Miss Maggie's Crumbs
illustrations by
What’s inside...
Follow the delightful journey of a clever squirrel named Miss Maggie as she navigates through various challenges to gather as many crumbs as possible to prepare for the winter. Red Squirrel Phonics is a series of decodable readers from Raintree, designed to teach children phonics skills systematically. As part of this Level 7 book, Miss Maggie, a duck, follows Lara and her dad on a walk, cleverly showing her desire for some crumbs when dad feeds them to the swans.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
6-8
Length
20 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think Miss Maggie felt when she shared her crumbs with the animals?
What would you have done if you were in Miss Maggie's place?
Why is it important to share with others?
Can you think of a time when you helped someone? How did that make you feel?
What do you think the animals might do for Miss Maggie in return?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate personally to the story by asking them to share their own experiences with sharing or helping others.
Discuss the emotions of the characters in the story, asking your child to imagine what they are feeling and why.
Highlight the moral of the story and discuss its importance in real life, encouraging a connection between the narrative and everyday actions.
Use expressive reading techniques, such as varying your voice for different characters, to make the storytelling session more immersive and engaging.
After reading, engage your child in a creative activity like drawing a scene from the book or writing a letter to Miss Maggie.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and Kindness
Explanation: The story illustrates how Miss Maggie shares her freshly baked crumbs with her neighbors, teaching children the value of sharing and caring for others.
Real-World Application: Children learn to be considerate and share with friends and family in their daily interactions, promoting a supportive community environment.
Example Lesson: Resourcefulness
Explanation: Miss Maggie creatively uses leftover dough to make delightful crumbs, showcasing how one can be innovative with limited resources.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to think creatively in using what they have to solve problems or create something new, enhancing their problem-solving skills.
Example Lesson: Gratitude
Explanation: The characters in the book express their gratitude for Miss Maggie’s generosity, emphasizing the importance of being thankful.
Real-World Application: Teaches children to appreciate and verbally acknowledge the kindness shown to them, fostering an attitude of gratitude.
Example Lesson: Community Building
Explanation: Through her actions, Miss Maggie brings the neighborhood together, highlighting the strength of community bonds.
Real-World Application: Inspires children to participate in community activities and understand the value of a united community in achieving common goals.