Dirty Bertie: Toothy!
#19 of 45 in Dirty Bertie Series
What’s inside...
Calling all Dirty Bertie fans! Dirty Bertie - the boy with nose-pickingly disgusting habits - is back for another helping of comic chaos! More disgusting than ever, with crazier plans and increasingly madcap schemes, Bertie continues to delight his legions of fans who revel in his revolting ways. Join Bertie on his 19th adventure in Toothy! as he takes a reluctant trip to the dentist, tries to keep his cool on the hottest day of the year, and causes a mid-air emergency whilst flying with a very nervous Dad! Dirty Bertie is a hugely popular series created by David Roberts. With each hilarious story approximately thirty pages long and split into chapters, Dirty Bertie is ideal for reluctant boy readers or readers in search of hilarity but with a short attention span.
Discussion points
Why do you think Bertie behaves the way he does in the book?
What could Bertie do differently to solve his problems?
How do the other characters react to Bertie's actions and why?
What did you learn from Bertie's adventures?
If you were in Bertie's shoes, what would you have done?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use empathetic listening when discussing Bertie’s choices and actions, encouraging your child to explore their feelings and thoughts about the storyline.
Relate the themes of the book to your child’s own experiences, asking them how they would handle similar situations.
Praise your child for insightful comments or unique perspectives they share, which reinforces their confidence in expressing ideas.
Encourage your child to think about the consequences of actions, both in the book and in real life, fostering a deeper understanding of responsibility and empathy.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Importance of Personal Hygiene
Explanation: In 'Dirty Bertie: Toothy!', Bertie learns the consequences of neglecting his dental hygiene, which highlights the importance of brushing and taking care of one's teeth.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by adopting regular brushing and flossing habits to maintain their dental health and avoid cavities.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Throughout the book, Bertie faces various situations where he must take responsibility for his actions, especially concerning his hygiene habits.
Real-World Application: Kids can learn to take charge of their personal tasks like cleaning up after playing or doing their chores regularly without being reminded.
Example Lesson: Understanding Consequences
Explanation: Bertie's adventures often lead to trouble, teaching readers that actions have consequences. For instance, not brushing teeth leads to toothache and dental issues.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think about the consequences before acting, whether it's in deciding to do their homework on time or treating others kindly to foster friendships.
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: Bertie sometimes impacts others with his actions, which teaches him to understand and empathize with how his actions affect those around him.
Real-World Application: This can help children develop empathy by considering how their actions affect others, promoting better social interactions and relationships.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Despite the mishaps, Bertie learns to keep trying and not give up on improving his habits.
Real-World Application: This lesson can inspire children to persist in challenging tasks or situations, whether it’s learning a new skill or solving a difficult problem at school.