Toys Go Out Discussion Questions

After reading Toys Go Out, answer the following discussion questions:

1. Why are the toys left in?

2. Do you have a favorite toy now or did you when you were younger? Why is (was) it your favorite?

3. Lumphy would rather be warned about something that he won't like. Would you? Why or why not?

4. Do you think the Little Girls love one toy over the others? Why or why not?

5. As you saw with the toys, sometimes it is difficult to find the "right" birthday present. What was the best birthday present that you have ever received? What was the best birthday present you have ever given?

6. Stingray and his friends discuss what it means to be grown-up in chapter 6. What do you think it means to be grown-up?

If you liked Toys Go Out, try its sequel: Toy Dance Party by Emily Jenkins

Sea of Monsters Discussion Questions

After you have read The Sea of Monsters, answer the following discussion questions:

1. Why does Percy ahve to change schools every year?

2. Why is Percy willing to risk everything to rescue Grover? Would you do the same for a friend?

3. What do the Sirens reveal about a person? What do you think that they would reveal about you?

4. What mythical creature described in this book would you least like to meet in person?

5. Which of the tools described would you most like to have?

If you would like to read the rest of the series, try:

1. The Lightning Thief

3. The Titan's Curse

4. The Battle of the Labyrinth

5. The Last Olympian

Ida B Discussion Questions

After you have read Ida B., answer the following discussion questions:

1. Why does Ida B go "talk" with the old tree when the young trees in her family's apple orchard tell her that hard times are headed her way?

2. Why does Ida B feel so upset that Ms. Myers, her kindergarten teacher, wants her to go by the name Ida instead of Ida B?

3. Ida B's teacher, Ms. Washington, wisely doesn't push Ida B to make friends or join games at recess. How does she finally break through Ida B's cold heart?

4. After Ida B makes her rounds and apologies to all those she had hurt by being mean, her attitude changes. Do Ida B's actions change as a result of her softer heart?

5. What do you imagine will happen to Ida B after the last chapter? Will she make friends?

Beezus and Ramona Discussion Questions

After you have read Beezus and Ramona, answer the following discussion questions:

1. Ramona's favorite book is The Littlest Steam Shovel. What is your favorite book?

2. What does your family mean to you? Does anyone in your family ever annoy you?

3. Which do you think is better-being the younger sister or the older sister (or brother)? Why?

4. Ramona invites a lot of children to a party withouut asking her mom's permission because she says, "When I ask you won't let me do things." Is this a good reason? What do you think of the party that Mrs. Quimby and Beezus put together?

5. Beezus envies Ramona for her imagi9nation. How does Miss Robbins discourage beezus at first? How does she later help Beezus develop her imagination?

6. When Mother and Aunt Beatrice tell what they did to each other, Beezus realizes she'll look back and find things Ramona and she did to each other funny, too. What do you think they'll laugh about when they grow up?

For more adventures of Beezus and Ramona, try:
2. Ramona the Pest
3. Ramona the Brave
4. Ramona and Her Father
5. Ramona and Her Mother
6. Ramona Quimby, Age 8
7. Ramona Forever
8. Ramona's World

Superfudge Discussion Questions

After reading Superfudge, answer the following discussion questions:

1. In what ways does the year in New Jersey affect each member of the family?

2. With a little brother like Fudge hogging the spotlight, Peter feels insignificant. Have you ever felt like "nothing"? Share a time that you felt unimportant and how you snapped out of that feeling.

3. What does Peter think of Tootsie's nickname? Do you think it fits her?

4. What is unique about Uncle Feather? Do you have a pet? Have you taught it tricks?

5. What do you think it would be like to grow up in Judy Blume's family?

If you liked Superfudge, try the other books in the series:

1. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
2. Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great
3. Superfudge
4. Fudge-a-mania
5. Double Fudge

Frindle Discussion Questions

After you have read Frindle, answer the following discussion questions:

1. Is it believable that "frindle" took off and become so well known? Why or why not?

2. "School," the author writes in Frindle, "was the perfect place to launch a new word." Why? What makes schools such good breeding grounds for fads? Do companies or community organizations ever use your school for promoting products or services? How?

3. Why does Mrs. Granger "expect to hear remarkable things" about Nick in the future? Can you predict-based on his creativity and his restless challenging of rules and conventions-what kind of remarkable things he might go on to do?

4. Imagine that you are the reporter from the Wakefield Gazette, trying to get the scoop on the new word frindle. What questions would you ask Mrs. Granger? How would you convince the principal to give you the real story?

The Lightning Thief Discussion Questions

After you have read The Lightning Thief, answer the following discussion questions:

1. What does Percy discover about the Greek gods at Camp Half Blood? What do they have to do with the camp?

2. What does Percy's fight with Echidna reveal about his character? What new things does he discover about himself?

3. When describing the effects of the Mist, Chiron says, "Remarkable, really, the lengths humans will go to fit things into their version of reality." How is this true in the novel?

4. How does the last line of the prophecy - you shall fail to save what matters most in the end - come true? What do you think of this ending? Did Percy make the right choice?

If you would like to read the rest of the series, try:

2. The Sea of Monsters

3. The Titan's Curse

4. The Battle of the Labyrinth

5. The Last Olympian