Catnapped
Nancy Clancy Chapter Books Series
What’s inside...
When Jenna's Nanna wins the lotto, not everyone agrees with how she plans on spending the money. Jenna is excited that her favorite grandmother wants to take her to Disneyland. However, when a couple of sleazy crooks find out that Nanna intends to use her winnings to build a home for cats, they plot to kidnap Nanna's cats and hold them for ransom. 'Catnapped' is a beginning chapter book designed for animal lovers.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
6-12
Length
48 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think made the cat decide to trust the main character?
How did the characters show kindness to each other during the story?
What would you do if you found a lost pet like in the book?
How do you think the story would change if it took place in a different setting, like a city or a forest?
What did the story teach you about helping others?
Tip: Role play these questions
While discussing the trust between the cat and the main character, share a personal story about a time you had to trust someone new.
Ask your child to relate a real-life example of kindness to the kindness shown in the book.
Encourage your child to imagine alternative endings or scenarios in the story to develop their creativity and problem-solving skills.
Discuss the importance of helping others and connect it to family values or instances where helping played a key role in your community.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Problem-Solving Skills
Explanation: In 'Catnapped', the main character faces the challenge of finding and rescuing a missing cat, demonstrating critical thinking and resourcefulness.
Real-World Application: Children can apply these problem-solving skills in daily situations, such as resolving conflicts with peers or overcoming obstacles in school projects.
Example Lesson: Empathy and Compassion
Explanation: Throughout the book, the protagonist shows genuine concern for the missing pet, teaching children the importance of understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
Real-World Application: Kids can use these lessons to better relate to friends and family, recognizing when someone else is upset or needs help, and responding kindly.
Example Lesson: The Value of Teamwork
Explanation: The protagonist collaborates with others to find the missing cat, illustrating that teamwork can often lead to success where going it alone might not.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to work cooperatively in group settings, whether in a classroom project or a sports team, to achieve common goals.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Taking care of a pet is a significant theme, and the commitment required to search for the missing cat reinforces the concept of responsibility towards others.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of being responsible, whether it's following through on chores at home or duties at school.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: The search for the cat is fraught with difficulties, but the persistence of the characters teaches children the value of not giving up despite setbacks.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand the importance of persistence in achieving goals, whether in completing homework, learning a new skill, or building relationships.