Tina Cocolina: Queen of Cupcakes
What’s inside...
Fans of Fancy Nancy and Pinkalicious will adore Tina Cocolina, a sweet little cupcake of a girl with a sense of adventure and a flair for fashion who's on the hunt for her perfect topping. This mouthwatering picture book includes cupcake and frosting recipes from an award-winning pastry chef, maestro Martin Howard.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-7
Length
48 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What special qualities do you think Tina Cocolina has that make her a queen? How do you display your unique qualities?
Tina Cocolina faced challenges in the Cupcake Challenge; can you think of a time you faced a challenge? How did you overcome it?
Why do you think teamwork was important in the story? Have you had experiences where working with others helped you?
How do you think Tina felt when she was creating her special cupcake? How do you feel when you create something on your own?
What lesson did you learn from Tina Cocolina's journey in the story?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading techniques such as different voices and pauses to bring the story and its characters to life.
Encourage your child to describe their favorite part of the book and why they liked it, aligning their thoughts with the main themes of perseverance and self-expression.
Ask your child to draw their own cupcake creation after reading the book, discussing the colors, flavors, and decorations they would choose, relating it back to how Tina used her own unique style.
After discussing the key questions, connect themes from the book to real-life situations, helping your child relate to Tina's experiences and learnings.
Praise your child’s responses and creativity during the discussion to build their confidence and affirm their understanding and connection to the book.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Embracing uniqueness
Explanation: Tina Cocolina is a young cupcake with no sprinkle crown, underscoring the theme of embracing one’s unique qualities.
Real-World Application: Children learn to appreciate and celebrate their own differences and those of others in their interactions, promoting inclusivity.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Throughout the book, Tina works diligently to find her perfect topping, showing determination despite obstacles.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the value of persevering through challenges to achieve their goals, applicable in school tasks or personal projects.
Example Lesson: Creativity
Explanation: Tina experiments with various toppings for the contest, showcasing the importance of creative thinking.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to explore their creative sides in problem-solving, school projects, or artistic endeavors.
Example Lesson: Healthy competition
Explanation: Tina participates in the Queen of the Cupcakes contest, illustrating how to engage in competitions healthily and positively.
Real-World Application: Instills the values of fair play and joy in participation rather than just winning, applicable in school sports or other competitive activities.