Pocket Tales Year 5 The Bell Tower
Pocket Tales Series
illustrations by
What’s inside...
A magical tale of adventure and discovery centered around the mysterious events in the old bell tower of Glimmerdale Academy. Five friends uncover secrets that lead them on an unexpected journey through time. Pocket Tales is part of Pocket Reads, a superb collection of quality books that really capture children's imaginations! Pocket Reads have fantastic breadth and variety of genre, with Pocket Sci-Fi, Pocket Facts and Pocket Chillers making up the rest of the collection of independent readers. The fiction books are beautifully illustrated and are guaranteed to appeal to even the most reluctant of readers. The non-fiction readers are equally as stunning and will captivate and excite children with fascinating facts. The 105 pocket-sized fiction and non-fiction readers have each been carefully levelled to the National Curriculum and Book-Banded to ensure children make progression. You can therefore be assured that every reading experience is one that counts.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
9-11
Length
56 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How did you feel when the mystery of the Bell Tower was revealed?
What do you think you would have done if you were in the protagonist’s shoes?
Can you think of a time when you had to solve a problem like the characters in the story?
What do you think is the main message of the story?
How do the characters change from the beginning to the end of the book?
Tip: Role play these questions
While discussing the book, maintain an open and encouraging demeanor to make your child feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and opinions.
Use follow-up questions to delve deeper into your child’s understanding and perspective, fostering a richer conversation.
Relate the story to real-life situations or family experiences to make the themes more relatable and meaningful.
Encourage your child to imagine alternative endings or plot twists, enhancing their creative thinking and engagement with the story.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Courage and facing fears
Explanation: In the story, the protagonist must overcome their fear of heights to solve the mystery in the bell tower.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of confronting personal fears and the value of bravery in difficult situations.
Example Lesson: Teamwork and collaboration
Explanation: The characters must work together to uncover the secrets of the bell tower, highlighting the power of teamwork.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to value cooperative efforts and shows how working together can achieve greater results than working alone.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving
Explanation: The mystery of the bell tower presents complex problems that the characters must solve through logical thinking and deduction.
Real-World Application: Teaches children the importance of critical thinking and applying logic to solve problems in their everyday life.
Example Lesson: Historical appreciation
Explanation: The story is set around a historical landmark, which serves as a focal point for the adventure and mystery.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to explore and appreciate historical contexts and architecture, fostering a sense of curiosity about the past.