PENGUIN READERS
Teacher’s notes EASYSTARTS
The Fireboy
Stephen Rabley
Summary
The Fireboy is about a poor boy named Hapu who lives
with his father in Ancient Egypt. Hapu works with his
father as a fireboy, making gold tables and chairs. One
day, his father becomes ill. Hapu must make some money
– but how?
He decides to make a gold necklace for Queen Cleopatra.
He works very hard and makes a beautiful necklace.
However, when he goes to the palace, the guards laugh at
him for trying to see the Queen.
Hapu goes to meet the Queen’s people at the market the
next day and discovers that the Queen has come herself.
He gives her the necklace. The Queen asks the guards to
give Hapu some money.
Later that night, a guard comes to get Hapu – the Queen
wants him to work for her. Hapu is happy, but sad too
– what about his sick father?
At the palace, Hapu explains everything to the Queen,
who has a solution – Hapu and his father can live at home
together but work only for her. Hapu and his father are
very happy. They will no longer be poor.
Background and themes
Hard work and perseverance: Good things come to those
who work hard. Hapu’s work saves him and his father
from poverty and helps them to live comfortably.
Money and happiness: Hapu and his father dream of
being rich but is money really the only way to happiness?
People often say that money can’t make you happy, but
thanks to money, Hapu’s father can rest and get over his
illness.
c Pearson Education Limited 2008
Teacher Support Programme
Poverty and appearance: The guards laugh at Hapu
when he tries to see the Queen. They judge him only on
his appearance. They think that he is worthless because he
is poor.
Discussion activities
Pages 1−7
Before reading
1 Discuss: Ask students to look at the cover of the book.
What does the cover say about the story? Who is the boy?
What is he doing? Is he happy or sad? What do you think
will happen in the story?
2 Discuss: Get students to think about the word
‘fireboy’. What does the word mean? Is it a commonly
used word? Discuss ideas together.
After reading
3 Role play: Ask students to work in pairs and role play
the conversation between Hapu and his father on page
2.
4 Check: Get students to define the word ‘fireboy’ as it
is used in the story. Check if their prediction regarding
the definition of the word was correct.
Pages 8−15
Before reading
5 Write: Get students to look at the picture on page 8
and write a short paragraph describing the Queen’s
appearance.
After reading
6 Artwork: Have students create a poster outlining the
story, characters, theme, etc. of The Fireboy.
7 Guess: Ask students to predict what will happen to
Hapu and his father in the future. What will their life
be like? Will they be happy or sad?
Vocabulary activities
For the Word List and vocabulary activities, go to
www.penguinreaders.com.
The Fireboy - Teacher’s notes  of 1