Dirty Bertie
#4 of 45 in Dirty Bertie Series
What’s inside...
Bertie is a boy known for his shockingly dirty habits, from nose picking to weeing on flowerbeds. Whenever he behaves inappropriately, his family reprimands him, yet Bertie struggles to change his ways. In the stories 'Pirate!' and 'Scream!', Bertie's adventures continue as he explores life as a pirate, cooks in a fancy restaurant, competes in a school sports day, builds a haunted house, endures a rainy family trip, and attempts to cheat at a spelling bee. Through these comedic escapades, Bertie navigates the challenges of his habits.
Discussion points
How do you think Bertie felt when he made those choices? What would you have done in his situation?
Can you think of a time when you faced a similar situation as Bertie? What did you learn from it?
Why is it important to think about the consequences of our actions, like Bertie eventually does?
What are some ways Bertie could improve his behavior? How do you think his friends and family would react?
What do you think is the main message of 'Dirty Bertie'? How can you apply it in your daily life?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading to bring the characters and situations to life, enhancing empathy and understanding of the story.
Ask your child to predict what might happen next in the story to maintain their interest and engagement.
Relate scenarios in the book to real-life events in your child’s life to make the lessons more applicable and memorable.
Highlight the consequences of Bertie’s actions, discussing both positive and negative outcomes, to reinforce understanding.
After reading, encourage your child to draw a scene from the book, focusing on a moment where Bertie learns a lesson.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Importance of hygiene
Explanation: Dirty Bertie's adventures highlight the consequences of neglecting personal cleanliness, such as social repercussions and personal discomfort.
Real-World Application: Children can relate this to daily habits like washing hands before meals and brushing teeth twice a day to maintain good health and social interactions.
Example Lesson: Understanding consequences of actions
Explanation: Each of Bertie's mischievous acts lead to humorous but educational outcomes, teaching readers that actions have consequences.
Real-World Application: This can help children think about the outcome of their actions, fostering a sense of responsibility and foresight in their daily decisions.
Example Lesson: Empathy and considering others
Explanation: As Bertie interacts with various characters, the story demonstrates how his actions affect others, portraying the importance of empathy.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to consider how their behavior might affect their friends and family, encouraging them to be more considerate and kind.
Example Lesson: Importance of following rules
Explanation: Through Bertie's experiences, the story illustrates that rules are in place for good reasons and breaking them leads to trouble.
Real-World Application: This lesson can be applied at school or home, helping kids understand why boundaries and rules are necessary.
Example Lesson: Learning from mistakes
Explanation: Bertie often finds himself in predicaments, but each story provides him with an opportunity to learn and improve.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to see mistakes as learning opportunities and to not be disheartened by setbacks.