King Midas: Embracing the Golden Touch
What’s inside...
King Midas, known for his ability to turn everything he touches into gold, learns valuable lessons about greed, values, and the love of his family. This reimagined tale provides a deeper insight into Midas's journey from greed to redemption. Now the tale of King Midas and his golden touch is charmingly retold with full-color illustrations, and key sentences shown in American Sign Language (ASL). The line drawings of the storyteller recreate 44 key sentences, making the new King Midas ideal for helping both hearing and deaf children to learn better reading skills.
Age
3-10
Length
52 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think King Midas learned by the end of the story?
How would you feel if everything you touched turned to gold?
Why do you think King Midas wished for the golden touch in the first place?
Can you think of something that's more valuable than gold?
What would you do if you had the golden touch for a day?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to reflect on the consequences of King Midas' wish by comparing it to changes they might wish for in their own lives.
Highlight the importance of values over material wealth by discussing personal experiences where non-material things brought happiness.
Promote empathy by asking your child to consider the feelings of King Midas and other characters throughout the story.
Use creative play to deepen understanding, perhaps by pretending to have the golden touch and exploring its potential consequences together.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The value of moderation
Explanation: King Midas learns the hard way that his wish for everything he touches to turn to gold is not as wonderful as it seems, as even his food and his daughter become gold.
Real-World Application: This story teaches children about the consequences of excess and highlights the importance of balance in different aspects of life, such as eating, playing, and studying.
Example Lesson: Understanding true happiness
Explanation: Midas discovers that wealth and material possessions do not bring true happiness after his ability to turn objects into gold backfires, showing that personal relationships and health are more valuable.
Real-World Application: Children learn to appreciate non-material aspects of life like family, friends, and nature, prioritizing these over the pursuit of material wealth.
Example Lesson: The consequences of greed
Explanation: The story illustrates how Midas' greed leads to despair and loss, teaching that being greedy can have negative outcomes on oneself and on others.
Real-World Application: This can help children understand the importance of sharing and the joy that comes from being generous with others rather than keeping everything for oneself.
Example Lesson: Wise decision making
Explanation: King Midas is granted a wish by Dionysus, and he chooses unwisely. This part of the story points to the importance of careful thought when making decisions.
Real-World Application: It encourages kids to think through their choices and consider the potential outcomes before deciding, promoting thoughtful decision-making in day-to-day activities.
Example Lesson: The power of repentance and forgiveness
Explanation: When Midas is distressed by his golden touch, Dionysus forgives him and reverses the wish after Midas sincerely repents for his greed and mistakes.
Real-World Application: This part of the tale highlights the importance of admitting mistakes and seeking forgiveness. It teaches children that it is okay to make mistakes as long as they learn from them and strive to make things right.