The Old Ladies Who Liked Cats
What’s inside...
When the old ladies are no longer allowed to let their cats out at night, the delicate balance of their island ecology is disturbed, with disastrous results. When the mayor's decree upsets the delicate balance of nature, it is up to a group of old ladies and their cats to set things right, in an ecological fable that illuminates how things work together in the natural world.
Age
7-9
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think motivated each old lady to help the cats?
How did the old ladies' actions make a difference in their community?
What feelings did you experience when you saw how the community changed?
If you were in the story, how would you help the cats and the old ladies?
What can we learn about kindness and community from the old ladies?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think about the motives of the characters by asking them why they think the old ladies helped the cats.
Discuss the impact of small acts of kindness and how they can lead to big changes, drawing parallels to situations in the child’s own community.
After reading, ask your child how the story made them feel and why, fostering open emotional expression.
Invite your child to imagine themselves in the story and come up with creative ways they might assist both the cats and the old ladies.
Highlight the themes of kindness and community involvement by discussing real-life examples and drawing comparisons with the story.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Compassion and care for animals
Explanation: The story demonstrates how the old ladies show compassion by caring for the cats in their community, highlighting their kindness and the positive impacts of their actions.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of being kind and caring towards animals, encouraging them to take responsibility for pets at home or show gentleness to animals they encounter.
Example Lesson: Community involvement
Explanation: The old ladies' actions not only help the cats but also improve the community's environment, illustrating how individual efforts can contribute to communal well-being.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to participate in community service or group activities that aim to improve their local areas, such as clean-ups or planting trees.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving
Explanation: When the cats begin to cause problems in the town, the old ladies come up with effective solutions, showing resilience and resourcefulness.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by learning to think critically and creatively solve problems they face at school or in their social interactions.
Example Lesson: Respecting the elderly
Explanation: The story portrays the old ladies in a positive light, respecting their wisdom and contributions, which in turn garners them respect from other characters.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand the value of respecting older individuals, encouraging them to listen to and learn from the experiences of their elders, such as grandparents or teachers.
Example Lesson: The impact of small actions
Explanation: The narrative shows that the compassionate acts of the old ladies lead to significant positive changes in the community, emphasizing that no act of kindness is too small.
Real-World Application: Children can learn that their actions, no matter how small, can have an impact on others, teaching them to act kindly and considerately in daily life.