Dragons at Crumbling Castle
Children's Circle Stories Series
on Goodreads (5,679)
What’s inside...
Dragons have invaded Crumbling Castle, and all of King Arthur’s knights are either on holiday or visiting their grannies. It’s a disaster! Luckily, there’s a spare suit of armour and a very small boy called Ralph who’s willing to fill it. Together with Fortnight the Friday knight and Fossfiddle the wizard, Ralph sets out to defeat the fearsome fire-breathers. But there's a teeny weeny surprise in store . . . Fourteen fantastically funny stories from master storyteller Sir Terry Pratchett, full of time travel and tortoises, monsters and mayhem!
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-9
Length
339 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think made the dragons decide to visit Crumbling Castle?
If you could create your own adventure in Crumbling Castle, what would it be and why?
How did the characters' actions help solve the problems they encountered?
Which character did you find the most interesting, and what would you ask them if they were here right now?
How do you think the story would change if there were no dragons at all?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading: Vary your voice for different characters and moments in the story to help bring the narrative to life.
Ask predictive questions: Before turning the page, ask your child what they think will happen next. This encourages them to think critically about the story’s direction.
Connect to personal experiences: Relate the themes or situations in the book to your child's own life to deepen their understanding and empathy.
Encourage imagination: After reading, ask your child to draw their favorite scene or a new creature that could live in Crumbling Castle.
Discuss the morals: Talk about the lessons the characters learn and ask your child what they learned from the story as well.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Problem-solving skills
Explanation: The characters in 'Dragons at Crumbling Castle' often face unexpected challenges and obstacles that they must navigate. Through creativity and teamwork, they find solutions that help them overcome these hurdles.
Real-World Application: Children can apply these problem-solving skills at school and in their interactions with peers, learning to think critically and collaboratively to resolve conflicts or challenges.
Example Lesson: The importance of courage and bravery
Explanation: Throughout the book, characters display acts of bravery when confronting dragons and other fantastical elements, teaching children that courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to face their own fears and challenges in daily life, whether it’s trying out for a sports team, standing up to a bully, or speaking in front of a class.
Example Lesson: Value of humor and positivity
Explanation: Terry Pratchett's unique comedic style permeates the story, showing how humor and a positive attitude can diffuse tense situations and bring people together.
Real-World Application: Children learn to use humor as a tool to cope with difficulties and to create a positive environment around them, enhancing their social interactions and overall mental health.
Example Lesson: Understanding change and adaptability
Explanation: As the castle crumbles, characters must adapt to their changing surroundings and new realities, mirroring the inevitable changes that occur in life.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to be flexible and adaptable in the face of change, such as moving to a new school, welcoming a new family member, or dealing with any significant life changes.