Maya's Song
What’s inside...
Magic courses through sixteen-year-old Maya's veins, but she remains naive to the world and the looming evil that seeks to consume it. When Maya's mother is kidnapped, she sets out on a quest to save her and uncovers a legacy of family secrets that may have led to her mother's peril. As Maya battles love, loss, and dark forces, she must embrace her destiny and fight to protect her future. The saga unfolds in 'The Pedagogue Chronicles', a thrilling series about magic, adventure, and deceit, which continues with 'Sylvan’s Guise' and concludes in 'Tessa's Flight'. Additionally, a picture book by Renée Watson and Bryan Collier details the life of poet and activist Maya Angelou, celebrating her influential work and contributions.
Discussion points
How do you think Maya felt when she started her musical journey?
What challenges do you think Maya faced and how did she overcome them?
Why is it important to follow your dreams like Maya did?
How can music change the way we feel or think?
What would you have done if you were in Maya’s shoes?
Tip: Role play these questions
While reading 'Maya’s Song', pause at pivotal moments to explore your child's emotions and thoughts about Maya’s decisions.
Encourage your child to relate their personal experiences to Maya’s journey, fostering deeper connections to the story.
Discuss how perseverance and passion play a role in achieving goals, using Maya as a prime example from the book.
Play some music before or after reading to enhance the musical theme and ask your child how the music makes them feel, drawing parallels to Maya’s experiences with music.
Create an open dialogue to understand your child's dreams and aspirations, inspired by Maya's story, reinforcing the importance of pursuing passions.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Embracing Diversity
Explanation: In 'Maya's Song,' Maya interacts with friends from different cultural backgrounds, learning about their traditions and values.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by showing curiosity and respect towards classmates who come from various backgrounds, fostering an inclusive environment.
Example Lesson: The power of music
Explanation: Maya uses music to express herself and connect with others, showing how music can transcend language and cultural barriers.
Real-World Application: Kids can use music to share their feelings and connect with others, perhaps by participating in school choirs or learning a musical instrument.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Maya faces challenges in learning a new musical instrument but keeps practicing and eventually succeeds.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of persistence and hard work in achieving goals, applicable in their academic pursuits or when learning new skills.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: As Maya engages with friends facing difficulties, she shows empathy and support, helping them feel better.
Real-World Application: Children learn to recognize emotions in others and respond kindly, essential for building strong friendships and understanding others' perspectives.
Example Lesson: Creativity
Explanation: Maya creatively uses her musical talents to solve problems and help her friends, demonstrating innovative thinking.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to think creatively in problem-solving scenarios, whether in school projects or daily challenges.