The Return of Zita the Spacegirl
Zita the Spacegirl Series
on Goodreads (7,436)
What’s inside...
Ben Hatke brings back our intrepid space heroine, Zita the Spacegirl, for another delightful sci-fi/fantasy adventure in this New York Times-Bestselling graphic novel trilogy for middle grade readers. Zita has saved planets, battled monsters, and wrestled with interplanetary fame. In the third and final installment of her adventures, Zita faces her biggest challenge yet as she is wrongfully imprisoned on a penitentiary planet. She must plot the galaxy's greatest jailbreak before the evil prison warden can execute his plan of interstellar domination!
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-10
Length
240 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think makes Zita a hero? Can you think of a time when you did something brave?
How did Zita's friends help her in her adventures? Why is teamwork important?
Zita faces many challenges in the story. What are some ways she overcomes them? How do you handle difficult situations?
What would you do if you were in Zita’s place on a new planet? How would you feel?
How does Zita change from the beginning to the end of the book? What have you learned from her journey?
Tip: Role play these questions
Begin the discussion by sharing your own thoughts about Zita’s character and her journey, opening the door for your child to share comfortably.
Encourage your child to relate the story to their own experiences, such as times they worked with others to solve a problem or faced something scary.
Ask follow-up questions based on your child’s responses to dive deeper into their understanding and takeaways from the story.
Create a relaxed atmosphere for the conversation, maybe during a walk, or over a meal, to make discussing natural and engaging.
Recognize and praise your child’s insights during the discussion to motivate continued exploration and conversation about the book and its themes.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Courage and resilience
Explanation: Zita displays courage and resilience throughout her adventures in space, constantly facing new challenges and adversaries with bravery.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of facing challenges head-on and persevering through difficulties, whether it's trying new activities or standing up for themselves and others.
Example Lesson: Friendship and teamwork
Explanation: The story emphasizes the power of working together, as Zita collaborates with friends both old and new to overcome obstacles.
Real-World Application: Kids understand the value of teamwork and cooperating with others, skills critical in classroom projects, sports, and family activities.
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding
Explanation: Zita shows empathy by understanding the perspectives of different characters, even those who are initially portrayed as adversaries.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to be empathetic and considerate, encouraging them to understand and appreciate diverse viewpoints in their interactions.
Example Lesson: Responsibility and leadership
Explanation: Zita often takes the lead in her group, learning to make decisions that are best for everyone involved.
Real-World Application: Children learn about the responsibilities of leadership and making choices that benefit the whole group, not just themselves.
Example Lesson: Creativity and problem-solving
Explanation: Throughout her journey, Zita encounters numerous problems that she solves with creative thinking and ingenuity.
Real-World Application: This highlights the importance of creativity in problem-solving, helping children to think outside the box in their daily challenges at school and home.