Ladybird Tales: Classic Stories to Share
Ladybird tales Series
What’s inside...
A delightful collection of timeless classic tales retold for young readers, including favorites such as 'The Three Little Pigs,' 'Snow White,' and 'Jack and the Beanstalk.' Ladybird has published fairy tales for more than 45 years, bringing the magic of traditional stories to each new generation of children. These classic stories are based on the original Ladybird retellings by Vera Southgate, with beautiful new illustrations of the kind children like best—full of richness and detail. An essential part of any child's bookshelf, Ladybird Tales are perfect for sharing together and creating memories to treasure forever.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-8
Length
224 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Which story was your favorite and why did it stand out to you?
How did the characters in the story show bravery or kindness?
If you could be friends with any character from the book, who would it be and what would you do together?
How do you think the story would change if it happened today?
What lessons did you learn from these tales?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start by sharing your own favorite tale from the book to spark the initial interest and relate personal experiences to the stories.
Encourage your child to imagine alternative endings for their favorite story and discuss how those changes might affect the lesson learned.
Ask your child to draw their favorite scene or character as you discuss the story, facilitating both visual and verbal engagement.
Relate the morals from the stories to real-life situations your child might encounter, enhancing understanding and retention.
After discussing each story, prompt your child to narrate the story back to you in their own words, reinforcing comprehension and storytelling skills.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of honesty
Explanation: Stories like 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf' highlight the negative consequences of lying, as the boy’s false alarms lead to a lack of trust when he truly needs help.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of telling the truth and how trust must be maintained in relationships with friends and family.
Example Lesson: Perseverance in the face of adversity
Explanation: Tales like 'The Little Red Hen' demonstrate the rewards of hard work and persistence, showing that the hen achieves her goal despite lack of help from others.
Real-World Application: Kids are encouraged to stay diligent and committed to their tasks, whether it be school projects or chores, understanding that effort leads to achievement.
Example Lesson: The significance of kindness and sharing
Explanation: In 'The Gingerbread Man', sharing and kindness are encouraged as characters offer help during the story, promoting a sense of community.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of cooperating and sharing with peers, which can foster better relationships and teamwork.
Example Lesson: Courage to face fears
Explanation: In 'Jack and the Beanstalk', Jack's bravery in climbing the beanstalk and facing the giant teaches courage and taking calculated risks.
Real-World Application: This story can help children face their own fears and understand that facing challenges can lead to growth and sometimes, unexpected rewards.
Example Lesson: Consequences of greed
Explanation: In 'The Golden Goose', the repercussions of greed are portrayed when characters who try to take advantage of situations for personal gain end up in troublesome predicaments.
Real-World Application: Teaches children to be cautious of selfish behavior and to think about how their actions may affect others and themselves negatively.