Scratch Kitten and the Treasure Island
#5 in Scratch Kitten Series
What’s inside...
Scratch Kitten has just settled into life on a small fishing boat when he spots his long-lost Paa on a neighboring ship. Determined to spend time with Paa, Scratch tries to befriend Mrs. Captain, the sailor in charge of Paa’s ship. However, Mrs. Captain is preoccupied with finding her husband, who stole her precious pink diamonds 20 years ago, and has no time for Scratch. The story unfolds as Scratch spots Mrs. Captain’s husband on a treasure island, leading to a series of adventures where Scratch and Paa try to outsmart the thieves. Will Scratch and Paa succeed, or will the thieves prevail?
Discussion points
What do you think Scratch Kitten felt when he discovered Treasure Island?
How would you solve a problem similar to the one Scratch Kitten faced?
What do you think makes a good treasure? Can it be something other than gold or jewels?
How did the characters in the book work together to overcome challenges?
If you were to go on an adventure like Scratch Kitten, who would you take with you and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their emotions about the story, relating to Scratch Kitten’s feelings during his adventures.
Use open-ended questions that promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills, mirroring scenarios in the book.
Discuss the concept of 'treasure' more broadly, encouraging your child to think about non-material treasures in their own life.
Highlight moments in the story where teamwork played a role, asking your child about times they had to work with others to achieve a goal.
Invite your child to imagine their own adventure story, asking them to describe who they would bring along and why.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Problem-solving Skills
Explanation: In 'Scratch Kitten and the Treasure Island', Scratch faces numerous challenges that require him to think critically and innovatively to navigate around the island and find the treasure.
Real-World Application: Children will learn to approach obstacles in their own lives with a problem-solving mindset, considering various solutions before acting.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: Throughout the adventure, Scratch Kitten works together with new friends he meets along the way, demonstrating the power of collaborative effort in achieving common goals.
Real-World Application: Kids are encouraged to value teamwork, understanding that cooperating with others can lead to greater success than working alone.
Example Lesson: Courage and Bravery
Explanation: Scratch shows bravery when facing the unknown and potentially frightening situations on the treasure island, teaching readers about the importance of facing fears head-on.
Real-World Application: This story can inspire children to embrace new challenges and face their fears, whether it’s trying out for a sports team, speaking in class, or making new friends.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Despite the difficulties Scratch encounters, his determination never wavers. He persists through adversity to reach his goal, highlighting the value of perseverance.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of persistence in achieving their own goals, whether in academic, personal, or extracurricular endeavors, understanding that success often comes from continued effort.
Example Lesson: Curiosity
Explanation: Scratch's adventure begins from his curiosity about the map and treasure. This characteristic leads him to explore new places and learn from the experiences.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to be curious about the world around them, explore new interests, and be open to learning from every situation they encounter.