“My mom was a teacher, and she was always looking for new ways to engage, excite and educate, to grow the hearts and minds of her young students. I wrote Seven Little Donks with classrooms like hers in mind. Every book gives kids a story to love and a virtue to practice, and Donk Week gives you everything you need to make it a part of your school week.”— Matt Clement, author and illustrator
Donk Week turns each Seven Little Donks book into one week of short lessons for PreK–2nd grade: a ready-made lesson plan for you, the teacher, and an activity pack for each student. Every lesson plan and printable guide is a free download. The books are sold separately.
We're proud supporters of teachers and donkey rescues.
Get the book and host a story time with your class. Read it aloud, enjoy the rhymes, and hunt for the 13 hidden treasures together.
Here are three ways teachers can take part, one step at a time.
Step 1 · Try it in your classroom
A ready-made, turnkey lesson plan for each book, for you, the teacher. Each day has goals, steps, activities and a question to ask, in about 20–30 minutes.
Each student gets an activity pack: a free download, or the printed Activity Workbook ($9.99, publishes Nov 13, 2026) for Book 1 or Book 2.
Step 2 · Share it with your leaders
Make it a school-wide Donk Week: every classroom, the same book, the same week. Hand this one-pager to your principal, PTA or board. Page 2 has the talking points and ideas:
Step 3 · Add us to your book fair
Add the Donks to your book fair, or get one book per student. Schools get 30% off for 10 or more copies, and PTA/PTO fairs are welcome to resell them. Email us and we’ll send your quote by email. Books ship to your school as author copies (paperback). All sales are final.
Readings
Matt has limited availability for school readings, library story times and bookstore events: in person in the Phoenix area, and by video for schools and libraries anywhere.
Tell us a little about your group and a few dates that could work, and we’ll get back to you.
In Book 1, all seven Donks follow an old map together. After that, each Donk gets a story of their own, and each book grows one virtue. Start anywhere, and add a new Donk Week each time a book comes out.
Book 1 · All seven
Publishes Nov 13, 2026
Book 2 · Queen Michelle
Publishes Nov 13, 2026
Book 3
Book 4
Book 5
Book 6
Book 7
Book 8
One book is one Donk Week: five sessions of about 20–30 minutes, for PreK–2nd grade (ages 3–8). The rhythm is the same for every book, so once your class knows it, each new Donk slots right in.
Day 1
The read-aloud, plus a few “before you read” questions.
Day 2
Pause-and-wonder prompts, and start the find-it treasure hunt.
Day 3
Questions from the Family Conversation Guide.
Day 4
A class activity or craft, like Book 2’s Tiny Seeing Lens.
Day 5
Coloring pages, and a Family Conversation Guide for every family.
For the teacher
Ready-made and turnkey: five days of goals, steps, activities and questions for one book. A free download.
For each student
The find-it sheet, crafts, coloring pages and the Family Conversation Guide. A free download, or the printed Activity Workbook ($9.99, publishes Nov 13, 2026).
You’ll also need one copy of the book for read-aloud (a class set is optional). The answers to each find-it hunt are in the back of the book.
A new Donk, a new virtue, a new Donk Week. Join the pack and we’ll email you when each new book’s free downloads are ready. Tick “Teacher / school” when you sign up.
The fine print. Donk Week lesson plans, activity packs and printable guides are free downloads for home and classroom use. The books and the printed Activity Workbooks are sold separately. Classroom sets and book fair orders are quoted by email and ship to the school. Questions? Email [email protected].
