Destiny's Gift
What’s inside...
Destiny loves words and her favourite place in the world is Mrs Wade's bookstore. On Saturdays, Destiny helps Mrs Wade at the store and at the end of the day they relax together, drinking tea and reading. One Saturday, Mrs Wade does not seem her usual self and Destiny learns that the bookshop is about to close. Destiny is determined not to let this happen. As she rallies the community to help keep the store open, she also creates an imaginative journal for Mrs Wade that captures the warmth and special magic of the store forever.
Age
6-9
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Destiny
Destiny'S Father
Destiny'S Mother
Ms. Wade
Discussion points
What do you think Destiny learned from helping Mrs. Wade with her bookstore?
How did Destiny feel when she found out the store might close? How would you feel in her situation?
What are some ways that Destiny showed she cared about her community?
Why do you think it is important to support local businesses like Mrs. Wade's bookstore?
If you had a chance to help someone in your community, what would you do?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think about their own community and any local businesses they know. Discuss the impact of supporting local businesses.
Relate the story to your child's experiences by asking if they have ever felt a strong desire to help someone and how they acted on that feeling.
Discuss the emotions that Destiny felt during the story to help your child understand and articulate their own feelings in similar situations.
Highlight the importance of persistence and community support as shown in the book, and encourage your child to think about how they can apply these values in their own life.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The value of perseverance
Explanation: In 'Destiny's Gift,' the main character, Destiny, helps her friend Mrs. Wade keep her community bookstore open despite many challenges. Her dedication demonstrates how important it is not to give up even when things look difficult.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of persisting with their goals, whether it be finishing a school project or learning a new skill, even when obstacles arise.
Example Lesson: The importance of community support
Explanation: Destiny rallies the community to support Mrs. Wade’s bookstore, illustrating how community support can make a significant difference in achieving goals that benefit everyone.
Real-World Application: This lesson can encourage children to participate in community events and understand how their contributions can help achieve greater communal goals.
Example Lesson: Caring for others
Explanation: Destiny's empathetic actions towards Mrs. Wade emphasize the importance of caring and compassion for others, particularly those who have had a positive impact on one's life.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by showing kindness and support to their friends, family, and teachers, recognizing and appreciating their influence.
Example Lesson: The power of using one's voice
Explanation: Destiny uses her love for writing to make a difference, demonstrating that young people’s voices are powerful and can inspire change.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to express themselves through writing or speaking out about issues they care about in their community, school, or home.