Matooke: Independent Reading White 10
Collins Big Cat Sets Series
illustrations by
What’s inside...
Matooke is an adventurous tale of a young girl's journey to discover hidden treasures in her village. With the help of a mystical map and her courageous friends, she learns about the value of teamwork and determination. This story is part of Reading Champion, a series carefully linked to book bands to encourage independent reading skills, developed with Dr Sue Bodman and Glen Franklin of UCL Institute of Education (IOE). This book is aimed at Independent Reading Book Band White 10, for readers aged from 5-7 years. Eddie is a city boy from Kampala, but it's the school holidays so he's off for a visit with his Auntie and cousin in the Ugandan countryside. The hard work and all the nature are a bit hard for him to get used to at first, but, in the end, their patient teaching and his Auntie's delicious matooke win him over. Reading Champion offers independent reading books for children to practise and reinforce their developing reading skills. Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and a reading activity. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child's reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-8
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What challenges did the characters face in the story and how did they overcome them?
How do you think the setting of the story influenced the characters' actions?
If you were in the story, what would you have done differently?
What did the characters learn by the end of the book?
How did the story make you feel? Were there any parts that surprised you?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start the conversation by sharing your own thoughts about the story to make your child feel comfortable expressing their opinions. Use follow-up questions to delve deeper into your child's understanding and interpretation of the book. Relate aspects of the story to real-life scenarios or personal experiences to make the discussion more relevant. Praise your child for their insights and encourage them to ask questions too. This reciprocal dialogue will enhance their analytical and critical thinking skills.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: The protagonist faces challenges but learns to overcome them through determination and persistence.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to not give up easily when faced with difficulties in school or in their personal endeavors.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: The characters in the story learn to understand and share the feelings of others, teaching the importance of considering other people's perspectives and emotions.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children improve their relationships with peers by teaching them to be considerate and understand others' feelings.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving
Explanation: The story presents characters solving conflicts through innovative thinking and cooperation.
Real-World Application: Children can apply these problem-solving techniques in their interactions with friends and during collaborative projects in school.
Example Lesson: Importance of Learning
Explanation: The book highlights how learning and education can open doors and provide opportunities.
Real-World Application: This can motivate children to take their studies seriously and understand the value of education in their future.
Example Lesson: Creativity
Explanation: Characters in the book use their imagination to navigate through adventures, showcasing the power of creative thinking.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to use their imagination in play, studies, and in expressing themselves creatively through arts or writing.