Reading Champion: The Pied Piper Returns: Independent Reading 14
Reading champion Series
illustrations by
What’s inside...
The classic tale of the Pied Piper gets a fresh twist as the mysterious piper returns to Hamelin to once again rid the town of a surprising new trouble. Follow the children of Hamelin as they find a way to solve their problem and learn important lessons about cooperation and creativity. When the Pied Piper returns to Hamelin, the children are delighted. Their parents have gone safety-mad and banned all sweets, cakes, and ice cream too! When the Piper offers to help for some of the sweets, Ash, Freddie, and Mala agree. But once the parents disappear, the children refuse to pay the Piper, and they soon find life without parents is not so easy. The story is accompanied by engaging artwork and a reading activity, carefully graded to match a child's reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-8
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What would you do if you were in the town and the Pied Piper came?
How do you think the townspeople felt when the Pied Piper returned?
What do you think is the most important lesson from this story?
Why do you think the Pied Piper decided to come back?
What would you have done differently if you were one of the characters in the book?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start the conversation by sharing your own thoughts or feelings about the Pied Piper's story to encourage your child to open up.
Ask your child to imagine alternative endings to the story and discuss the potential consequences of each scenario.
Encourage your child to draw parallels between the events in the book and real-life situations to enhance their understanding and empathy.
Use the discussion as an opportunity to teach important values such as honesty, responsibility, and the impact of our actions on others.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: The story showcases characters who take responsibility for their actions, emphasizing the consequences of not fulfilling promises.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of keeping their word and taking responsibility for their tasks and promises in everyday situations like schoolwork or chores.
Example Lesson: The power of music and storytelling
Explanation: Music plays a pivotal role in influencing the characters and advancing the plot, highlighting its ability to communicate and inspire.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to explore their own musical talents or storytelling abilities as a form of expression and connection with others.
Example Lesson: Justice and fairness
Explanation: The narrative addresses themes of justice when characters seek fairness from the decisions made by others, stressing the significance of equitable actions.
Real-World Application: Teaches children to always strive for fairness in their interactions and understand the importance of treating everyone equally.