The Four Friends Level 19-20

The Four Friends tells the story of Crow, Deer, Rat, and Turtle-four unlikely animal companions who show the strength of loyalty and teamwork. When Deer is caught in a hunter's trap, her friends unite to rescue her, only for Turtle to be captured in turn. Their courage and clever thinking help free him, showing readers the value of unity and perseverance. This engaging narrative supports phonemic awareness with blends such as œsh and œst, introduces long and short vowel sounds, and features rich illustrations that enhance comprehension. The story encourages predictions, forming opinions, and discussion about the qualities that make a good friend. It offers a compelling context for conversations about trust and supporting others in difficult situations.

Educational Benefits

• Teaches values of friendship, teamwork, and compassion
• Builds decoding skills through blends and vowel sound practice
• Develops inference and prediction skills
• Encourages students to reflect on moral choices and cooperation

Classroom Ideas

• Act out the rescue scenes in small groups
• Draw a map of where each animal helped in the rescue
• Write about a time when they helped a friend
• Create character cards describing each animal's traits and actions

Safety & Information

• Suitable for ages 6+
• Book dimensions: 200mm x 180mm
• Safe for group activities and independent reading