Angela and Diabola
What’s inside...
The Cuthbertson-Jones family has its life thrown into turmoil by the unexpected arrival of twins--Angela, a happy, beautiful, perfect little girl, and Diabola, an angry, hateful child who becomes the bane of her parents' existence--in a hilarious novel about a cosmic battle between good and evil.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-8
Length
224 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do Angela and Diabola's different personalities affect the way people around them react? Can you think of any similar situations in your own life?
Why do you think the parents have such different feelings towards each twin? How does this influence their family dynamics?
What are some examples of how Angela and Diabola handle conflict? What could they have done differently?
How do the consequences of Angela and Diabola's actions teach us about responsibility and ethics?
What would you have done if you were in Angela or Diabola's place at any point in the book?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate their personal experiences to those of Angela and Diabola, emphasizing empathy and perspective-taking. Highlight the importance of understanding different behaviors and their impacts on others. Utilize examples from the book to discuss the values of kindness and fairness. Ask your child what they might have done differently in the characters' situations and explore alternative outcomes together. This will help deepen their understanding of moral consequences and personal accountability.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding the consequences of actions
Explanation: Through the contrasting behaviors of the twins Angela and Diabola, children see the impact of good and bad actions on themselves and others.
Real-World Application: Children learn to consider how their actions affect other people, helping them develop empathy and make thoughtful decisions.
Example Lesson: The importance of kindness and empathy
Explanation: Angela’s kind nature in contrast to Diabola’s mischief highlights the benefits and positive outcomes of being kind.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to practice kindness in day-to-day interactions with peers, promoting a harmonious and supportive social environment.
Example Lesson: Embracing individual differences
Explanation: The stark differences between the twins underscore the uniqueness of each individual and the acceptance of these differences.
Real-World Application: Teaches children to appreciate and respect everyone's uniqueness, which is crucial for fostering inclusivity in school and other social settings.
Example Lesson: The power of cooperation
Explanation: The story illustrates how cooperation can lead to better outcomes than when individuals act alone or against each other.
Real-World Application: Promotes teamwork and the idea that working together can solve problems more effectively, a valuable lesson for group activities at school or in sports.
Example Lesson: Accountability for one's actions
Explanation: Diabola facing consequences for her actions teaches the importance of being accountable for one's behavior.
Real-World Application: Helps children understand the concept of accountability and encourages them to take responsibility for their actions in their daily lives.