The Tocks on the Clock (Desi & Friends)
#1 in Desi & Friends Series
on Goodreads (5)
What’s inside...
Desi journeys through a fantasy land with her dog, Lola, and her cat, Jack, to visit twelve legendary monsters known as the Tocks. Imaginative, colorful characters and imagery capture attention as the reader is familiarized with numbers and time through rhyming verses and visual reinforcement that avoids the tone and presentation of a lesson. Full page color illustrations transport you to the Land of the Tocks.
Discussion points
What do you think makes Desi and his friends special?
How do the Tocks on the clock help Desi and his friends throughout the story?
What do you think you would do if you met the Tocks?
Can you think of a time when you worked together with friends to solve a problem like Desi and his friends?
How do you think the story would change if it was set at a different time?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and connect them to their own experiences, fostering a deeper understanding of the story’s themes.
Use the illustrations in the book to ask your child to describe what they see and how it relates to the story, enhancing their observational skills.
Prompt your child to imagine alternative scenarios or endings to the story, stimulating their creative thinking.
Discuss the values of friendship and teamwork depicted in the book, reinforcing social and emotional learning.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding time concepts
Explanation: The book uses the characters, Desi & Friends, to explain how the clock functions and introduces basic time-telling skills to young readers.
Real-World Application: Children can apply these skills in their daily routines, helping them manage time for activities like studying, playing, or getting ready for bed.
Example Lesson: Importance of teamwork
Explanation: Desi and friends work together to solve the mystery of the ticking sound, showing that teamwork can lead to success.
Real-World Application: Kids learn to collaborate with their peers during group activities at school or in sports, enhancing their interpersonal skills and cooperation.
Example Lesson: Curiosity and problem solving
Explanation: The book encourages children to be curious and use critical thinking to solve problems, as displayed by the characters' quest to understand how the clock works.
Real-World Application: This promotes a sense of inquiry and logic in children, helping them approach challenges in schoolwork and everyday tasks with a problem-solving mindset.
Example Lesson: Learning through exploration
Explanation: The adventure of Desi & Friends provides a fun and engaging way for kids to learn about clocks and time, making education an enjoyable experience.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to explore and learn about the world around them, whether it’s learning about physical objects or understanding new concepts.