My Cat's Paw
#3 in Fictional Cat Adventures Series
on Goodreads (3)
What’s inside...
Natasha and her cat Princess have never been apart. However, during a horrible thunderstorm one night, a window breaks, and Princess escapes. After months of searching for Princess, Natasha finds her with a boy who claims Princess now belongs with him. It will take a clever judge to decide who Princess gets to go home with forever. Will Natasha get her best friend back?
Discussion points
How did the cat's adventure make you feel? What would you have done if you were in the cat's place?
What do you think the cat learned during its journey?
Can you think of a time when you helped a friend like the characters in the book helped each other?
Why do you think the author chose a cat as the main character? What qualities do cats have that make them good adventurers?
If you could add another scene to the story, what would it be about?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading: When reading 'My Cat’s Paw,' change your voice to match different characters and emotions. This helps bring the story to life and keeps your child engaged.
Ask predictive questions: Before turning the page, ask your child what they think will happen next. This encourages imagination and anticipatory skills.
Relate to personal experiences: After reading, discuss any similar experiences your child might have had, like a time they tried something new or helped a friend.
Create a drawing: Encourage your child to draw their favorite scene or character from the book. This helps with comprehension and allows them to express their understanding creatively.
Role-play: Take turns pretending to be different characters from the book. This not only reinforces memory but also aids in empathy and perspective-taking.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: The protagonist learns to understand and share the feelings of their cat after noticing its discomfort from a paw injury.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to observe and respond to the emotions and physical conditions of pets and people around them, fostering a compassionate attitude.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Throughout the book, the protagonist takes on the responsibility of caring for their injured cat, learning about the duties involved in pet care.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to take initiative in caring for family pets or helping around the house, understanding that their actions directly impact others' well-being.
Example Lesson: Problem-Solving
Explanation: The main character faces the challenge of how to help their cat and seeks advice from a vet, demonstrating effective problem-solving steps.
Real-World Application: Children can apply problem-solving skills by seeking help from adults or using resources at their disposal when faced with challenges.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Despite initial fears and setbacks in treating the cat's paw, the protagonist persists until the cat recovers, showing resilience.
Real-World Application: This lesson can motivate children to persist in their efforts, whether in schoolwork, sports, or personal goals, despite difficulties.
Example Lesson: Kindness
Explanation: The warm, caring actions of the protagonist towards the cat exemplify kindness.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to be kind to animals and people, highlighting how small acts of kindness can make a big difference in others' lives.