Mrs. Armitage: Queen of the Road by Quentin Blake | Fun Read Aloud with Mr. Tim, IB School Librarian
Mrs. Armitage: Queen of the Road – Read Aloud + Classroom Ideas
Mrs. Armitage: Queen of the Road by Quentin Blake is a joyful, laugh-out-loud story about big ideas, bold upgrades, and the fun of “improving” something until it becomes wonderfully ridiculous. Mrs. Armitage and her dog Breakspear set off for a road trip — and every little problem becomes a reason to invent a new feature for the car.
This is a brilliant read-aloud for sparking creativity and discussion: What counts as a good solution? When do improvements help… and when do they get a bit out of control?
Opens Amazon in your region where available.
Teacher’s Corner
Before Reading
- Ask: What makes a road trip fun? What do you need to travel safely?
- Predict: If you could “upgrade” a car or bike, what would you add?
During Reading
- Pause and ask: What problem is Mrs. Armitage trying to solve right now?
- Discuss: Is her solution practical, funny, or both?
After Reading
- Design challenge: Draw an “improved” vehicle and label 3–5 new features.
- Speaking task: Present your upgrades and explain what problem each one solves.
- Extension: Vote on the “most useful” vs “most creative” invention.
For more classroom-friendly read alouds and teaching ideas, visit Books & Reading Resources.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
