Tiddler: The Story-Telling Fish
Tiddlers Series
What’s inside...
Tiddler is a small fish with a big imagination who is always late for school and has a different tall tale for why he is late each day. One day, Tiddler is truly caught in a net and he must rely on his stories to come to his rescue. In the translated version, Tiddler is called Tjokkie and he tells fantastic tales of swimming among mussels and seaweed, playing with a mermaid at a shipwreck filled with gold. The story questions whether anyone will believe him if one day he actually finds himself in trouble.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
2-5
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Why do you think Tiddler tells stories instead of telling the truth about being late?
How do the other fish react to Tiddler's stories? What does that tell us about friendship?
Can you think of a story you would tell if you were Tiddler?
What lesson did Tiddler learn by the end of the book?
How did Tiddler's stories impact the other creatures in the sea?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine and share their own short story, much like Tiddler does in the book.
Discuss the importance of honesty with your child and how Tiddler's stories affected his relationships with other fish.
After reading, ask your child to draw their favorite scene or character from the book to deepen their connection and understanding of the story.
Use expressive voices and pauses while reading Tiddler's tales to make the storytelling session more lively and engaging.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of honesty
Explanation: Tiddler, the protagonist, often makes up stories about why he is late. Eventually, he learns that telling the truth is more important when his tales lead to unexpected consequences.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the value of being truthful in their interactions and understand the impact that honesty can have on their relationships and trustworthiness.
Example Lesson: Creativity and imagination
Explanation: Tiddler’s elaborate stories showcase the power of creativity and imagination, capturing the interest of his friends under the sea.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to engage in creative thinking and storytelling, which can enhance their cognitive development and communication skills.
Example Lesson: Consequences of actions
Explanation: As the story progresses, Tiddler faces challenges due to his habit of making up stories. This teaches him about the results that come from one’s actions.
Real-World Application: Helps children understand that their actions have consequences and teaches them to think about the outcomes before acting.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Despite getting lost, Tiddler perseveres and finds his way back home, using his stories to guide him.
Real-World Application: Teaches children the importance of perseverance in overcoming obstacles and the role of resilience in achieving goals.