Surviving the Wild: Star the Elephant
#1 of 3 in Surviving the Wild Series
on Goodreads (317)
What’s inside...
In 'Surviving the Wild: Star the Elephant,' young readers follow the journey of Star, an elephant who must use her wit and strength to overcome the challenges of life in the wild. The story teaches valuable lessons about the environment, the bonds of friendship, and the spirit of perseverance. The book combines humor and suspense in a graphic novel adventure series featuring heroic animals inspired by true events. It includes factual information about climate change, elephants, and ways kids can contribute to environmental protection, presenting a heartening and pensive story through irresistibly charming art.
Character compass
Star
Discussion points
How do you think Star the Elephant felt when she was trying to find her family?
What are some ways Star showed strength and bravery?
Can you think of a time when you had to do something difficult and how you felt?
What would you have done if you were in Star’s place?
How do you think the story would change if it was set in a different environment?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate the story to their own experiences by asking them to share a personal story of overcoming a challenge.
Discuss the different emotions Star might have felt in various parts of the book and ask your child to describe how they would feel in similar situations.
Use descriptive scenes from the book to inspire imaginative thinking. Ask your child to draw or describe a new environment where they think Star could live.
Highlight moments of bravery and cleverness displayed by Star and discuss with your child the importance of these traits in their daily life.
Foster empathy by discussing why it’s important to understand and share the feelings of others, like the characters in the book.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and compassion
Explanation: The book portrays Star the Elephant facing various challenges in the wild, which teaches children to understand and share the feelings of others.
Real-World Application: Children can apply these lessons by showing more understanding and care towards their friends and family members who may be going through tough times.
Example Lesson: Importance of teamwork
Explanation: Throughout the adventure, Star collaborates with other animals to overcome obstacles, highlighting the benefits of working together.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to participate actively in group activities at school or in sports, understanding that teamwork can lead to greater success.
Example Lesson: Resilience in adversity
Explanation: Star faces various hardships but continues to strive forward. This demonstrates resilience, an important trait for personal growth.
Real-World Application: Children learn to persevere through their own challenges, be it at school or in personal endeavors, fostering a never-give-up attitude.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving skills
Explanation: The protagonist, Star, encounters problems that she must think creatively to solve, showing the value of intelligent and creative thinking.
Real-World Application: Kids are encouraged to think out of the box and apply creative solutions to obstacles they encounter in their daily lives.
Example Lesson: Respect for nature
Explanation: As Star navigates the wild, the narrative educates about the environment and the importance of conserving it, promoting ecological awareness.
Real-World Application: This can motivate children to participate in environmental conservation activities like recycling, or learning more about wildlife and nature conservation.