Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute
#1 of 10 in Lunch Lady Series
on Goodreads (13,491)
What’s inside...
This Lunch Lady Series Set I includes 5 books: 1. Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute (ISBN: 9780375846830), 2. Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians (ISBN: 9780375846847), 3. Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta (ISBN: 9780375860942), 4. Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown (ISBN: 9780375860959), 5. Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit (ISBN: 9780375867293). The series is written by an author who was a National Book Award finalist. From the author of National Book Award finalist Hey, Kiddo. Serving justice . . . and lunch! Hector, Terrence, and Dee have always wondered about their school lunch lady. What does she do when she isn’t dishing out the daily special? Where does she live? Does she have a lot of cats at home? Little do they know, Lunch Lady doesn’t just serve sloppy joes—she serves justice! Whatever danger lies ahead, it’s no match for LUNCH LADY!
Character compass
Lunch Lady
Terrence
Hector
Dee
Betty
Cyborg Substitute
Discussion points
What do you think makes Lunch Lady a good hero? Can everyday people be heroes too?
How do the characters in the book show teamwork? Why is teamwork important in solving problems?
What would you do if you discovered a substitute teacher was a cyborg? How would you handle the situation?
How do the gadgets in the story help Lunch Lady and the students? What gadget would you invent to help your school?
What lessons did you learn from the story about bravery and friendship?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think about the characteristics that make Lunch Lady a hero, and ask them about people in their own life who they consider to be heroes.
Discuss the importance of teamwork as demonstrated in the book. You can relate this to a family activity that requires working together, reinforcing the concept.
Pose hypothetical situations inspired by the book's events to help your child think critically and enhance problem-solving skills.
Explore creativity by asking your child to imagine and describe their own school-helping gadget, fostering inventive thinking.
After reading, emphasize the themes of bravery and friendship. Ask your child to share personal experiences where they had to be brave or help a friend.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Teamwork and Collaboration
Explanation: In 'Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute,' Lunch Lady and her assistant Betty work together to uncover the mystery of the cyborg substitute teacher. Their teamwork is essential in solving the case.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by learning to cooperate with their peers in group tasks or projects at school, helping each other to achieve common goals.
Example Lesson: Courage in Facing the Unknown
Explanation: The protagonist, Lunch Lady, demonstrates bravery as she investigates the suspicious behavior of the substitute teacher. Her courage in confronting a potentially dangerous situation is a key theme.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to face new challenges and unknown situations with bravery, whether it's trying out a new activity or standing up for what's right in difficult situations.
Example Lesson: Importance of Vigilance
Explanation: Lunch Lady's attentiveness to her environment allows her to notice things out of the ordinary, leading to the discovery of the cyborg. Her vigilance uncovers the mystery.
Real-World Application: Children learn the significance of being observant and attentive to their surroundings, which can ensure their safety and help them gather important information.
Example Lesson: Using One's Unique Skills
Explanation: Lunch Lady uses her unique cafeteria-based skills and gadgets creatively to tackle problems throughout the book, showing that everyone has special skills that are valuable.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to recognize and value their own unique abilities and consider how they can be used to solve problems or help others.
Example Lesson: The Element of Surprise
Explanation: The book shows that people are not always what they appear to be, as demonstrated by the seemingly ordinary Lunch Lady who turns out to be a spy.
Real-World Application: This teaches children not to judge others based on their appearances and encourages open-mindedness and curiosity about the diverse capabilities of people around them.