The Smell That Wasn't Funny
What’s inside...
A young boy named Timmy discovers a strange smell in his school that leads him on an unexpected adventure. Along the way, he encounters various challenges but learns valuable lessons about friendship, courage, and the power of a good sense of humor. In a separate story, a group of clowns on a road trip are disrupted by a terrible smell, leading to suspicion and mystery as they try to figure out which one of them is responsible.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
8-12
Length
48 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What would you do if you encountered a smell like the one in the book?
How did the characters' reactions to the smell change throughout the story?
Why do you think the smell wasn't funny to some characters?
How can we show empathy when someone is bothered by something that seems funny to us?
What are some ways we can solve problems together, like the characters did?
Tip: Role play these questions
While discussing the book, emphasize the importance of understanding and respecting others' feelings.
Encourage your child to share personal experiences related to the story to deepen their connection with the themes.
Use the characters' experiences to discuss the value of teamwork and cooperation in resolving conflicts.
Highlight the book's moments of humor and ask your child why those parts were funny, promoting critical thinking about context and perspective.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: The book focuses on the experiences of different characters when they encounter a mysterious smell, showing how each character reacts differently.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to consider how others might feel in a situation, promoting empathy and understanding in daily interactions with peers.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: The characters in the story come together to investigate and find the source of the smell, demonstrating teamwork and problem-solving skills.
Real-World Application: Children learn to collaborate and think creatively to solve problems they encounter at school or at home.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Once the source of the smell is found, the characters take responsibility for addressing the issue, highlighting the importance of taking action to correct mistakes.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to take responsibility for their actions and to actively participate in keeping their environments clean and pleasant.
Example Lesson: Humor and Resilience
Explanation: Despite the unpleasant situation, the characters use humor to cope with the problem, showing resilience in the face of discomfort.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of humor as a coping mechanism and are encouraged to remain positive and resilient when facing challenging or uncomfortable situations.