Thumbelina: (First Reading Level 4)
First Reading Level 4 Series
What’s inside...
A tiny girl no bigger than a thumb is stolen by a great ugly toad, and subsequently has many adventures and makes many animal friends before finding the perfect mate in a warm and beautiful southern land. This is a new title in the fantastic 'First Reading' series, aimed at children who are beginning to read. This is the classic fairytale by Hans Christian Anderson retold, following the adventures of thumb-high Thumbelina. It is developed in consultation with Alison Kelly, who is a senior lecturer in education and an early reading specialist from Roehampton University. It is a great value quality hardback with ribbon marker guaranteed to foster pride in book ownership.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
48 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think Thumbelina felt when she met all the different characters?
How do you think Thumbelina’s size affected her adventures?
If you were Thumbelina, what would you have done differently in her situation?
What does this story teach us about bravery and kindness?
How do you think helping others made Thumbelina feel?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to put themselves in Thumbelina's shoes, asking how they might feel in similar situations.
Discuss the moral lessons of the story, and how they can be applied to your child’s daily life.
Use descriptive scenes from the book to spark imagination, asking your child to visualize and describe their version.
Highlight Thumbelina’s interactions with other characters to facilitate conversations about friendship and empathy.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resilience and perseverance
Explanation: Thumbelina faces multiple challenges as she is taken away by different creatures, yet she remains hopeful and continually strives to find her way back home.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of staying strong and persistent despite difficulties, and can apply this by not giving up easily in the face of challenges at school or in personal tasks.
Example Lesson: Kindness to all
Explanation: Throughout her journey, Thumbelina is kind and polite to every character she meets, regardless of their intentions.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to treat everyone with respect and kindness, a principle they can practice in their daily interactions with peers and adults.
Example Lesson: Importance of making wise choices
Explanation: Thumbelina makes decisions such as rejecting the mole’s proposal, which eventually leads her to happiness.
Real-World Application: Children learn to consider their options carefully and think about the consequences before making decisions. This skill is vital in peer relationships and personal development.
Example Lesson: Courage to face the unknown
Explanation: Being a tiny person in a vast world, Thumbelina musters the courage to explore and face unfamiliar situations.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to step out of their comfort zones and embrace new experiences, whether it's trying new activities or making new friends.
Example Lesson: Appreciating one’s unique identity
Explanation: Thumbelina’s journey helps her to realize and appreciate her own unique qualities that set her apart from others.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children to understand and value their own uniqueness, and to embrace the qualities that make them special.