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Mary Poppins Book Nook, chapter books for kids, knights princess chapter books, book club for kids,

Book Club for Kids: Chapter Book on Knights, Princesses and Castles

Posted on March 25, 2013May 24, 2024 by Pragmatic Mom

Virtual Book Club for Kids Ages 9 and Up

I first heard about the Poppins Book Nook from Piwi Princess on Google + Community Great Books for Kids. It sounded like so much fun that I asked the host, Enchanted Homeschooling Mom, if I could join and she was kind enough to include me!

The idea is a virtual book club built around themes so bloggers can choose any book — picture book, chapter book, non-fiction, etc. — and blog on it with an activity! Doesn’t that sound like fun?!

This series will be posted on the last Monday of every month and here is the lineup of themes:

Knights, Princesses, and Castle Chapter Book

This month’s theme is knights, princesses, and castles. Oh, how to choose?!

I have an extensive princesses-that-don’t-need-rescuing list but I decided to go with a chapter book that is both a retold fairy tale (actually many fairy tales) and includes princes, knights, princesses, and castles. It’s one of my favorite chapter books I read last year because it’s so darn funny.

The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom (The League of Princes) by Christopher Healy

I love retold fairy tales and this one is hilarious to boot. Imagine if the princes in fairy tales had personalities both flattering and unflattering. And the princesses — Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Snow White — reminded you of girls in Middle School ranging from Mean Girls to super sporty.

Now, have the princes and princesses unite against an evil witch that threatens all their respective kingdoms. Add in the comedic antics of a Shrek movie and you get this hilarious page-turner that modernizes fairy tales of yore. This is sure to be an animated movie but don’t expect Disney to option this book! [chapter book, ages 8 and up]

(Click on the image of a book to view it at Amazon or here for Barnes and Noble)

Activities for The Hero’s Guide for Saving Your Kingdom

There are a lot of characters to keep track of. Let’s start by reviewing all of them in the Who’s Who section.

Hero's guide to saving your castle quiz

Because this is a chapter book that screams middle school social scene in the worst way — cliques, bullies, and general social mayhem — let’s start with a personality quiz thoughtfully provided by the author.

Which Prince or Princess are YOU?

Hero's Guide to Saving Your Castle, which prince are you, which princess are you

 

Then to start a book discussion, let’s pick people in real life that remind of us any of these princes or princesses. Who did you pick and why?

Finally, let’s make duct tape swords. It’s easy. Just use duct tape, aluminum foil, paper, tape, and scissors.

Here are some that my daughters made that used copy paper to build forms and then duct tape to cover and strengthen the sword. They are surprisingly sturdy. It might not be a coincidence that girls used paper forms and planned out their swords in advance of the duct tape.

duct tape swords using paper forms

These duct tape swords were made by boys who used just aluminum foil and duct tape.

duct tape craft for boys, duct tape sword craft, book club for boys

duct tape sword craft, book club for boys, book club for girls, 4th grade chapter book, 5th grade chapter book, retold fairy tales

 

Blogs Participating in the Poppins Book Nook:
Enchanted Homeschooling Mom – Royal Baloo – 3 Dinosaurs – Monsters Ed – Chestnut Grove Academy – Growing in God’s Grace – Royal Little Lambs – Life with Moore Babies – Teach Beside Me – The Usual Mayhem – Mum Central – Fantastic Fun and Learning – Kathys Cluttered Mind –Play Create Explore – Toddler Approved – Growing Book by Book – Adventures in Mommydom –B-Inspired Mama – The Fairy and The Frog – Edventures with Kids – Learning & Growing the Piwi way – A Gluten Free Journey – Rainy Day Mum – Mom to Crazy Monkeys
Mary Poppins Book Nook, chapter books for kids, knights princess chapter books, book club for kids,

 

p.s. Here is another picture book about a knight of the Round Table.

Sir Morien by Holly Black and Kaliis Smith, illustrated by Ebony Glenn

Prince Morien’s story takes center stage as a Knight of King Arthur’s Round Table. He is the Moorish son of Sir Aglovale and his mother is a princess in northern Africa. Prince Morien grew up never having known his father, so he decided to start a quest to find him. Along the way, he met other knights, and fought them, besting everyone, until the day he fought Sir Lancelot. They tied. Together with Sir Gawain, they set off in search of Sir Aglovale. When they discovered King Arthur was being held captive in a castle, they rescued him and discovered Sir Aglovale there too. It was a joyous reunion and Prince Morien was invited to join the Knights of the Round Table. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Sir Morien by Holly Black

 

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24 thoughts on “Book Club for Kids: Chapter Book on Knights, Princesses and Castles”

  1. Barbara Mojica says:
    March 25, 2013 at 9:34 am

    What a fantastic idea! Sounds like lots of fun. I love the duct tape swords to get boys involved in the theme and what girl would not want to choose her favorite princess,

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      March 27, 2013 at 3:57 pm

      Hi Barbara,
      You can never go wrong with duct tape crafts, it seems!

      Reply
  2. Viren says:
    March 25, 2013 at 2:07 pm

    I love the idea,my boys will have fun reading it

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      March 27, 2013 at 3:58 pm

      Hi Viren,
      It is such a fun and funny chapter book and I hear that it’s going to be movie!

      Reply
  3. maryanne @ mama smiles says:
    March 25, 2013 at 3:36 pm

    I just finished reading that book a couple weeks ago – such a fun read!

    Reply
  4. Catherine says:
    March 25, 2013 at 4:58 pm

    Sounds fantastic! We are already getting ready to make swords before I finish commenting 😉 Thanks!

    Reply
  5. Ashley says:
    March 26, 2013 at 7:08 am

    Looks like a fun book, and even the pictures remind you of middle school attitudes! Sounds like it might be a good book to talk about personal character development as well. We’ll have to be on the lookout for it!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      March 27, 2013 at 4:03 pm

      Hi Ashley,
      I really loved the book for both turning fairy tales upside down and for just sheer comedy. It’s Shrek-like. Expect a movie from Pixar, I’m thinking!

      Reply
  6. Erin - The Usual Mayhem says:
    March 26, 2013 at 7:59 am

    Oh, my 12 year old daughter would LOVE that book! I’ll be sending a request for an inter-library loan today! Thanks, Mia.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      March 27, 2013 at 4:04 pm

      Hi Erin,
      I hope she likes it. It is a really fun and funny read. Please let me know what she thinks once she’s read it. Thanks! I love to get kids’ opinions!

      Reply
  7. mari says:
    March 26, 2013 at 12:28 pm

    Pinning! I need to have this for my dragon slayer boys :).

    Thx

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      March 27, 2013 at 4:04 pm

      Thanks Mari and thank you to your young knights!

      Reply
  8. Jill says:
    March 26, 2013 at 12:54 pm

    I have never heard of that storybook so I am putting it on my library book list for later this week. Your duct tape sword is so creative and fun!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      March 27, 2013 at 4:04 pm

      Thanks Jill! We had fun making them!

      Reply
  9. Maria G. says:
    March 26, 2013 at 5:10 pm

    Knowing my daughter she would choose to make and use swords instead of choosing a princess! But anyway, this is a great kids’ event that will keep kids interested in books. We all know that reading books may not be too popular nowadays.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      March 27, 2013 at 4:07 pm

      Hi Maria,
      I love girls with swords and shields! My girls made swords and daggars and actually theirs were more sturdy than the boys plus had more features like wrist guard. No reason why girls can make and play with swords!

      We are all, as children’s book bloggers, trying to entice kids away from screens. It does work! Kids will read if you just keep at it.

      Reply
  10. Mom and Kiddo @What Do We Do All Day? says:
    March 29, 2013 at 2:58 pm

    I love this book, and can’t wait for the sequel! Thanks for sharing at The Children’s Bookshelf.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      March 30, 2013 at 9:13 am

      Hi Mom and Kiddo,
      Me too! And the movie too! I can’t wait for an animated Dreamworks movie!!

      Reply
  11. Bethany @ No Twiddle Twaddle says:
    April 1, 2013 at 7:00 am

    Fun idea. I love the personality quiz and who’s who idea. I can’t wait to see what else you come up with for the book club. Thanks for linking up to The Children’s Bookshelf!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      April 1, 2013 at 12:58 pm

      Thanks Bethany,
      I can’t take credit for the personality quiz and the who’s who but it is a fun feature for a super fun book.

      Reply
  12. Ann says:
    April 3, 2013 at 3:09 pm

    Those swords are strangely realistic and I love the sound of this book for my kids!

    Also love the sound of this book club. Do I sign up on Google+? I would llike to participate!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      April 4, 2013 at 10:47 am

      Hi Ann,
      Go to Enchanted Homeschooling Mom and get her email address from her blog and ask her. I think she’s very open to adding more bloggers. It’s a lot of fun! The next theme is Wizards!!!

      Reply
  13. jannet says:
    December 2, 2014 at 11:50 am

    wow the pics are mazin

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      December 6, 2014 at 10:21 am

      Thanks Jannet!

      Reply

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