How It Was With Dooms: A True Story from Africa
What’s inside...
Twelve-year-old Xan Hopcraft grew up with a pet cheetah named Dooms at his home in Nairobi, Kenya. After Dooms passed away, Xan and his mother Carol created a scrapbook that combined photographs and Xan's drawings to tell the story of Dooms' life and their experiences with him. The book, 'How It Was with Dooms', presents a unique and personal portrait of the cheetah and his life as a cherished member of the Hopcraft family, offering insight into life with a wild African cheetah.
Age
7-11
Length
64 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Xan Hopcraft
Dooms
Tana Hopcraft
Nigel Hopcraft
Discussion points
How do you think Xan felt when he was taking care of Dooms? What responsibilities come with caring for an animal?
What can we learn about friendship from Xan and Dooms' relationship?
What emotions did you feel during the challenging moments in the book and why?
Why is it important to respect wild animals and their habitats?
How did the family's environment affect their experience and relationship with Dooms?
Tip: Role play these questions
Before reading, discuss the setting of the book (Africa) to provide context and enrich the child’s understanding of the story.
Encourage empathy by asking your child how they would feel in Xan’s situations, linking their emotions to the story.
After reading, focus on reflection by asking about the lessons learned from the story and how they can be applied in your child’s life.
Use the book’s illustrations to deepen the discussion by exploring what the images can tell us beyond the text.
Reinforce the themes of the book by planning a family activity that involves caring for nature or exploring wildlife education.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and compassion
Explanation: The story demonstrates these values through the intimate bond between the Hopcraft family and Dooms, a cheetah they raise. The family’s care and understanding of Dooms’ needs show deep empathy.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to recognize and respond to the feelings and needs of others, whether they are people or animals, fostering a more compassionate and connected community.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Raising Dooms, the cheetah, required a significant level of responsibility from the Hopcraft family, including providing food, shelter, and medical care.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of taking responsibility for the well-being of those dependent on them, such as pets or younger siblings.
Example Lesson: Adaptability and resilience
Explanation: The family and Dooms face various challenges, adapting to new circumstances and recovering from setbacks, which highlights their resilience.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of adapting to change and overcoming difficulties, skills that are vital as they navigate through life.
Example Lesson: Respect for nature
Explanation: The book paints vivid descriptions of the African landscape and wildlife, instilling a respect and awe for natural environments and their inhabitants.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to value and protect the natural world, understanding the critical role of biodiversity and ecosystems.
Example Lesson: The circle of life
Explanation: The book touches upon life and death in the natural world, teaching children about the realities of life cycles and nature’s balance.
Real-World Application: Helps children understand and accept the natural process of life and death, promoting a healthy perspective on the cycle of life.