The Children of Hat Cottage
on Goodreads (192)
What’s inside...
Three children and their mother live on a little island in a cottage shaped like a hat. When their mother goes out to search for yarn, the children promise to be good. They try to be helpful by sweeping the chimney and washing their clothes, but their actions soon lead to chaos. This story by Elsa Beskow explores themes of good intentions and unexpected help, with beautiful illustrations in a collectable picture book edition featuring premium-quality paper and a luxurious cloth spine.
Age
4-7
Length
36 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
The Kids
Mother
Discussion points
Why do you think the children decided to fix the roof themselves?
What are some ways the children showed teamwork in the story?
How do you think the children felt when they saw their home damaged?
What would you have done if you were one of the children in Hat Cottage?
How did the children's solution to fix the cottage roof change the story?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine themselves in the story, asking how they would feel and react in similar situations.
Discuss the importance of teamwork and ask your child about times they had to work with others to solve a problem.
Highlight the problem-solving aspects of the story, prompting your child to think of different ways they could have approached the situation.
Use the story's setting and events to talk about responsibility and the importance of taking care of one's home and belongings.
After reading, consider doing a fun activity together that mimics the story, like building a small model house or drawing their version of Hat Cottage.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: In 'The Children of Hat Cottage', the children are tasked with taking care of their home while their mother is away. This includes keeping the cottage clean and looking after each other.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of being responsible at home by doing chores and helping to take care of siblings.
Example Lesson: Creativity and Problem Solving
Explanation: When problems arise, such as the roof leaking, the children in the story must use their creativity and teamwork to find a solution.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to use their imagination and work together to solve problems they encounter in daily life.
Example Lesson: Consequences of Actions
Explanation: The story shows that the children's actions, like forgetting to close a window, can have direct consequences, such as the entry of a mischievous squirrel which adds to their troubles.
Real-World Application: Children can understand that their actions, big or small, have effects and learning from them is part of growing up.
Example Lesson: Coping with Absence
Explanation: With their mother away, the children in 'The Children of Hat Cottage' must manage by themselves, which teaches them resilience and independence.
Real-World Application: This can help children learn to deal with and adapt to situations where parents or guardians are not immediately present, fostering independence.
Example Lesson: Importance of Family Bonding
Explanation: The siblings support and care for each other, highlighting the strength of family bonds.
Real-World Application: This can reinforce the value of sibling support and cooperation in a child's own family life.