The Cricket in Time Square Discussion Questions

 

After reading The Cricket in Times Square, answer the following discussion questions:

1. How does Mario find Chester?  What does Mario do when he finds Chester?

2.  What is Chester’s special talent?

3. Why does Mama Bellini change her mind about Chester?

4 Why does Chester decide to retire?  Which is more important to you-being famous or being happy?

5.  What do you think will happen to the Bellinis when Chester leaves?

6. Do you think that the characters are happier at the end of the story than they were in the beginning?

7.  Who is your favorite character?  Why?

For more adventures of Chester Cricket, check out:

2. Tucker’s Countryside

3. Harry Cat’s Pet Puppy

4. Chester Cricket’s Pigeon Ride

5. Chester Cricket’s New Home

6. Harry Kitten and Tucker Mouse

7. The Old Meadow

Poppy and Rye Discussion Questions

 

After you have read Poppy and Rye, answer the following discussion questions:

1.  Clover has 63 children.  Would you like that many brothers and sisters?  Why would this be good or bad?

2.  How are Ragweed and his brother, Rye, different?  Alike?  Do you have a brother or sister?  Are you alike or  different?

3.  How does Thistle describe Rye?  Do you think this is true?  How would your family describe you?

4.  The motto of the beavers is “Progress Without Pain”.  Do you think that this is true in the story?  What about in real life?

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

1. Ragweed

2. Poppy

3. Ereth’s Birthday

4. Poppy’s Return

5. Poppy and Ereth

Summer 2013 Titles

This summer we're pulling out the stops.  Pick any title that we have done in the past, read it, and answer the questions.  Questions can be answered online or be emailed to "kidsread at cmpl.org".

Smile Discussion Questions

After you have read Smile by Raina Telgemeier, answer the following discussion questions:

 

1.  Smile is shelved in our junior graphic novel area, which means that it uses pictures to help tell the story.  Would this book have been better or worse without the pictures?

 

2.  Do you think that this story takes place in 2013?  What are some clues that tells you when Smile takes place?  (For example, no cell phones.)

 

3.  How do you feel about Raina's friends?  What would you do if your friends treated you this way?

 

4.  Raina is disappointed with how her teeth look when her braces are removed.  Why does she think she looks weird?  How do her new friends react?  What would her old friends have said?

 

5.  Why do you think that Raina Telgemeier called this book Smile?

 

If you liked Smile, check out Drama, also by Raina Telgemeier.

A World Without Heroes Discussion Questions

After you have read A World Without Heroes, answer the following discussion questions:

1. A World Without Heroes is a fantasy.  Fantasy stories are those created with imagination.  Can you give any evidence to support that this is a fantasy book?

2. There are a lot of unique names in the book, such as Maldor, Galloran, and Tark.  Do you think that the names help create the character (good or bad)?

3. What is a hero?  Jason has a big decision in that he desires to go home, but can also sacrifice everything and become a hero for Lyrian.  Which would you choose?

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

2. Seeds of Rebellion

3. Chasing the Prophecy

Stink and the World's Worst Super-Stinky Sneakers

After reading Stink and the World’s Worst Super-Stinky Sneakers answer the following discussion questions:

1.  Stink's Stinky Facts are scattered throughout the book in cartoons.  Do you have any favorite facts?

2. Stink has a lot of jobs that he wants to be when he grows up: pro smeller, president of a candy store, and an inventor.  What would you like to be when you grown up?  What is the strangest job you have every heard of?

3.  Stink judges the All-Time, World’s Worst Super-Stinky Sneaker Contest.  Would you enter your shoes in this contest?  Have you won a contest before?  What kind?

For more fun with Stink, check out the rest of the series:

1. Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid
2. Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker                              
3. Stink and the World’s Worst Super-Stinky Sneakers
4. Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express
5. Stink: Solar System Super Hero
6. Stink: The Ultimate Thumb-Wrestling Smackdown           

Ivy + Bean and the Ghost that Had to Go

After you have read Ivy+Bean and the Ghost that Had to Go, answer the following discussion questions:

1.  Are you more like Ivy or Bean?

2.  Ivy likes big words, such as “imagination” and “plesiosaur”. Are there any large words that you like to say?

3. The girls created a gymnastics club so they could do cartwheels at recess. Can you do a cartwheel? What is something special that you can do that would make a great club?

4. Do you have a brother or sister? Do you always get along? Have you ever done something, such as Bean cutting Nancy’s hair, to your brother or sister?

5. Their teacher says that Ivy has imagination when talking about the ghost. Do you think that imagination was a good or bad thing in this case?

 

For more adventures of Ivy & Bean, try:

     1.  Ivy + Bean

     2.  Ivy + Bean and the Ghost Who Had to Go

     3.  Ivy + Bean Break the Fossil Record

     4.  Ivy + Bean Take Care of the Babysitter

     5.  Ivy + Bean Bound to Be Bad

     6.  Ivy + Bean Doomed to Dance

     7.  Ivy + Bean What’s the Big Idea?