Things in the Basement
on Goodreads (1,755)
What’s inside...
From New York Times bestselling author Ben Hatke comes Things in the Basement, a young readers graphic novel about Milo, a young boy who discovers a portal to a secret world in his basement. It was supposed to just be a normal basement—some storage boxes, dust, the usual basement stuff. But when Milo is sent by his mother to fetch a sock from the basement of the historic home they've moved into, Milo finds a door in the back that he's never seen before. Turns out that the basement of his house is enormous. In fact, there is a whole world down there. As Milo travels ever deeper into the Basement World, he meets the many Things that live in the shadows and gloom...and he learns that to face his fears he must approach even the strangest creatures with kindness.
Discussion points
What do you think you would find in your own basement if it was like the one in the book?
How did the characters' feelings change throughout the story, and what caused those changes?
If you could add another character to the story, who would it be and why?
What is the most important lesson the characters learned in their adventure?
How would you have solved the problem differently if you were in the story?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine their own basement adventure story, helping them connect with the book’s theme of curiosity and exploration.
Discuss the emotions of the characters at different points in the story to help your child understand and express their own feelings.
Ask your child to draw a scene from the book, enhancing their engagement and providing a visual basis for discussion.
Create a 'What if?' scenario by asking your child how the story might change with different choices or characters, encouraging critical thinking.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Courage in the face of fear
Explanation: In 'Things in the Basement,' the characters encounter various spooky elements in the basement, learning to face and overcome their fears.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by tackling their fears, whether it's trying something new or facing the dark, thus building confidence.
Example Lesson: Creativity and imagination
Explanation: The book showcases characters using their creativity to navigate through the mysterious basement, turning potentially scary situations into fun adventures.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to use their imagination to transform challenging scenarios into creative opportunities in play or problem-solving.
Example Lesson: Teamwork and collaboration
Explanation: As the characters encounter obstacles, they must work together to find solutions and navigate the basement, highlighting the importance of teamwork.
Real-World Application: Kids learn the value of cooperating with others to achieve common goals, which is essential in school projects or team sports.
Example Lesson: Curiosity and exploration
Explanation: The story encourages exploring unknown areas and learning from the environment, just as the characters do in the basement.
Real-World Application: Children are inspired to explore and learn from the world around them, nurturing a lifelong love for discovery.
Example Lesson: Handling uncertainty
Explanation: Throughout their adventures, the characters face many unknowns in the basement, teaching them how to handle uncertainty and ambiguity.
Real-World Application: This prepares children to remain calm and think critically during uncertain situations in real life, like changing schools or facing unexpected problems.