Escape the Rooms (the laugh-out-loud funny and mind-blowingly brilliant new book for kids!)
What’s inside...
A high-energy, laugh-out-loud, fully illustrated adventure story by much-loved actor Stephen Mangan and talented artist Anita Mangan, 'Escape the Rooms' is a richly imagined and deeply heartfelt journey. The story follows Jack, who unexpectedly plunges through the ground while bungee-jumping at a fairground, finding himself in a bizarre world of puzzles and traps alongside a mysterious girl named Cally. Together, they must navigate through various challenges, including a murderous polar bear and tiny ferocious lions, using their wits to solve mind-blowing riddles and ultimately find their way back home. The tale is beautifully captured through Anita Mangan's cartoonish and poignant illustrations, reminiscent of classics like 'The Wizard of Oz' and combining elements of 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'The Crystal Maze'. This adventure ignites the imagination and offers both classic and modern thrills, making it a brilliantly clever and unique book.
Age
9-11
Length
205 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Jack
Discussion points
What do you think Jack and Cally felt when they were trying to escape the rooms? How would you feel in a similar situation?
Which room was the most challenging for Jack and Cally, and why do you think that?
If you could design a room for Jack and Cally to escape, what would it look like and what challenges would you include?
How do Jack and Cally work together to solve the problems they face? Can you think of a time when you worked with someone to solve a problem?
What is the most important lesson Jack and Cally learned during their adventure? How can you apply this lesson in your own life?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the book. Listen attentively to their responses to understand their perspective.
Use follow-up questions to dig deeper into their thoughts about the story and characters, which helps in developing their analytical and empathetic skills.
Discuss the teamwork between Jack and Cally, and relate it to real-life situations where working together is beneficial.
Connect the themes of the book to the child’s own experiences, for example, overcoming challenges, to make the conversation more relatable and meaningful.
Highlight the creative problem-solving aspects of the book, asking your child how they might have approached the challenges differently.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Problem-solving and teamwork
Explanation: Throughout 'Escape the Rooms', characters encounter various challenges that can only be resolved through collective problem-solving and coordination.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of working together and combining their skills to overcome obstacles, which is applicable in school projects and family activities.
Example Lesson: Creativity and imagination
Explanation: The book's inventive scenarios encourage children to think creatively as characters navigate through imaginative and fantastical rooms.
Real-World Application: This lesson inspires children to use their imagination in play and learning, helping them to think outside the box in real-life situations.
Example Lesson: Resilience in facing fears
Explanation: The protagonist, along with friends, faces various fears within the mysterious rooms, learning to overcome them bravely.
Real-World Application: This can teach children the value of confronting and overcoming their fears, whether it's trying out new activities or managing everyday anxieties.
Example Lesson: Importance of humor
Explanation: The book uses humor to lighten the challenges faced by characters, showing how laughter can be a powerful tool in dealing with difficult situations.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to approach life's challenges with a sense of humor, easing stress and improving their emotional health.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Characters often face setbacks in the story, but they persist and keep trying until they succeed.
Real-World Application: Children learn that persistence is key to achieving goals and overcoming difficulties in academics, sports, or personal endeavors.