The Bear in the Hut: Independent Reading Gold 9
Reading corner. Series
illustrations by
What’s inside...
An endearing tale of a young child who befriends a mysterious bear living in a hut near the village. Together, they embark on adventures that teach them about trust, friendship, and the beauty of the natural world around them. 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). 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. Perfect for 5-7 year olds or those reading book band orange.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
6-8
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the bear felt when it was alone in the hut?
Can you imagine what you would do if you were in the bear's place?
How did the other characters react to the bear? Why do you think they reacted that way?
What would you have done differently if you were one of the characters?
What did you learn from the bear's adventure?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to put themselves in the bear’s shoes to foster empathy and understanding. Pause at key moments in the story to ask how they feel and what they might do next. Relate the bear’s experiences to your child’s own experiences to make the story more relevant and engaging. After finishing the book, ask your child to draw a scene or a character from the story to promote creativity and help them express their understanding of the book’s themes.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Self-reliance
Explanation: The story portrays the bear learning to solve problems independently in the hut.
Real-World Application: Children can adopt a mindset of solving their own small problems instead of always seeking immediate help.
Example Lesson: Creativity
Explanation: The bear uses inventive ways to make the hut more comfortable.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to use their imagination to improve their surroundings or create solutions.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Despite initial challenges, the bear continues to improve the hut.
Real-World Application: Teaches children the value of persisting with tasks even when they face obstacles.