Reading Champion: Spike's New House
Reading corner. Series
on Goodreads (3)
What’s inside...
Spike's New House tells the story of a young hedgehog named Spike who embarks on an adventure to find a new home after his old one becomes too small. Along his journey, he encounters various challenges and makes new friends who help him in his quest for the perfect house. This story is part of Reading Champion, a series carefully linked to book bands to encourage independent reading skills, developed with Dr Sue Bodman and Glen Franklin of UCL Institute of Education (IOE)This sweet and surprising story stars Meera, her parents and their back garden visitor, Spike the hedgehog. Meera loves when Spike comes to call in the evenings, but when she and the family have a big garden clear-out, will Spike still find the garden cosy enough for a wander. Reading Champion offers independent reading books for children to practise and reinforce their developing reading skills. Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and a reading activity. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child's reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-8
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think Spike felt when he moved to his new house? Can you share a time you felt similar?
What are some of the ways Spike tried to make his new house feel like home? What would you do in his place?
Why is it important to have a place where we feel safe and comfortable?
How did Spike’s friends help him feel better about his new house? What does this tell us about friendship?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate the story to their own experiences by sharing personal stories of moving or adjusting to new environments.
Discuss the importance of empathy and understanding. Emphasize how Spike’s feelings are valid and compare them to emotions your child may feel during big changes.
Highlight the role of community and support systems in adapting to new situations by pointing out how Spike’s friends helped him.
Use expressive read-aloud techniques to bring the characters to life and create a more immersive storytelling experience.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Adaptability
Explanation: The narrative showcases Spike adapting to a new home, illustrating the importance of embracing change.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to remain positive and open when they face new situations or environments, such as moving to a new school or trying a new activity.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving
Explanation: Spike faces challenges in his new environment and finds solutions, highlighting the value of problem-solving skills.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think critically and find creative solutions in their daily challenges, whether in academic tasks or personal issues.
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: Despite initial difficulties, Spike persists in making his new house a home, demonstrating resilience.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this resilience by not giving up easily, whether in completing a difficult homework assignment or in learning a new sport.