Tiddles’ and Oscar’s Learning Adventure
About the Book
When Tiddles first comes to the Rescued Cats’ Centre she is underweight and highly strung. Despite the best of food and veterinary care, Tiddles remains small even as an adult. Highly nervous, she avoids other cats and prefers her own company. On the other hand, Oscar is only a tiny kitten when he is found in a plastic bag thrown in a rubbish bin. He is rescued and hand raised by Police Officer, Debi Leahy, and grows to become a strong, confident, bully-boy cat. When Oscar visits the Rescued Cats’ Centre, Tiddles becomes a target of his teasing.
The story raises the issue of bullying, and how it affects others. The book may be used with young children, as a tool to promote discussion on a difficult topic.
BUY PAPERBACK HERE
ISBN 978-0-9941202-7-4
KINDLE EDITION ON AMAZON SOON!
$15.00
About Tiddles and Oscar
When Tiddles first comes to the Rescued Cats’ Centre she is underweight and highly strung. Despite the best of food and veterinary care, Tiddles remains small even as an adult. Highly nervous, she avoids other cats and prefers her own company. On the other hand, Oscar is only a tiny kitten when he is found in a plastic bag thrown in a rubbish bin. He is hand raised by Police Officer, Debi Leahy and grows to become a strong, confident, bully-boy cat.
The story raises the issue of bullying, and how it affects others. The book may be used with young children, as a tool to promote discussion on a difficult topic.
About the Book
Tiddles is a small, nervous cat who lives at the Rescued Cats’ Centre. When Oscar, a big, tough, cat, comes to visit her, all she wants to do is hide. But Oscar has other ideas. He enjoys nothing more than chasing and teasing Tiddles. Will they ever learn to get on with one another? This story is inspired by the delightful photographs of Christine Johnston and friends.
Teacher Notes
Preschool / Year One and Two
This book reiterates the core values expressed in ‘Kia Kaha’. “(Every child) has the right to be safe, the right to be respected and valued, and the right to learn without fear. By using the cats as ‘characters’ the children can talk more openly about their feelings. Oscar (the cat in the story) is named after Oscar the Grouch (a TV star from Sesame Street, who lives in a rubbish tin).
Discuss with the children how Oscar must have felt when, as a kitten, he was dumped in the rubbish. Write the key words on a white board. Read the story, pausing to ask the children for comment. For example:
- Page 6 – Why were Tiddles’ eyes as round as saucers?
- Page 7 – What do you think of the way Oscar spoke to Tiddles? How do you think Tiddles felt?
- Page 8 – Why did Tiddles jump into the bag? Do you think Oscar was a ‘cool’ cat?
- Page 9 – Do you agree with what Meeps said?
- Page 10 – Why do you think Oscar is sorry now?
- Page 11 – Why are the older cats angry?
- Page 12 – Do you think Tiddles will want to be friends with Oscar?
Follow-up activity. ACTING OUT Work as a class group. Ask the children to close their eyes and imagine what it is like to be really scared. Then, the children can divide into small groups and make up a short play from the story and act out the roles of Tiddles, Oscar and the older cats.
