Dear Mr. Sprouts (A Little ark book)
Little Ark Paperbacks Series
on Goodreads (31)
What’s inside...
Winner of the Children's and Young Adults Award at the Western Australian Premier's Book Awards in 1992 and shortlisted for Best Senior Fiction at the Multicultural Children's Literature Awards in 1992, this reflective novel follows the developing friendship between Freddie and Anke, who begin corresponding after Anke's balloon with seeds attached lands on Freddie's farm. Through letters, they share their dreams, thoughts, and challenges, gradually altering the landscape of Freddie's farm and their lives.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
9-12
Length
128 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How did Mr. Sprouts help the protagonist evolve throughout the story?
What important lessons do you think the characters learned?
How would you have handled the situation differently if you were in the protagonist's shoes?
What emotions did you feel while reading about the protagonist's journey?
How do you think the story would change if it happened in our town?
Tip: Role play these questions
Personalize the discussion to your child by relating the story events to real-life experiences your child might have faced.
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and emotions about the book, validating their feelings and perspectives.
Use expressive read-aloud techniques, altering your tone of voice to match the narrative mood, which helps in engaging your child further.
Ask your child to imagine alternative endings or continuations of the story to foster creative thinking.
Discuss the decisions made by the characters and explore the moral and ethical lessons tied to those choices.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: In 'Dear Mr. Sprouts,' the protagonist learns to understand and empathize with the characters' diverse perspectives and situations.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by learning to be considerate and understanding towards their friends and family members' feelings and viewpoints.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: Throughout the story, the characters face various challenges that they must overcome, demonstrating effective problem-solving skills.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to think critically and creatively to solve problems they encounter in school or during play.
Example Lesson: Importance of Communication
Explanation: The book highlights how characters achieve positive outcomes through clear and open communication.
Real-World Application: Children learn the significance of expressing themselves and the value of honest conversation in resolving conflicts.
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: Characters in the book experience setbacks, but show resilience and persistence, which ultimately leads to success.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to not give up easily in the face of difficulties, fostering perseverance in their personal and academic endeavors.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: The story shows how characters collaborate and leverage each other's strengths to achieve a common goal.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to work cooperatively in group settings such as in school projects or team sports, appreciating the value of teamwork.