Princess and the Pea: (First Reading Level 4)
Usborne young reading. Series four
What’s inside...
A whimsical retelling of the classic fairy tale, where a young prince seeks to find a true princess to marry. He discovers her through an unusual test involving a pea and several mattresses, highlighting her sensitivity and royalty.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
6-8
Length
48 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think makes someone a true princess or prince?
How do you think the princess felt sleeping on all those mattresses?
Why do you think the queen put a pea under the mattresses?
Can you think of a time when something small bothered you a lot? How did you handle it?
What would you have done if you were in the princess's place?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to empathize with the characters by asking them how they would feel in similar situations.
Prompt your child to think critically about the story’s message and its implications on real-life scenarios.
Use expressive reading to make the story more engaging and lively when discussing it.
Ask follow-up questions to your child’s responses to encourage deeper thinking and understanding.
Highlight the moral of the story and relate it to everyday life to enhance comprehension and retention.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Importance of honesty
Explanation: In the story, the princess proves her royalty by being honest about the discomfort caused by the pea under the mattresses.
Real-World Application: Teaches children the value of honesty in expressing their feelings and how it can affect their authenticity and relationships.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: The princess endures a sleepless night despite the discomfort, showing resilience.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to stay resilient and persistent even when facing uncomfortable or challenging situations.
Example Lesson: Attention to detail
Explanation: The queen's test of placing a pea under twenty mattresses highlights the importance of small details in solving problems.
Real-World Application: Children learn to pay attention to the minor details in their tasks or studies which can be crucial to success.
Example Lesson: Critical thinking
Explanation: The queen devises a clever method to test the authenticity of the princess, showcasing problem-solving skills.
Real-World Application: Promotes the development of analytical thinking as children learn to assess situations and devise creative solutions.