Buckle and Squash: The Perilous Princess Plot
#1 in Buckle and Squash Series
on Goodreads (338)
What’s inside...
This is the story of two sisters with contrasting dreams. Eliza desires to battle dragons and villains, while Lavender dreams of being a pampered princess. Accompanied by their depressed goat, Gertrude, and warned by their granny about the Black Death, they venture into the forest. There, they encounter the evil count Mordmont, who is not the handsome prince Lavender had hoped for. In the end, both sisters have the opportunity to fulfill their dreams, though not in the ways they expected. This humorous fairy-tale adventure is a debut from author Sarah Courtauld that takes the sisters on different quests to battle dragons and trick villains.
Character compass
Eliza
Prince Martin
Lavender
Count Visbek
Discussion points
How did Lavender and Eliza's different personalities help them in their adventure?
What would you have done if you were in Lavender or Eliza’s place during their quest?
What lessons can we learn about bravery and teamwork from the story?
How do the characters in the book change from the beginning to the end?
What was your favorite part of the story, and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading: Animate your voice to match different characters and scenarios to make the story come alive for your child.
Relate to personal experiences: Connect the themes or situations in the book to real-life experiences your child might have faced to enhance understanding and empathy.
Encourage imagination: Ask your child to imagine alternative endings or what they would add to the story to stimulate creativity.
Discuss values: Highlight and discuss the core values of bravery, friendship, and teamwork exhibited in the story to instill these qualities.
Take turns reading: If your child is able to read, take turns reading aloud. This encourages participation and makes reading a fun, shared family experience.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of teamwork
Explanation: Throughout 'Buckle and Squash: The Perilous Princess Plot,' the characters, particularly the sisters, must work together to navigate challenges. Their collaboration is key to overcoming obstacles and achieving their goals.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the significance of cooperating and combining strengths with others, whether in school projects, sports teams, or family activities, to achieve a common objective.
Example Lesson: The value of resourcefulness
Explanation: The protagonist demonstrates creativity and quick thinking in solving unexpected problems they encounter on their adventure. This ingenuity is crucial for their progress.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think on their feet and use available resources to handle situations, from coming up with games using limited toys to solving a conflict among peers.
Example Lesson: Understanding and embracing differences
Explanation: The characters in the book come from varied backgrounds and have different personalities and skills, which contributes to the richness of their shared adventures.
Real-World Application: Children are taught to appreciate diversity and understand that each person has unique traits that can contribute positively to everyone's experiences.
Example Lesson: Courage in facing fears
Explanation: Characters in the book often face scary and risky situations. Their bravery in confronting these fears is a recurring theme that helps them succeed.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to face their own fears, whether it's trying out for a school play, standing up to a bully, or sleeping alone in the dark.
Example Lesson: Importance of critical thinking
Explanation: The book showcases characters questioning scenarios and making informed decisions. This critical thinking helps them to navigate complex plots.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of not taking things at face value and thinking critically before making decisions, a vital skill in academics and personal life.