when things aren't going well?
2
How do you think Bear feels when Hare finally tells the truth? How do you think Hare feels after being honest? What changes between them once the truth is out?
3
Hare was trying to do something nice for Bear — make a pie. Even though it went wrong, does the effort still count? Why or why not?
4
What would have happened if Hare had just told Bear the truth from the beginning? Do you think Bear would have been upset? What does that tell us about what Bear values in their friendship?
5
Have you ever tried to hide a mistake from a friend or family member? What happened? Was it easier or harder than just telling the truth?
6
What makes Bear a good friend in this story? What does Bear do (or not do) that shows they are trustworthy and kind?
7
The book is funny because Hare is clearly panicking while insisting everything is fine. Why is that funny? Do you think it's also a little sad? Can something be both funny and sad at the same time?
8
If you were Bear, what would you say to Hare after finding out the truth? What would you want your friend to know?

Activity: The Honest Pie

Students explore the difference between what we say and what we mean — and practice the courage it takes to be honest with a friend — through writing, role-play, and reflection.

1
Before reading, ask students: Has anyone ever tried to pretend something was fine when it really wasn't? What happened? Why did you pretend? Take a few responses, then introduce the book: today we're going to meet a hare who is VERY committed to the idea that nothing is wrong — even when everything clearly is.
2
Read Nothing's Wrong! aloud with full comedic energy — lean into Hare's increasingly desperate insistence, pause for the illustrations, and let students react. After reading, discuss: What was Hare actually feeling the whole time? What was Hare afraid of? What finally made Hare tell the truth? Was Bear's reaction what you expected?
3
Introduce the 'Honest Pie' writing activity. Each student gets a pie-shaped graphic organizer (or draws their own circle divided into four slices). Each slice represents one ingredient for an honest friendship: Slice 1 — 'Something I find hard to admit'; Slice 2 — 'A time I told the truth even when it was scary'; Slice 3 — 'What I wish I could say to a friend'; Slice 4 — 'What a good friend says when things go wrong.' Students write or draw in each slice.
4
Pair students up and have them share one slice from their pie with their partner — their choice which one. Partners listen without interrupting, then respond with one kind or encouraging sentence. Remind students: the goal is to practice being the kind of friend Bear is — someone who makes it safe to be honest.
5
Bring the class back together for a closing discussion: What did you learn about your partner? What made it easier to share? What's the difference between a friend who makes you feel like you have to pretend, and a friend who makes you feel safe being honest? Close with a class commitment: this week, we'll try to be Bear for each other — the kind of friend who makes honesty feel safe.

Standards Connections

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K-3.3 — Describe characters in a story and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K-3.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including those that allude to significant characters
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K-3.1 — Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade-level topics and texts with peers and adults
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K-3.1 — Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, and provide a concluding statement
SEL — Self-Management: Recognize and manage emotions; practice honesty and accountability when things go wrong
SEL — Relationship Skills: Communicate clearly and honestly; build trust through vulnerability and authentic connection with peers