Oxford Reading Tree: Stage 11: TreeTops: Amy the Hedgehog Girl
English Reading Tree Series
What’s inside...
Treetops is Oxford Reading Tree's new series of fiction designed for pupils aged 7 to 11 with built-in progression. It features carefully monitored language levels to support children who need it, offering accessible, motivating, and humorous stories. The series is structured into Oxford Reading Tree Stages, from Stage 10 to Stage 14, each introducing more complex narrative forms such as flashbacks, changes in viewpoint, and descriptive writing. Additionally, there is an extended reading vocabulary, more pages, more text, and fewer illustrations. Each stage is accompanied by a Teacher's Guide which provides guidance on assessing children's reading ability and includes a variety of activities including comprehension, writing for different audiences, discussion, and role play, with many resources on photocopiable sheets.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-9
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How did Amy the Hedgehog Girl's unique abilities help her solve problems in the story?
What did you learn about friendship from Amy's interactions with other characters?
How do you think Amy felt when she faced challenges? Can you relate to her feelings?
What would you do if you were in Amy's place during one of the adventures?
If you could create a new adventure for Amy, what would it be and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about Amy's story by asking them how they would feel in similar situations.
Discuss the themes of courage and perseverance by pointing out specific instances where Amy demonstrates these qualities.
Utilize the book's illustrations to spark imagination, asking your child to describe or draw a scene they particularly enjoyed.
Connect the story to real-life experiences by discussing times when your child needed to use special skills or seek help from friends, just like Amy.
Celebrate your child’s responses to enhance their confidence and enjoyment in reading and discussing books.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: Amy the Hedgehog Girl portrays empathy through her interactions with other characters, understanding their feelings and perspectives.
Real-World Application: Children can apply empathy in their daily interactions with peers and adults by considering others' feelings and responding with kindness.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving
Explanation: The book shows Amy facing various challenges and using her wits and resources around her to find solutions.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to be resourceful and use critical thinking to resolve conflicts or difficulties they encounter in school or at home.
Example Lesson: Courage
Explanation: Amy demonstrates courage by taking on adventures and confronting fears, teaching children the value of bravery in uncertain situations.
Real-World Application: Children learn to face their own fears and step out of their comfort zones, whether it's trying out new activities or standing up for themselves.
Example Lesson: Creativity
Explanation: Throughout the story, Amy uses her imagination to solve problems and create fun games.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to use their creativity in play and problem-solving, fostering innovation and creative thinking skills.
Example Lesson: Friendship
Explanation: The narrative emphasizes building and nurturing relationships, showing how Amy forms bonds with other characters.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand the importance of forming healthy, supportive friendships and being a good friend in their own social circles.