Zilla Sasparilla and the Mud Baby,
What’s inside...
A story with a folk-tale atmosphere by an award-winning duo. As Zilla Sasparilla is making her way along the slippery path by Little Muddy River, one of her big feet is sucked into the mud and over she goes on her bottom. She has to plunge her hands in right up to her elbows to find her lost shoe but when, finally, she hauls it out, something else comes with it, a beautiful, mud-golden baby. Oh, how Zilla loves that baby! She washes him and feeds him and hugs him and kisses him. 'Cinnamon' She names him 'Cinnamon' and she is so happy. But as her mud baby grows, Zilla just can't help worrying that that mean old river is going to try to steal him back from her. Wise old Granny Vi tries to calm her anxieties, but eventually Zilla decides the only thing to do is move house. So she packs up all her possessions on a wagon and sets off with Cinnamon. To get away, though, they have to take the path by the river and, when the mule refuses to pull, Zilla gets down from the wagon to push and, as before, she slips. This time, though, she falls into the river. She looks on horrified as Cinnamon kicks off his shoes and dives in to help her. But the boy just laughs. Nothing happens to him and, at last, Zilla's fears are put to rest. They go back home. Julia Gorog is the award-winning author of many other children's books. Amanda Harvey has won the Mother Goose Award for 'A Close Call'. She has also illustrated 'Grimms' Fairy Tales', and stories by Dick King-Smith.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-8
Length
25 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How did Zilla feel when she first created the Mud Baby, and how did her feelings change throughout the story?
What would you do if you were in Zilla’s place and the Mud Baby came to life?
Why do you think the Mud Baby wanted to keep playing, and what does this tell us about friendships?
What is the importance of taking responsibility, as shown in the story?
How did Zilla's parents react to the Mud Baby, and what would you do if you were them?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine and express their thoughts by comparing their own feelings and experiences with Zilla’s adventures. Highlight the themes of creativity and responsibility in the story to deepen their understanding. Use expressions and act out parts of the story to make the reading session interactive and lively. Finally, ask them to think of alternative endings to nurture their creative thinking skills.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Creativity and Imagination
Explanation: The story showcases Zilla Sasparilla's imaginative creation of a mud baby, highlighting the boundless potential of a child's creativity.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to engage in creative activities like drawing, crafting, or storytelling, fostering their imaginative skills.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Zilla takes care of the mud baby, depicting the importance of responsibility through nurturing and caring.
Real-World Application: This can translate to children learning to take care of their toys, pets, or helping around the home, understanding their roles in various responsibilities.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving
Explanation: Zilla faces challenges with the mud baby and must think of solutions, demonstrating effective problem-solving skills.
Real-World Application: Children can apply problem-solving skills when they face conflicts or challenges at school or with friends, learning to think critically and develop solutions.
Example Lesson: Acceptance of change
Explanation: The narrative shows Zilla dealing with the inevitable changes in the mud baby, which teaches acceptance of life's impermanence and changes.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children grasp the concept of change, whether it’s moving to a new place, transitioning to a new school year, or any other changes, and learning to adapt positively.