Oxford Reading Tree: Stage 12: TreeTops: Here Comes Trouble
English Reading Tree Series
on Goodreads (29)
What’s inside...
This story is part of the 'Oxford Reading Tree' series, designed for children aged seven to 11 who require support with carefully-monitored language levels. The series, which includes 18 Treetops titles, aims to be accessible, motivating, and humorous. It features built-in progression within the stages from stage 10 to stage 14, each introducing more complex narrative forms such as flashbacks, changes in viewpoint, descriptive writing, and an extended reading vocabulary. The text becomes denser with more pages, more text, and fewer illustrations as the stages advance. Each stage is accompanied by a teacher's guide, which provides strategies for using Treetops to assess children's reading skills and contains a variety of activities, including many that can be photocopied.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-9
Length
48 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think are the main challenges the characters faced in 'Here Comes Trouble'? How would you handle those situations?
How did the characters' relationships change throughout the story? What do you think helped them to grow or learn?
Can you identify a part of the book where a character had to make a tough decision? What would you have done in their place?
What are some lessons that the characters learned in the story? How can you apply these lessons to your own life?
If you could be friends with any character from the book, who would it be and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start the conversation by reflecting on your favorite part of the book and ask your child about theirs. This sets a comfortable tone for deeper discussions. Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the book’s events and characters, showing genuine interest. Relate parts of the story to real-life situations or challenges your child might face, to help them connect with the lessons in the story. Use follow-up questions to encourage your child to think more critically and empathetically about the characters and their decisions. Lastly, praise your child for their insights and encourage them to keep thinking deeply about what they read.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding Consequences
Explanation: The book showcases characters facing different challenges and making choices, each with its own consequences.
Real-World Application: Children learn to think about the outcomes of their actions and understand the importance of making thoughtful decisions.
Example Lesson: Teamwork and Cooperation
Explanation: Characters in the story often work together to solve problems, emphasizing the value of teamwork.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of collaborating with others to achieve common goals in school projects or group activities.
Example Lesson: Resilience in the Face of Difficulties
Explanation: The characters encounter various troubles but find ways to navigate through them, demonstrating resilience.
Real-World Application: Children learn to remain determined and optimistic even when facing obstacles in their daily lives.
Example Lesson: Embracing Diversity
Explanation: The book includes a variety of characters from different backgrounds, promoting inclusivity.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children appreciate diversity and encourages them to be inclusive with peers from various cultures and backgrounds.