The Umbrella Maker's Son
What’s inside...
From a critically acclaimed author comes a fantastical middle grade novel about a boy, Oscar Buckle, who lives in a city where it's always raining. Oscar's father is an umbrella maker, but their high-quality umbrellas are being outsold by a cheaper competitor, threatening their family business. Forced to quit school and work in his father's shop, Oscar becomes suspicious of the competitor when extraordinary events start occurring in their rainy town. With the help of his best friend, Saige, Oscar sets out to discover if there's more than just nature behind the perpetual rain in their city.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
8-12
Length
384 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think motivated the Umbrella Maker's Son to continue his father's craft?
How do you think the village felt when they saw the unique umbrellas the son made?
What challenges do you think the Umbrella Maker's Son faced and how did he overcome them?
If you were in the story, how would you help the Umbrella Maker's Son in his journey?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine themselves in the setting of the story, prompting them to think about what they would see, hear, and feel.
Ask your child to draw their favorite scene or character from the book, then discuss why they chose it.
Discuss the importance of perseverance and creativity, as demonstrated by the Umbrella Maker's Son, and relate these themes to your child's own experiences.
Create a fun activity where you and your child can design your own imaginary umbrellas and describe their special features.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resilience and perseverance
Explanation: The protagonist faces numerous challenges while helping his father create umbrellas, demonstrating resilience and perseverance throughout the story.
Real-World Application: Children can apply the concept of perseverance to their daily tasks and challenges, whether in schoolwork or personal goals, understanding that persistence can lead to success.
Example Lesson: Creativity and innovation
Explanation: The inventive ways the son comes up with new designs for the umbrellas showcase the importance of creativity and thinking outside the box.
Real-World Application: This lesson can inspire children to explore their own creativity in art projects, problem-solving, and unique ways of expressing themselves.
Example Lesson: Appreciation of craftsmanship
Explanation: The story details the intricate process of making umbrellas, highlighting the skill and dedication required to create a functional yet beautiful product.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to appreciate the craftsmanship in the objects around them and may be encouraged to learn and respect various forms of art and manual work.
Example Lesson: Value of collaboration
Explanation: Working alongside his father, the son learns the importance of teamwork and utilizing each other's strengths to achieve a common goal.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to collaborate effectively with peers in school projects and in play, understanding that teamwork can achieve greater results than working solo.
Example Lesson: Heritage and tradition
Explanation: The book explores how the family's umbrella-making tradition connects the characters to their cultural heritage.
Real-World Application: This lesson can provoke interest in children about their own family traditions and cultural background, fostering a sense of identity and belonging.