The Stinky Giant (Step into Reading)
#1 of 34 in Step into reading. A step 1 book Series
What’s inside...
Pepper and Jake love herding sheep in the little valley where they live. But there's a big problem - Urk, a giant who lives on a nearby mountain, dumps dirty laundry water in the nearby stream, causing a flood every week. Pepper and Jake hike to Urk's lair to confront him, but instead of reasoning, he gives them a cryptic puzzle to solve. If they solve it, Urk will move away; if not, they and their sheep will end up in Urk's smelly soup.
Discussion points
Why do you think the giant in the story is considered stinky, and how does it affect his interactions with others?
What would you do if you met someone like the Stinky Giant?
How did the characters in the book show kindness and understanding towards the giant?
What do you think is the moral of the story, and how can we apply it in our daily lives?
If you could ask the Stinky Giant one question, what would it be?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate the story to personal experiences. Ask if they have ever met someone who was different and how they interacted with that person.
Discuss the importance of empathy and understanding. Highlight how the characters in the story react to the Stinky Giant and what we can learn from them.
Use the book’s illustrations to dive deeper into the story. Ask your child to describe what they see and how it adds to their understanding of the characters and events.
After reading the book, encourage your child to draw their version of the Stinky Giant or another favorite character. Discuss why they chose that character.
Create a friendly and open environment during the discussion, validating your child’s feelings and views to encourage more sharing and engagement.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Problem-solving and teamwork
Explanation: In 'The Stinky Giant', Cheese and her friend Olive work together to solve the problem of the giant's smell, thereby teaching the value of collaboration and creative thinking.
Real-World Application: Children can apply these skills at school or in play by working together with peers to solve problems or overcome challenges, reinforcing cooperative behavior.
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding
Explanation: By helping the giant with his hygiene issues, Cheese and Olive display empathy, showing understanding for someone else's plight.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to understand and respond to the feelings of others in real life, promoting a more compassionate and inclusive attitude.
Example Lesson: Importance of personal hygiene
Explanation: The story focuses on how the giant's lack of cleanliness affects those around him, highlighting the importance of being clean.
Real-World Application: Children are reminded of the daily importance of personal hygiene practices like bathing and brushing teeth to maintain their health and social relationships.
Example Lesson: Creativity in problem-solving
Explanation: Olive and Cheese use unusual but effective methods to help the giant, which can inspire out-of-the-box thinking.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think creatively when faced with challenges, knowing that sometimes unconventional methods can provide the best solutions.
Example Lesson: Taking initiative
Explanation: The characters take it upon themselves to help someone in need without being asked, demonstrating proactive behavior.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches children the importance of taking initiative and helping others voluntarily, reinforcing self-driven, altruistic behavior in their communities.