My Pet Big book
Cambridge reading Series
illustrations by
What’s inside...
My Pet Big Book is part of the Beginning to Read C phase of Cambridge Reading, designed to make shared reading engaging. It features lively stories that use natural and patterned language to support children's early literacy development. The book humorously explores the relationship between a girl and her dog, offering surprises and opportunities for group participation.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-7
Length
10 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think makes a pet special? Can you imagine having a big pet like in the story?
How did the characters show care for their pet? What are some ways you would take care of a big pet?
What adventures would you go on if you had a pet like in the book? Where would you go first?
How do you think the story would change if the pet was very small instead of big?
Can you think of any other animals that would make interesting big pets? Why would they be fun or challenging?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to use their imagination to think beyond the story. Ask them to visualize and describe their own version of a big pet.
Discuss the responsibilities involved in taking care of a pet. Emphasize empathy and kindness through examples from the book and relate them to real-world scenarios.
Use the story as a starting point for a creative activity, like drawing their imagined big pet or writing a short story about an adventure they would have with it.
Connect the themes of the book to personal experiences. If your family has a pet, discuss how you take care of it and compare it with the care shown in the book.
Highlight the importance of friendship and companionship in the book, and relate it to your child’s relationships with friends or family pets.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Through the story of caring for a pet, children learn the importance of daily tasks like feeding, grooming, and spending time with their pet.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply this lesson by taking on small chores at home, teaching them the value of consistency and care.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: The interactions with the pet in the book teach children to recognize and respond to the needs and feelings of others.
Real-World Application: Children can practice empathy by being attentive and sensitive to the feelings of their friends and family members, helping to cultivate emotional intelligence.
Example Lesson: Companionship
Explanation: The book highlights the joy and friendship that a pet offers, emphasizing that true companionship is reciprocal.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to build healthy, supportive relationships with those around them, both human and animal.
Example Lesson: Patience
Explanation: Caring for a pet requires patience, as illustrated by training and understanding the pet's habits and behaviors in the story.
Real-World Application: Children learn to be patient with others and with themselves, a skill that aids in their social interactions and personal endeavors.
Example Lesson: Unconditional Love
Explanation: The story conveys the theme that pets offer unconditional love, regardless of the circumstances.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches children the importance of loving others without conditions, fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment.