Magic Betsey
Betsey Biggalow Series
on Goodreads (12)
What’s inside...
Four short stories in one book, featuring the character Betsey Biggalow. Betsey is an imaginative and enquiring girl who is sometimes mischievous but always endearing. In one story, Betsey puts on a magic show but her tricks are not impressive. However, she learns important lessons about believing in herself, that practice makes perfect, and that some magic is real. The book, illustrated by Jamie Smith, is aimed at building confidence in young readers, suitable for reading aloud or alone.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-9
Length
80 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think makes Betsey's magic special?
How did Betsey handle the challenges she faced?
What would you do if you had Betsey's magical powers for a day?
How do Betsey's friends react to her magical abilities? What does this tell us about friendship?
Can you think of a situation where you could use magic to help someone? What would you do?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine themselves in Betsey’s world, asking how they might feel or react to the exciting events of the story.
Focus on the emotions experienced by Betsey and other characters, fostering empathy and understanding.
Discuss the moral dilemmas and choices faced by the characters to enhance critical thinking.
Relate the story to your child’s own experiences, promoting personal connections to the book’s themes.
Praise your child’s responses to promote confidence and self-expression.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of honesty
Explanation: In 'Magic Betsey', the protagonist learns that telling the truth is vital after her magical misadventures lead to chaos. Honesty resolves conflicts and restores harmony.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by being truthful in their interactions, which will help them build trust and credibility with friends, family, and teachers.
Example Lesson: Courage to face fears
Explanation: Betsey faces her fears of the unknown as she navigates her magical abilities. Her bravery in confronting challenging situations is a key theme.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to tackle their own fears, whether it be trying out for a sports team, standing up in class, or dealing with bullies.
Example Lesson: Value of responsibility
Explanation: Throughout the book, Betsey learns that with great power comes great responsibility. She understands that her actions have consequences.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of being responsible in daily tasks like homework or chores, understanding that their actions affect others.
Example Lesson: Understanding diversity
Explanation: Magic Betsey interacts with a variety of characters with differing backgrounds, highlighting the richness of diverse friendships.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children appreciate diversity and encourages them to be inclusive and respectful towards everyone, regardless of differences.