National Geographic Kids Chapters: Ape Escapes!: and More True Stories of Animals Behaving Badly (NGK Chapters)
#1 of 27 in Chapter Books Series
on Goodreads (115)
What’s inside...
This is the first in a series of 4 books that will tell the true and hilarious stories of animals that love hijinks. In this book you'll meet 3 naughty animals, including Fu Manchu, the orangutan escape artist. Fu Manchu lived at the Omaha Zoo and would routinely break out of his habitat to explore the zoo on a nice day. Zookeepers were baffled as to how the ape was escaping, until one day they caught him in the act. Fu Manchu knew how to pick locks. Not only that, he had created his own tool that he used to pick the locks with, which he would store in his mouth so as not to be found out. This and two other charming stories will engage readers and leave them wondering if humans are really the smartest animals.
Discussion points
What do you think motivated the animals to behave the way they did in the stories?
How do you think the people involved felt during the animal escapes?
What could humans learn from these animal behaviors?
If you were to write another chapter for this book, what animal story would you include?
How do you think the situations could have been handled differently to avoid the escapes?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading techniques such as varying your voice tone and volume to match the emotions and actions in the stories to help bring the scenes to life.
Pause after adventurous or surprising sections to allow your child to process and predict what might happen next, fostering their analytical thinking.
After reading a chapter, encourage your child to draw or act out their favorite part, providing a creative outlet to express what they've learned.
Link the stories to real-world examples of animal behavior or news, which can help children understand the relevance of the book's content to the world around them.
Ask your child how they would feel and react in similar situations, helping them develop empathy and perspective-taking skills.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: The animals' adventures, such as escaping their confines, demonstrate innovative thinking and adaptability.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to think critically and creatively when facing challenges in school or at home.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: The stories illustrate how actions have consequences, seen in how animals interact with their environment and humans.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of understanding the consequences of their actions and being responsible for them.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: The narrative provides insight into the emotions and struggles of animals, allowing readers to relate and sympathize.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply this understanding by showing empathy towards animals and people, fostering kindness and better social interactions.
Example Lesson: Curiosity and Learning
Explanation: The book encourages exploration through real animal stories, sparking curiosity about biology and zoology.
Real-World Application: This can motivate children to explore and appreciate the natural world, leading to a greater interest in science and discovery.
Example Lesson: Understanding Boundaries
Explanation: The stories of animals escaping or misbehaving highlight the importance of safe boundaries
Real-World Application: Children can apply these concepts to understand the necessity and safety provided by rules and boundaries in their environments.