Solve Your Own Mystery: The Monster Maker
#1 of 3 in Solve Your Own Mystery Series
What’s inside...
Welcome to Haventry, a town where the ordinary and extraordinary collide! With ghosts, werewolves and zombies living side by side, trouble is always brewing. When Dr Franklefink’s precious Monster Maker goes missing, YOU become the detective on the case. Along with your yeti partner, explore puzzling mysteries with slippery suspects like Bramwell Stoker the vampire, mischievous goblin twins Grundle and Grinola, cunning witches, and Monty, the doctor’s monstrous son. With hundreds of paths to choose from and no dead ends, solve the mystery and restore peace to Haventry in this interactive detective story.
Discussion points
What do you think motivated the Monster Maker to create monsters?
How did the characters' feelings change throughout the story?
If you could create your own monster, what qualities would it have and why?
What did the characters learn by the end of the mystery?
How would you have solved the mystery differently?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine themselves as one of the characters, asking how they would feel and react in similar situations.
Discuss the moral lessons in the story. Ask your child what they think the Monster Maker learned by the end of the book.
Use the book's themes to connect with real-life situations, fostering empathy and understanding.
Praise your child's responses to encourage deeper thinking and confidence in expressing their thoughts and ideas.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Problem-solving skills
Explanation: In 'Solve Your Own Mystery: The Monster Maker,' children guide the story by making choices that affect the outcome, honing their decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
Real-World Application: Kids learn to analyze situations and consider various outcomes before making decisions, a skill valuable in academic settings and personal life.
Example Lesson: Creative thinking
Explanation: The interactive format of the book encourages children to think creatively as they explore different paths and solutions to the mystery.
Real-World Application: This fosters innovation and imaginative thinking which can be applied in creative writing, project work, and even in navigating social situations.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: As the protagonist of the story, the reader must take responsibility for their choices, understanding that their decisions have consequences within the narrative.
Real-World Application: This mirrors real life where children must learn that their actions affect themselves and others, teaching accountability.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: Throughout the mystery, the reader encounters various characters with different motivations and perspectives, encouraging them to consider different viewpoints.
Real-World Application: This can help children develop empathy and improve their ability to cooperate and communicate effectively with others.
Example Lesson: Persistence
Explanation: The book's structure allows for multiple endings, showcasing that setbacks are part of any process and encouraging readers to try again if they initially fail to solve the mystery.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of persistence in overcoming challenges and achieving goals, a crucial skill for lifelong resilience.