Making Inferences with “Always Everly”

Hey, book-loving friends! It’s Courtney here, and today I’m sharing a picture book that will spark meaningful conversations in your classroom while helping your students build essential reading skills. If you haven’t read Always Everly by Nate Wragg, you’re in for a treat! This charming story of a tree learning to embrace her uniqueness will warm your heart and inspire your students.

But wait, there’s more! I’ve created a FREE resource with questions to help your students develop inference skills while connecting with Everly’s journey.

Why Always Everly?

Everly is no ordinary tree—she stands out in her forest, and not always in ways she likes. Her story takes us through her feelings of wanting to fit in and the heartwarming moment she discovers that being different is what makes her truly special.

This book is perfect for teaching themes like:

  • Embracing differences
  • Finding inner confidence
  • Celebrating uniqueness

The illustrations are vibrant, the message is timeless, and the opportunities for meaningful classroom conversations are endless.

I love tying this story into a class discussion about what makes each of us special. You could even have students create “My Unique Glow” posters, where they list qualities or talents that make them one-of-a-kind.

Teaching Inference with Always Everly

Beyond its inspiring message, Always Everly is a goldmine for teaching reading comprehension, especially inference skills. As teachers, we know making inferences is all about reading between the lines, and this story gives students plenty of opportunities to do just that.

Inference skills are key to deep comprehension, and Always Everly is packed with moments where students can practice this important strategy. As they read, students will use clues from the text and illustrations, combined with their prior knowledge, to understand the characters’ feelings, the setting, and the deeper message of the story.

Here’s how you can use this book to teach inference:

  1. Model It
    Before diving into the story, explain what it means to infer. I like to say, “When we make an inference, we’re like detectives looking for clues in the text to figure out what the author doesn’t say directly.”
    Use the first page to model this skill. For example, if Everly looks sad, ask, “How do we know she’s sad? What clues do the text and picture give us?”
  2. Practice Together
    As you read, pause at key moments to ask inference questions. Encourage students to share their thinking and explain the clues they used.
    Example: “Why do you think Everly feels jealous of the other trees? What words or pictures help us understand her feelings?”
  3. Independent Practice
    Use my FREE resource to give students time to apply their inference skills. The four included questions ask students to dig deeper into the story, like figuring out why Everly wishes she looked like the other trees or why she shines with lights at the end of the story.

As always, thank you for letting Ramona Recommends be part of your teaching journey. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @ramonarecommends when you use this resource in your classroom—I love seeing your ideas in action!

Happy reading, friends!

Ramona Recommends partners with affiliate platforms where commission may be earned based on clicks and or purchases, and I would love it if you decided to use the links above! Affiliate links help bloggers like me to fund the free content that we provide on our blogs.

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