Geronimo Stilton Mice Kings: The Helmet Holdup By Elisabetta Dami Illustrated by Giuseppe Facciotto (pencils), Alessandro Costa (ink and colour)

Synopsis

Mice Kings: The Helmet Holdup is the pictorial chapter book written in the voice of Geronimo Stiltonord; a mouseking scholar. The story is set in the ancient far north where Geronimo Stiltonord lives with his clan in the village of Mouseborg.

On the way to Great Stone Square, Geronimo bumps into the three Mouseketeers. He picks up a helmet they’ve dropped and they guiltily take it with them. He thinks nothing of it, until later that afternoon it is revealed the village chief Sven the Shouter’s precious helmet has disappeared. At first everyone believes it must be after Stiltonord tells them what happened earlier that day. Then they find the three Mouseketeers tied up at their house. The Vilekings had bound the Mouseketeers, disguised themselves, then stolen the helmet and run away.

Stiltonord and his cousin Trap, along with Sven’s beautiful daughter Thora, plus Olaf the Captain and his crew of the longship Bated Breath set sail to recover the helmet off the Vilekings. Not long into the journey, Geronimo sees a mouse overboard. While directing the ship towards Twisted Whisker, one of the Vilekings who had fallen overboard, they crash their ship. Two dragons land on their shipwrecked boat and discuss how they’re going to attack where the Vilekings live. Once they’ve gone, Twisted Whisker pleads with them to help save the Vilekings. They construct a raft and sail to the island. The micekings then hide in barrels and creep towards the village only for the dragons to sniff them out. One of the Vilekings saves them and they hide with the rest of the Vilekings.

The Vilekings want to know what their plan is to rescue them from the dragons. On the spot, Stiltonord thinks of an idea to help them escape. While the dragons argue how best to eat the captured villagers, the Mousekings and Vilekings gather what they need to battle the dragons. They throw stinging nettles from their slingshots at the dragons until they run away to itch their hides. The Vileking chief gives back the helmet and the Mousekings sail back to Mouseborg. About the Book’s Creators

Elisabetta Dami first worked as a proof reader for her family’s publishing house Dami Editore in Milan, Italy. After working as a volunteer with sick children she came up with the idea of writing an adventure series featuring a mouse (Geronimo Stilton) and later Thea Stilton and The Thea Sisters. She has written over 100 books which have sold in 150 countries in 40 different languages. However, you won’t find Elisabetta Dami’s name on the books; instead Geronimo and Thea Stilton take the credit and narrate the stories.

Themes

 Don’t give up  Speak up and share your ideas with the group  Don’t let the team down  Be fair even if you don’t agree

Shared Learning and Discussion Points

 Look at the cover. What can you tell about the setting of the story from the picture? Can you see the helmet? Why do you think it is special and what do you think happens to it in the story?  Who are The Three Mousekingeteers and what are they famous for in Mouseborg? (p.2)  How did Stiltonord fill in on the stage when The Three Mousekingeteers were late? (pp.16- 17)  What was stolen from Sven and Mousehilde’s house? (p.18)  What had happened to the real Mousekingeteers and who had stolen the helmet? (p.26)  Why did the Mousekingeteers steal that particular helmet? (p.29)  Who volunteered to get the helmet and what did Stiltonord think of that person? (pp.30-31)  What was the name of the ship that Stiltonord and the others sailed away in and what was Stilton’s name for it? (p.32)  What jobs did Stiltonord have to do on the ship and why was he reluctant to do it? (pp.36- 37)  What happened to the ship while they were trying to save the shipwrecked mouse? (p.42)  How did Twisted Whisker end up in the water? (p.47-49)  What did they overhear the dragons planning? (pp.50-51)  How did Stiltonord end up in the water and what was he supposed to do while there? (p.60)  What was Thora’s dangerous plan? (pp.72-73)  Where were all the VileKings hiding and what did they think of their rescuers? (p.86)  What was Stiltonord’s plan for escape and how did they execute it? (pp.91-94)  What did the VileKing chief give to Stiltonord, how did Sven receive it and what were the consequences? (p.112)

Activities

ACTIVITY 1: What if?

What if the VileKing did not give back the helmet? Write a double page spread with pictures (cartoon style) showing how Stiltonord persuades him to give it back.

ACTIVITY 2: Box it!

Ask the students to write a text box (in the style of ‘The Three VileKings’ on page 27) about the Mousekings. Include information about the Mousekings that you’ve gleaned from the story.

ACTIVITY 3: Plan it!

Tell the students (working in groups of 2-4) to think of another plan to get into Ferfjord village (see original plan on page 73). Draft it first, and then write it up on a scroll, stain it with tea, and hang it up on a wall for the rest of the class to see.

Teaching notes by Maria Gill