The Krelboyne Parrot (Malcolm in the Middle)
Malcolm In The Middle Series
on Goodreads (5)
What’s inside...
Malcolm reluctantly takes the Krelboyne class's pet parrot, Hitchcock, home, but after Hitchcock has an unfortunate incident with a vacuum cleaner, Malcolm discovers that birds too can get revenge.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
8-12
Length
104 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think Malcolm felt when he first saw the parrot? What would you feel if you were in his shoes?
Why is it important to take responsibility for our actions, like Malcolm did with the parrot?
What did Malcolm learn from his experience with the parrot? Have you learned something similar from a pet or another animal?
How did the characters in the book show kindness or understanding towards each other? Can you share a time when someone was kind to you?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine themselves in Malcolm’s situation and explore their feelings and thoughts about it.
Discuss the value of responsibility and consequences of actions with your child, tying in personal experiences or observations.
Prompt your child to reflect on what they have learned from their own experiences, similar to Malcolm’s learnings in the story.
Highlight moments of kindness and understanding in the book, and ask your child to recall moments when they felt or observed similar actions in their own life.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Problem-solving skills
Explanation: The story follows the protagonist as they encounter and solve various challenges with the help of the Krelboyne parrot. The narrative emphasizes creative thinking and resilience.
Real-World Application: Children can apply these problem-solving techniques in school projects or in resolving conflicts with peers.
Example Lesson: Value of teamwork
Explanation: Throughout the book, collaboration between characters is key to overcoming obstacles, highlighting that working together can achieve greater results than working alone.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to participate in team activities and value the input of others in group settings, such as in sports or group assignments.
Example Lesson: Respect for diversity
Explanation: The Krelboyne parrot, being different from the other characters, teaches the protagonist to appreciate differences and learn from them, fostering a theme of inclusivity.
Real-World Application: Children learn to embrace and celebrate individual differences among their classmates and in their community, promoting an inclusive environment.
Example Lesson: Importance of curiosity
Explanation: The protagonist's curiosity leads them to discover new ideas and learn from the situations they face, showing that curiosity is a driving force for personal growth.
Real-World Application: Fostering curiosity can help children in their educational journey by encouraging them to ask questions and seek out new experiences and knowledge.
Example Lesson: Responsibility and care
Explanation: Taking care of the Krelboyne parrot teaches the protagonist about responsibility, as they learn to tend to the needs of another.
Real-World Application: This lesson can be reflected in children's lives as they learn to take care of their belongings, pets, or even in helping to care for younger siblings.