Sub Trouble: A Bad Cat Decodable Graphic Novel for Beginning Readers
#7 of 8 in Trouble with Bad Cat Decodable Graphic Novels Series
What’s inside...
This easy decodable reader is a fun book for beginner readers featuring four superheros, one with a physical disability, who try to escape from a villain named Bad Cat in his submarine. It's the fourth book in the series and helps enhance phonics skills by decoding short vowel words and beginning high frequency words, complementing kindergarten and first grade phonics instruction or special education.
Discussion points
What do you think made the cat behave badly? How would you have helped the cat make better choices?
Why is it important for everyone to follow rules, like in the story?
How did the other characters react to the cat’s trouble? What does that teach us about friendship and understanding?
What was your favorite part of the story and why?
If you were to write another adventure for the cat, what kind of trouble would it get into next?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start by asking your child to summarize the story in their own words, encouraging them to express their understanding and interpretation.
Use the questions to guide a deeper conversation about the themes of the book, such as responsibility, consequences, and empathy.
Encourage your child to relate the story to their own experiences, asking if they’ve ever witnessed or been in similar situations.
Discuss the importance of characters in the story, their roles, and ask your child who they could relate to most and why.
Highlight the moral of the story and discuss with your child how they can apply it in their daily life.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: In 'Sub Trouble,' the protagonist learns the importance of taking responsibility for their actions, as the story unfolds with the cat facing consequences for causing mischief.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by owning up to their mistakes and learning to make amends, whether it’s in school or at home.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: The book highlights how working together can solve problems more effectively, as characters in the story collaborate to fix the issues caused by the cat.
Real-World Application: Kids can learn to cooperate with their peers during group activities or team sports, understanding that collective effort often leads to better outcomes.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: As characters in the book react to the cat’s antics, they display feelings of understanding and patience, teaching the reader about empathy.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to consider the feelings of others in their interactions and respond compassionately in real-life social situations.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Throughout 'Sub Trouble,' the characters face various challenges but continue to strive for solutions, demonstrating perseverance.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to keep trying and not give up, whether they are solving a difficult puzzle, learning a new skill, or dealing with personal challenges.
Example Lesson: Creativity
Explanation: The book showcases creative problem-solving as the characters come up with imaginative solutions to manage the cat’s mischief.
Real-World Application: This lesson inspires children to think creatively in their daily life, finding unique solutions to obstacles they face at school or in play.