Freddy Tangles: Champ or Chicken
#1 in Freddy Tangles Series
What’s inside...
Freddy faces his fears of spiders, heights, and being naked in public to win back his friends and get re-invited to Tabby's birthday party. After unintentionally hurting Tabby's feelings, he risks his dignity on a mechanical bull in a daring costume to impress everyone at the park, despite his phobias and mishaps with the new kid, Hugo. This humorous tale highlights themes of bravery and the lengths one may go for friendship.
Discussion points
How do you think Freddy felt when he had to face his fears? What would you do in his situation?
What does being brave mean to you? Can you give an example from the book where Freddy showed bravery?
Why is it important to stand up for your friends? How did Freddy demonstrate this?
What lessons did Freddy learn by the end of the story? Have you learned similar lessons in your own life?
If you could give Freddy one piece of advice, what would it be?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about Freddy's challenges and relate them to their own experiences.
Discuss the concept of bravery with your child. Break down different scenes from the book to explore various aspects of courage and fear.
Use examples from the book to talk about friendship and loyalty. Ask your child about times they have supported or could support their friends.
Lead by asking open-ended questions that help your child connect the story's moral lessons to their personal life.
Guide the conversation to instill empathy by asking how they would feel in Freddy's situations and explore alternative decisions and outcomes.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Courage
Explanation: Freddy Tangles faces his fears head-on by challenging a school bully, demonstrating bravery and personal growth.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to confront their own fears, be it standing up to a bully, trying out for a sports team, or speaking in front of a class.
Example Lesson: Friendship
Explanation: Throughout the book, Freddy learns the value of support from his friends, which helps him navigate tough situations.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of building strong, supportive friendships and being there for others in their time of need.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Freddy takes ownership of his actions and decisions throughout his adventures, which sometimes lead to mistakes, but ultimately personal growth.
Real-World Application: Children can learn about the importance of being responsible for their actions and learning from their mistakes to make better choices in the future.
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: Freddy shows resilience by bouncing back from setbacks, particularly in his encounters with the bully.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to persevere through their own challenges, whether they're academic struggles or personal obstacles.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving
Explanation: Freddy uses clever thinking and strategy to handle difficult situations, rather than using force or giving up.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of using intellect and creativity to solve conflicts and problems, enhancing their critical thinking skills.