Get Your Act Together, Doris Kozlowski
on Goodreads (21)
What’s inside...
Doris Kozlowski's life is far from ordinary, with a mother who plays singing vegetables in TV commercials, a little brother who befriends pebbles and potatoes, and a quirky babcia. Doris tries to blend in and strategizes to navigate Year Six by staying low-key and keeping her odd family away from school. Her plan to maintain her friendship with her only friend, Felicity, falls apart when Felicity abandons her for the popular crowd. Desperate to salvage the friendship and her social life, Doris pins her hopes on winning the school talent show. However, her plans are continually thwarted by her well-meaning but embarrassing family. Amidst these chaotic challenges, Doris humorously contemplates her doomed fate.
Age
9-12
Length
233 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Why do you think Doris Kozlowski feels the need to get her act together? What do you think this means?
How do the other characters react to Doris’s actions throughout the story? Can you think of a time when someone reacted similarly to something you did?
What are some of the challenges Doris faces, and how does she overcome them? Have you faced similar challenges in your own life?
What do you think is the most important lesson Doris learns by the end of the book? Why is it important to learn this lesson?
If you could give Doris one piece of advice, what would it be and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Show genuine interest in your child’s responses to the questions; this encourages them to think deeply and share their thoughts openly.
Relate the themes or situations from the book to real-life scenarios your child might encounter, which can help them relate more to the story and characters.
Encourage your child to think about what they would do differently if they were in Doris’s shoes, fostering empathy and problem-solving skills.
Discuss the characters' different viewpoints and what your child agrees or disagrees with, promoting critical thinking and perspective-taking.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Doris Kozlowski initially struggles with keeping her belongings organized and taking care of her tasks. Through various trials, she learns the importance of responsibility in managing her things and duties.
Real-World Application: Children can relate this to keeping their play areas tidy, completing their homework on time, and taking care of their belongings.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: As Doris faces challenges in organizing a school event, her determination to overcome obstacles and not give up teaches children the value of perseverance.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to continue working hard on their school projects or learning new skills, despite difficulties they might encounter.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: Doris learns to collaborate with her classmates to successfully put on the school play, demonstrating how teamwork can lead to achieving goals that seem unattainable on one's own.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by participating in group activities, whether in sports, school projects, or family tasks, learning that cooperation is key to success.
Example Lesson: Creativity
Explanation: Throughout the story, Doris uses her creativity to solve problems and make the school play a success, showing that thinking outside the box can lead to great outcomes.
Real-World Application: This lesson can inspire children to use their imagination in their play, schoolwork, or when solving any day-to-day challenges they might face.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: Doris learns to understand and share the feelings of her peers, which helps in smoothing conflicts and enhancing the group's dynamics during the play.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of considering others' feelings and perspectives, helping them build better relationships with peers and family members.