Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies
#1 in Winston Chu Series
What’s inside...
Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents Stacey Lee's modern reimagining of a classic Chinese folktale, filled with magic, boba, and playful banter. Twelve-year-old Winston Chu, enrolled in a cooking academy to learn impulse control, inadvertently stops a robbery and is rewarded with a choice of any item from an oddities shop. He impulsively selects a broom which leads to mysterious disappearances of his belongings. Winston must return to the shop and use magic to uncover and resolve the deeper mysteries at play.
Discussion points
How do you think Winston Chu felt when he encountered the Whimsies? What would you have done in his place?
What do you think the Whimsies represent? Can you think of a time when you faced a similar challenge or fear?
How did Winston Chu's friends and family help him deal with the Whimsies? Why is it important to have support from others when facing difficulties?
What lessons did Winston Chu learn by the end of the book? How can you apply these lessons in your own life?
If you could give Winston Chu one piece of advice at the start of his adventure, what would it be?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading to bring the story to life, changing your tone and volume to match the narrative and keep your child engaged.
Pause at key moments in the story to ask predictive questions, such as 'What do you think will happen next?' to encourage critical thinking.
Relate the challenges faced by Winston Chu to real-life situations your child might encounter, fostering a deeper connection to the story's themes.
Encourage your child to describe their favorite part of the book and explain why they liked it, promoting their ability to express opinions and preferences.
Discuss the importance of resilience and creativity when facing challenges, highlighting how these qualities helped Winston Chu throughout his journey.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of courage
Explanation: In the story, Winston Chu stands up against the Whimsies despite feeling scared, demonstrating bravery.
Real-World Application: Children learn to face their fears and stand up for themselves or others in challenging situations.
Example Lesson: Value of creativity
Explanation: Winston uses creative solutions to navigate his problems, showing that thinking differently can be very effective.
Real-World Application: Encourages kids to use their imagination to solve problems and think outside the box in real life.
Example Lesson: Benefits of friendship
Explanation: Throughout his adventures, Winston learns that working together with friends can make overcoming obstacles much easier.
Real-World Application: Teaches children the importance of building and maintaining friendships and collaborating to achieve common goals.
Example Lesson: Resilience in adversity
Explanation: Winston faces many challenges, but his ability to persevere teaches resilience.
Real-World Application: Helps children understand the importance of not giving up despite difficulties and learning from their experiences.
Example Lesson: Respect for diversity
Explanation: Winston encounters various characters, each unique, which teaches him to respect and appreciate differences.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to embrace diversity and learn from others' perspectives and experiences in their community.