Darby and the Dollberry Dare
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What’s inside...
Darby and the Dollberry Dare follows a young m'ite boy named Darby from the village of Dollberry Hollow, as he embarks on a daring adventure into the B'lack Forest and deep into the Cave of the Haunted. The village elders assign a dare to the boys who have reached ten seasons of age, and Darby is tasked with plucking a hair from the head of an ogre living in the cave. Although initially driven by the desire to prove his bravery to his peers, Darby's journey into the cave reveals nobler motives and leads him to discover not only courage but something even more incredible.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-9
Length
34 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think made Darby want to accept the Dollberry Dare?
How do you feel about the choices Darby made in the story?
What would you have done if you were in Darby’s shoes?
Can you think of a time when you faced a challenge similar to Darby’s?
What do you think is the main message of the story?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to put themselves in Darby’s shoes, fostering empathy and deeper understanding of character choices.
Highlight the consequences of Darby’s decisions and ask your child how different choices might have led to different outcomes.
Use the story as a starting point to discuss the importance of courage and integrity in daily life.
Prompt your child to relate personal experiences that align with the themes of the book to enhance connection to the story.
Reinforce the narrative’s lessons by discussing how they apply to your child’s school or social situations.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of honesty
Explanation: In the story, Darby learns the hard way that lying to win a dare can lead to trust issues with friends.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by understanding the value of truth-telling and how it fosters trust and respect in friendships.
Example Lesson: Courage to admit mistakes
Explanation: When Darby admits her mistake, she sets an example that it's okay to be wrong as long as you own up to your actions.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to not fear admitting their own mistakes, understanding that it is a part of growing up and learning.
Example Lesson: The power of forgiveness
Explanation: The story shows how Darby's friends forgive her after she comes clean about the dare, reinforcing the concept of forgiveness among peers.
Real-World Application: Children learn the significance of forgiving others, helping them build and maintain stronger relationships.
Example Lesson: Peer pressure resistance
Explanation: Darby faces a challenge where she succumbs to peer pressure but learns to resist it as the story progresses.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches kids to stand firm in their beliefs and make choices that are right for them, even in the face of peer pressure.