Crumby Conundrums

Friendship is not always easy and sometimes even the Breadcrumbz face sticky situations. That is where YOU come in.

Every child experiences moments when friendships feel challenging. It may be getting left out of a game, hearing gossip, or feeling nervous to speak up. The Breadcrumbz characters bring these situations to life through stories that children can connect with. After the story, kids are invited to think of solutions and practice creative problem solving, kindness, and courage.

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What You Do | Crumby Conundrums

What You Do

Each Crumby Conundrum includes a short story about a common friendship challenge. These situations mirror what kids face every day such as handling recess drama, working on group projects, or finding the right words when feelings are hurt.

Every story ends with a thoughtful question that asks children to imagine what they would do.

Children can:

  • Talk through ideas with parents, teachers, or friends

  • Write or draw their solutions

  • Share their answers in the comments if available

Parents and educators can use these Conundrums as simple and meaningful tools for social and emotional learning.

Your Mission

The challenge is to step into the shoes of the Breadcrumbz and consider how you would respond to the situation. There is no single right answer. Instead, it is about exploring creative ideas that combine kindness, confidence, and fairness.

How It Works:

  1. Read the story or scenario.

  2. Think about what you would do.

  3. Share your solution as a family conversation or in the comments section.

Why It Matters:
Ideas that stand out may be featured on our website. Children who share these solutions receive a special shoutout for being a Crumby Problem Solver. This shows kids that their voice matters and creates a collection of solutions that highlight the many ways courage and kindness can work together.

Your Mission | Crumby Conundrums

Why Crumby Conundrums?

Every Breadcrumbz story is a reminder that kids learn best by practicing. Conundrums help children:

  • Build empathy by seeing situations from different perspectives.

  • Gain confidence by brainstorming solutions in a safe space.

  • Strengthen problem-solving skills by thinking of creative, practical ideas.

  • Practice kindness and resilience in everyday situations.

When we share kindness, creativity, and courage, we leave a trail of Breadcrumbz for others to follow. These activities aren’t just stories—they’re life lessons disguised as fun challenges.

Why Crumby Conundrums | My Crumby World
An animated picture of a classroom and Rachel Rye and Penelope Pumpernickel with the words "Penelope's Predicament" written on the chalkboard.

Penelope’s Predicament

March 26, 2026 No Comments

Penelope had spent hours studying for her history test, striving for an exceptional grade to keep her grades high enough to stay on the Honor Roll. She has been an honor student for years.

Now engrossed in the test sitting before her, she wrestles with a puzzling question worth ten points and carelessly drops her pencil to the floor. While retrieving it, something catches her eye–a notecard, prominently displaying the answer, is visible to her from her backpack, inviting her to read it. 

Her stomach flutters nervously as she locks eyes with Rachel, a trusted friend who understands Penelope’s drive for academic achievement. Through Rachel’s gaze, Penelope recognizes a mirror of trust and honesty, assured that her friend sees her for who she truly is.

Penelope stands at a pivotal moment in her life, facing difficult choices. Making the wrong decision could risk her relationship with her trusted friend. She would either be placing Rachel in a position of withholding information from the teacher or having the responsibility to report what she had seen. On the other hand, revealing the truth might jeopardize her academic future. She had studied so diligently for this exam, yet the answer she sought had slipped her mind when she needed it. It did not seem fair to her to give up a grade she had earned through hard work.

 

The Problem

Penelope Pumpernickel has worked incredibly hard to prepare for her history test because staying on the Honor Roll matters deeply to her. During the test, she comes across a difficult question—and by accident, she spots the exact answer on a notecard in her backpack.

Now she faces a tough choice:

Use the answer and protect her grade

Ignore it and risk losing points she feels she deserves

But there’s more at stake than just a test score. Her friend Rachel Rye sees what’s happening, and Penelope realizes that her decision could affect their friendship, her integrity, and how others trust her.

This is a moment about honesty, pressure, fairness, and doing the right thing—even when it’s hard.

Your Challenge

What would YOU do if you were Penelope? What would YOU do if you were Rachel?

Challenge Questions:

What are Penelope’s choices in this situation?
(Think about both the easy choice and the right choice.)

How might Penelope feel if she uses the answer? How might she feel if she doesn’t?

How could her decision affect her friendship with Rachel?

What does it mean to earn something honestly?
(Does using the note match the hard work she put in?)

What could Penelope do after the test if she feels upset about the question?

What would YOU do—and why?

Use the comment section to provide your answer! 

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For Parents & Teachers

  • Parents: Use stories at home for after-school chats, bedtime conversations, or journaling activities.

  • Teachers: Share in morning meetings, SEL lessons, or small groups to build empathy and communication skills.

  • Counselors: Use scenarios for role-playing exercises and problem-solving practice.

Each Conundrum opens the door to meaningful conversations—without lectures or pressure.