Despicable Me: The Junior Novel
#1 of 3 in Despicable Me Series
on Goodreads (245)
What’s inside...
A smart, funny junior novelization of Despicable Me, the animated movie coming from Universal Studios in Summer 2010. Will include an 8 page colour insert! In the movie, Despicable Me, Gru (Steve Carell) wants to be the greatest supervillain in the world: so he plans to steal the moon! But Gru's nemesis tries to steal his glory and his plan, until Gru adopts three orphaned girls who can get inside his opponent's fortress by selling cookies. The world's greatest villain has finally met his greatest challenge-three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes. These girls see something else in Gru-a potential dad! Animation film talent Chris Meledandri is the man behind huge hits like Ice Age, Alvin and the Chipmunks and Horton Hears a Who! In a new deal with Universal, he will be producing 1-2 family films per year. His first film will be the animated tale Despicable Me!
Character compass
Gru
Agnes
Dr. Nefario
Edith
The Minions
Margo
Miss Hattie
Vector
Discussion points
What do you think about Gru’s journey from being a villain to someone more caring? How did his relationship with the girls influence him?
How do the Minions add humor to the story? Can you think of a funny moment that stuck with you?
If you could invent something like Gru, what would it be and why?
What does the book teach us about the importance of family and friendship?
How would you have handled the situation differently if you were in Gru's shoes?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their opinions about the characters' decisions and whether they agree with them.
Ask your child to relate personal experiences that remind them of the book’s events or themes.
Discuss the transformations of characters throughout the book, encouraging your child to think about how people can change over time.
Highlight the feelings and motives behind characters’ actions to deepen your child’s empathy and understanding.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of teamwork
Explanation: Throughout the book, characters must collaborate and work together to overcome obstacles and achieve common goals.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to cooperate with others, whether in school projects or during team sports, to achieve better outcomes together.
Example Lesson: Value of kindness and friendship
Explanation: The interactions between the characters highlight the significance of being kind and making friends, showing how these relationships can positively impact one's life.
Real-World Application: Kids can strive to be friendlier and more compassionate, helping them build and maintain meaningful relationships.
Example Lesson: Personal growth and redemption
Explanation: The storyline includes themes of personal transformation as characters learn from their mistakes and make efforts to become better.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to embrace personal growth and understand that mistakes are opportunities for learning and improvement.
Example Lesson: Creativity and innovation
Explanation: The book emphasizes using imagination and innovative thinking to solve problems, showing how creativity can lead to success.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to think creatively in their daily activities and problem-solving tasks, fostering innovation from a young age.
Example Lesson: Responsibility and consequences
Explanation: Characters in the book learn to take responsibility for their actions and understand the consequences that follow.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of being accountable for their actions and understanding the impact their choices have on themselves and others.