T-Rex Is Missing!: A Barkers Book (The Barker Twins)
The Barker twins Series
on Goodreads (81)
What’s inside...
Morgie's favorite dinosaur, T-Rex, is missing, and Morgie suspects that his best friend Billy may have taken it. Once again, Tomie dePaola has crafted a humorous and easy-to-read story that highlights the difficulty of saying two of the hardest words in the English language-'I'm sorry.'
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
6-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Why do you think the T-Rex went missing? How do you think the Barker Twins felt about it?
What would you do if you were one of the Barker Twins trying to find T-Rex?
How do the other characters in the book help the twins? What does this tell us about teamwork and friendship?
Can you think of a time when something important to you was missing? How did you feel and what did you do?
What is your favorite part of the adventure and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
While discussing the book, express curiosity about your child’s thoughts and feelings to make them feel their opinions are valued.
Use the illustrations in the book to ask questions about the setting, characters, and mood of certain scenes to deepen the conversation.
Encourage your child to relate the story to their own experiences, which helps develop empathy and personal connection to the story’s themes.
After reading the book, propose a playful activity, like creating a 'search party' game for a missing toy, to bring the story's theme into real life.
Praise your child for their insights and ideas during the discussion to boost their confidence and engagement with reading.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Problem-Solving Skills
Explanation: In the book, the Barker Twins employ their detective skills to find the missing T-Rex, demonstrating how they analyze clues and make decisions.
Real-World Application: Children can apply these problem-solving techniques in real-life situations, like finding a lost toy or resolving simple conflicts with peers.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: The book emphasizes the importance of working together as the twins collaborate to solve the mystery, showing that teamwork can lead to success.
Real-World Application: This lesson can be applied in group activities at school or in sports, where cooperation is key to achieving a common goal.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Throughout their quest, the Barker Twins learn to take responsibility for finding the missing toy, reflecting their commitment to solving the problem they are faced with.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the value of taking responsibility in their duties, such as completing homework or chores.
Example Lesson: Curiosity and Exploration
Explanation: The storyline encourages curiosity and exploration as the characters embark on a journey to uncover the mystery, inspiring children to ask questions and explore their surroundings.
Real-World Application: Kids can be motivated to engage more deeply in their learning or exploring new hobbies and interests.