Scratch and Sniff: A Bloomsbury Reader
Bloomsbury Readers Series
What’s inside...
Scratch and Sniff takes readers on an exciting adventure through the whimsical world of two clever and curious dogs. As they explore their surroundings, they uncover mysteries and make new friends, teaching valuable lessons about teamwork and creativity. Meanwhile, Officer Penny Penrose gets left behind when the police rush to look into a robbery at Doogood’s Furniture Store. But her dogs, Scratch and Sniff, take matters into their own paws to solve the case, showing their love for catching crooks almost as much as they love jelly donuts.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
6-7
Length
48 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What smells reminded you of something familiar as we read the book?
How did the different scents affect the characters' decisions?
What would you do if you were in a place with all these different smells?
Which part of the book was the most surprising to you, and why?
If you could add a scent to the story, what would it be and how would it change the story?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use a calm and curious tone to encourage open-ended answers.
Relate the smells in the book to personal experiences or familiar smells in your environment to make connections.
Ask follow-up questions based on your child’s responses to delve deeper into their thoughts and feelings about the story.
Praise your child’s responses to build their confidence and encourage further discussion.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of teamwork
Explanation: The characters in 'Scratch and Sniff: A Bloomsbury Reader' demonstrate teamwork by collaborating to solve the mystery of the missing scent. They learn that working together and combining their strengths leads to success.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson in group projects, sharing responsibilities and cooperating with classmates to achieve common goals.
Example Lesson: Curiosity and problem-solving skills
Explanation: The story encourages curiosity and engaging in problem-solving as the characters embark on a detective-like adventure to figure out the puzzle.
Real-World Application: Children can be motivated to ask questions and seek answers in their daily interactions and learning processes, enhancing their cognitive skills.
Example Lesson: Observation and attention to detail
Explanation: As the characters in the book pay close attention to their surroundings to gather clues, it teaches the value of observation.
Real-World Application: This can help children be more observant in real life, improving their attention to detail in academic and social situations.
Example Lesson: Friendship and trust
Explanation: Through their adventure, the characters build deeper trust and stronger bonds, showing how friendships can grow through shared experiences.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to appreciate and nurture their friendships by being supportive and trustworthy friends.