The queen's nose
on Goodreads (15)
What’s inside...
To accompany the television series of the Queen's Nose, this is a screen adaptation written by Steve Attridge that follows the return of Harmony Parker, her family and that 50 pence piece. Wishes can come true especially if you are Harmony Parker with a lucky 50p piece. What other people don't understand, however, is exactly how powerful that curious coin is. In the wrong hands, anything can happen. Mr Swingit, the headmaster, discovers this when he wishes all his pupils would vanish, and school bully Stub Martin finds his perfect prank turns into a foaming nightmare. As for Harmony, she's got her gruesome gran, her spiteful sister and her bankrupt dad to contend with. Never in the history of mankind has a 50p piece had to work so hard.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-8
Length
108 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What would you do if you had a magic coin like Harmony? How would you use its wishes?
Why do you think Harmony wishes for the things she does? What does this tell us about her?
How do Harmony’s relationships with other characters change throughout the story?
What lessons do you think Harmony learns by the end of the book? Do you agree with those lessons?
If you could add one more wish to the story, what would it be and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to put themselves in Harmony’s shoes to deepen their understanding of her choices and feelings. Discuss the different outcomes of her wishes and what they might do differently. Use the book to talk about the value of being careful what we wish for and the unexpected consequences of getting what we want. Highlight the interactions between characters to teach lessons about relationships and empathy. Finally, inspire creativity by asking your child to come up with their own magical wish and how they would handle it.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Value of Responsibility
Explanation: In 'The Queen's Nose' by Dick King-Smith, the protagonist, Harmony, learns to handle the magical powers of a 50 pence coin responsibly. Her journey demonstrates the outcomes of her choices when she uses the coin wisely versus impulsively.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by understanding the importance of thinking through their decisions and being responsible for the consequences of their actions in everyday situations such as sharing with siblings or doing homework.
Example Lesson: Understanding the Consequences of Greed
Explanation: Throughout the book, Harmony experiences both positive and negative consequences based on her wishes. This highlights the effects of greed and the importance of moderation, especially when her wishes do not turn out as expected.
Real-World Application: Children learn that excessive wanting or taking more than needed can lead to undesirable outcomes. This can be applied by choosing to be content and grateful for what they have, and sharing with others.
Example Lesson: Importance of Family and Relationships
Explanation: Harmony’s interactions with her family and the resolution towards the end of the book emphasize the significance of family bonds and communication. She learns to value her relationships over materialistic desires.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to prioritize spending time with family and friends, expressing love and appreciation, and resolving conflicts through communication.
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding Others
Explanation: As Harmony makes wishes impacting not only herself but also others around her, she learns to consider how her actions affect others, fostering a sense of empathy and consideration.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children understand the importance of thinking about how their actions and words might make others feel, encouraging them to be kind and thoughtful in their daily interactions.