The Man Who Wore All His Clothes
The Gaskitts Series
What’s inside...
One morning Mr Gaskitt puts on all his clothes, Mrs Gaskitt picks up a robber in her taxi, Gus and Gloria have trouble with a teacher, Horace the cat goes to a friend's house to watch TV and the car radio gets things wrong. What happens next is an action-packed, farcical romp that interweaves all the different plots, and ends in a thrilling car chase with Mr Gaskitt saving the day! Winner of the Red House Children's Book Award, this book is the first in a series of brilliantly funny early readers by Allan Ahlberg. The story features lively illustrations by Katharine McEwen.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-9
Length
80 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Why do you think the man decided to wear all his clothes?
How do the other characters react to the man's unusual choice, and what does that tell us about them?
What are some problems the man faces because he wore all his clothes? How does he solve them?
If you were in the story, what advice would you give the man?
What do you think is the main lesson of the story, and how can we apply it in our own lives?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think about the reasons behind the man's decision to wear all his clothes. Ask them if they have ever made a similar unusual choice and what prompted it.
Discuss the reactions of other characters to the man's behavior. Highlight the importance of empathy and understanding differing perspectives.
Help your child explore problem-solving by discussing the obstacles the man faces and asking them how they would handle similar situations.
Use the story as a springboard to talk about advice-giving and receiving. Encourage your child to think about times they have given or received advice, and how it helped them.
Focus on the moral of the story and ask your child to think of real-life applications of the lesson learned.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of being observant
Explanation: In the story, the protagonist's attention to detail helps solve a mystery, demonstrating the value of being observant.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by paying close attention to their surroundings, which can help them in school and at home to notice important details.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving skills
Explanation: The book showcases characters solving problems step by step, which reinforces the process of logical thinking and reasoning.
Real-World Application: Kids can use these skills to approach their own challenges, whether it's working out a math problem or resolving a conflict with a friend.
Example Lesson: The value of cooperation
Explanation: Throughout the book, characters collaborate to unravel the mystery, highlighting the benefits of working together.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages kids to participate in team activities and learn how to cooperate with others to achieve common goals.
Example Lesson: Embracing uniqueness
Explanation: The man's choice to wear all his clothes is unusual but it plays a key role in the story, teaching readers to appreciate individuality.
Real-World Application: Children learn to celebrate their own unique traits and accept differences in others, fostering a positive and inclusive environment.