A-maze-ing Minotaur
on Goodreads (12)
What’s inside...
King Minos keeps a strange and dangerous beast, the Minotaur, in the Labyrinth beneath his castle. Every nine years, the Minotaur is fed seven young men and seven young girls from Athens. Theseus, prince of Athens, vows to kill the Minotaur and sails to Crete with other Athenians. Assisted by Ariadne, the king's daughter who loves him, Theseus enters the Labyrinth with a sword and a ball of golden thread to guide him out. Will Theseus kill the Minotaur and escape the maze? Follow his journey through the Labyrinth.
Age
5-9
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the Minotaur felt being alone in the maze?
How would you help the Minotaur if you were in the story?
What did you learn about solving problems from the story?
Can you think of a time when you felt like the Minotaur? What helped you feel better?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings about the characters and situations in the book. Use the Minotaur’s emotions and actions as a way to discuss facing and overcoming challenges. Highlight the importance of empathy by asking how they would assist characters in difficult situations. Draw parallels between the story’s resolution and real-life scenarios your child might encounter, fostering a deeper connection to the book’s themes.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Problem-solving skills
Explanation: As the protagonist navigates the labyrinth to find the Minotaur, they encounter various obstacles and puzzles that require critical thinking to solve.
Real-World Application: Children learn to tackle challenges and think logically, skills that are applicable in school tasks and everyday difficulties.
Example Lesson: Courage and bravery
Explanation: Facing the mythical Minotaur takes immense bravery, which the main character demonstrates despite feeling afraid.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of confronting fears and the value of bravery in uncertain situations, encouraging them to face their own fears.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: The protagonist often collaborates with others they meet within the maze to overcome challenges, emphasizing the value of working together.
Real-World Application: Children learn that teamwork can lead to achieving goals that might be difficult to accomplish alone, a lesson useful in collaborative projects at school or in sports.
Example Lesson: Persistence
Explanation: Throughout the story, the character’s determination to reach the center of the labyrinth, despite setbacks, illustrates the importance of persistence.
Real-World Application: This underscores for children the value of perseverance through difficult tasks or when learning new skills, fostering resilience.
Example Lesson: Creative thinking
Explanation: The protagonist often uses inventive methods to bypass obstacles in the maze, showcasing creative problem-solving.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to think creatively in their problem-solving, which can be applied in artistic endeavors, academic questions, and personal projects.