Read with Oxford: Stage 2: Julia Donaldson's Songbirds: Ron Rabbit's Egg and Other Stories
Julia Donaldson’S Songbirds Series
illustrations by
on Goodreads (9)
What’s inside...
This collection of short, phonics-based stories by Julia Donaldson is designed to engage young readers and support them on their journey to independent reading. With a focus on building phonics skills, it includes seven fun stories with colorful illustrations, ideal for children developing early reading skills. Stories like Ron Rabbit's egg and the Doll in the in provide engaging content, while the Animal Quiz educates about animals. Tips for reading together explain letter patterns and tricky words, enhancing understanding. Authored by former Children's Laureate Julia Donaldson, this collection is part of the Songbirds phonics program, used in schools to foster a love of reading. The Read with Oxford series features this along with other story collections, offering levelled reading books, practical advice, free eBooks, and fun activities on oxfordowl.co.uk that encourage reading confidence in children.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-6
Length
128 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Why do you think Ron Rabbit was so interested in the egg?
How did the characters in the stories help each other?
What would you do if you found something unusual like Ron Rabbit?
How do you think the story would change if it were set in a different place?
Which story was your favorite and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Before reading each story, ask your child to predict what might happen based on the title and pictures.
After reading, connect the stories to your child’s experiences by discussing similar situations they've encountered or emotions they've felt.
Encourage your child to describe their favorite character and discuss why they like them—focusing on traits and actions.
Ask your child to draw a scene from one of the stories, then describe what's happening, fostering creativity and comprehension.
Wrap up your reading session by asking your child if there’s anything they would change about the stories, promoting critical thinking and imagination.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Ron Rabbit's responsibility in caring for an egg highlights the importance of being accountable for one's actions and commitments.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by taking care of their personal belongings, completing homework, or helping out around the house.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving
Explanation: The characters encounter various challenges that they need to overcome, teaching children the importance of thinking creatively to solve problems.
Real-World Application: Kids can use these skills to navigate social situations or academic tasks, brainstorming different solutions and choosing the best one.
Example Lesson: Cooperation
Explanation: Throughout the stories, characters frequently work together to achieve common goals, demonstrating the value of teamwork.
Real-World Application: This lesson is crucial for group activities at school or play, encouraging children to collaborate effectively with others.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Characters persist through difficulties, showing kids the importance of not giving up even when faced with obstacles.
Real-World Application: Children can embody this tenacity at school when facing new or challenging tasks, learning to persevere and not be easily discouraged.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: Understanding the feelings and perspectives of other characters is a key theme, promoting empathy and emotional intelligence.
Real-World Application: This can help children in building stronger relationships with their peers and become more attuned to the feelings of others in their daily interactions.