Questions for The Poetrees

1. Study the poem and picture for SEEDS. This poem is written in the shape of infinity. This shape is a symbol for a process that goes on and on and repeats itself over and over again. After reading the poem, why do you think the artist selected this shape in which to place the poem on the page? Do you see a connection between the words and the picture?

2. What do the markings on the Scribbly Gum Tree mean? Who made these marks on the bark of this tree and why? Study the poem for clues.

3. The Dragon Tree is shown with leaves in the shape of a dragon. The dragon tree is a real tree with dragon blood. Look in the Glossatree at the end of the book for an explanation.

Questions for The Hiccupotamus

1. The author uses rhymes to add a sense of playfulness to his story. Think of other rhymes that you have heard or read and discuss what makes them funny to you.

2. Try your hand at listing as many words that rhyme such as hat, bat, cat, rat fat, and so on. Once you have a list of words that rhyme, use them to create your own story.

3. The author makes up words that create new ways to rhyme such as “hippopotamus” and “bottomus.” Think of new words that you can create to rhyme with words you know and use them to create a phrase or two.

4. What is the funniest image and set of rhymes in this book for you? Why do you think it is funny?

5. Look up Aaron Zenz and find out about other books he has written and illustrated. What would you like to read next?

Questions for ALL THE WORLD

1. Study the picture of the children in the tree. The text reads, “ All the world is old and new”. What do you think that means? How does the illustrator show this concept of old and new?
   
   
2. Study the trees, the people and the dog. The picture of the farmer’s market is full of details. Find all the ways the people get to the market: a baby stroller, a tricycle, a motorcycle, a van and a pick up truck. Next, find a dog, a surfboard, a baby riding piggyback, a man hoeing, a farmer and a bicycle built for two. How does this picture make you feel?
   
   
3. Are there pictures and ideas in this book that remind you of your community? Look at the picture of the community garden, the picture of family and friends singing around a piano and the picture of the children playing on the beach. If you could give this book a title based on your own community, what would that title be?

The Hat That Wore Clara B

1. What special things do you do with your grandparents?
   
   
2. What did Clara B’s grandmother mean when she told people, “Honey, I’m not wearing this hat. This hat is wearing me!” ?
   
   
3. Should Clara B. have told her Grandmother about what she had done to the hat? Why or why not?
   
4. What do you think is the most important lesson learned in this story?
   
   
5. If you were to tell a story about your grandmother, what would you tell?
   
   
6. Write a letter to your grandmother and share a special story, poem, of memory with her.

My Garden

1. Have you ever planted a garden with your family? If so, what did you plant? Did the plants grow? Were the flowers pretty? Did you ever cut them and take them inside and place them in a vase? Did you also plant vegetables? Did they taste good?
   
   
2. Bunnies sometimes eat vegetables and flowers from family gardens. Did you have this trouble? What did your family do about these hungry rabbits? Did the little girl in the story have to keep rabbits out of her real garden? How did she solve this problem in her imaginary garden?
   
   
3. The little girl in the story planted sunflowers with polka dots, vines that sprouted keys, jelly bean bushes and umbrella tress. If you had an imaginary garden what would you plant?

Eleanor, Quiet No More: The Life of Eleanor Roosevelt

1. Do a search for Eleanor Roosevelt and focus on her accomplishments.What are some other important contributions she made during her lifetime?
   
   
2. Why was Eleanor Roosevelt considered a political activist?
   
   
3. What do you believe is her legacy?
   
   
4. If you were to describe and sum up the contributions of Eleanor Roosevelt, what would be the most important points you would make?
   
   
5. Research other women who have made significant contributions to society. Which one would you choose if you were going to write a biography and why?
   
   
6. Google both the author and the illustrator. What other books have each of them written or illustrated that you would like to read?

Jeremy Draws a Monster

1. The monster is Jeremy’s imaginary playmate. Why doesn’t Jeremy have any fun playing with the monster?
   
   
2. Why does Jeremy draw a one-way bus ticket and a suitcase?
   
   
3. There is a picture hanging over Jeremy’s bed. Who is it?
   
   
4. Have you ever had an imaginary playmate? If so, please describe it.
   
   
5. If you could give Jeremy’s monster a name what would it be and why?
   
   
6. Look at the end papers. Could you make up a story about the drawings found there?

Testing the Ice: A True Story about Jackie Robinson

1. Research more information about Jackie Robinson and his importance to baseball. What did the author mean when she talked of “breaking the color barrier”?
   
   
2. Based on your research, create a timeline of events in the life of Jackie Robinson.
   
   
3. What other sports were limited by a “color barrier”?
   
   
4. Can you describe a time when you were limited or not allowed to do something because of something beyond your control (like being too young or too small)? How did that make you feel? Tell your story of that time or event.
   
   
5. Describe a time when you or someone you know behaved in a courageous way.

1. Why do you think TREASURE ISLAND, first published as a book in 1883, has been so popular for so many years? What is it about the story, the characters and /or the theme that has made it so enduring?
   
   
2. Read “To the Hesitating Purchaser”----- a poem written by Robert Louis Stevenson that appears before the story begins. What is the author saying to the possible future reader?
   
   
3. Why is this adventure novel called a “coming of age” story?
   
   
4. Research how Stevenson came to draw a map and then write this story.

Wabi Sabi

1. Look up some examples of haiku and share them by reading them out loud.
   
   
2. What are the similarities and differences between haiku and other forms of poetry?
   
   
3. Try your hand at creating haiku poetry about things that are important to you.  Be sure to follow the form of 1st line of 5 syllables, 2nd line of 7 syllables, 3rd line of 5 syllables.
   
   
4. Create your own collection of haiku poems and provide illustrations of the images you have created within each haiku.

The Listeners

1. What information did the children hear when they were crouched beneath an open window at the house of the Master?  Why was this task of listening so important to Ella May’s family?
   
   
2. How does the picture of the White folk’s church differ from the picture of Ella May’s church? How are the pictures alike?
   
   
3. How does music play a role in everyone’s life in this story?

River of Dreams

1. Look up some of the other major rivers in the United States.
   
   
2. What are the similarities and differences between them and the Hudson River?
   
   
3. There are many different waterways is the U.S.  What are the major differences between the mighty rivers and the major lakes?
   
   
4. Create your own collage or diorama of one of these waterways and tell its particular story using historical facts about the waterway and the region.

1. Study Carol Thompson’s illustrations. Scooter the dog seems to be having the most fun as the storm approaches. What can you see him doing? Look at all of the pages and the cover.
   
   
2. How did the family work together to prepare for the thunder boomer? Have you ever helped your family get ready for a storm, a tornado, a  wild fire or any other fury of Mother Nature? Explain.
   
   
3. The children decide to name the little kitten who survives the storm Thunder Boomer. What other names would you suggest? Why?

Wings

1. In the story people make Ikarus feel sad by pointing at him, laughing at him and shouting mean things at him. Has anyone ever made fun of you? If so, how did it make you feel?
   
   
2. Have you heard children being teased by others because of the way they looked or because of the things they could or could not do? Explain.
   
   
3. Have you ever spoken up in support of the person being teased? 
   
   
4.  Do you know the myth of Icarus, the boy who flew too close to the sun and his wings melted?  If not, ask a family member to help you locate the story in the library or on the web.

1. Go to your library and find several different stories about Amelia Bedelia to read.  Which one is your favorite?
   
   
2. Amelia Bedelia sees the world in “literal” ways; what does that mean?
   
   
3. Can you think of other phrases and words that might confuse Amelia Bedelia?  Make a list to share with others.
   
   
4. Create your own game where each person must think of a word or phrase that can be confusing such “hare & hair”, or “I’ll be a monkey’s uncle.”  The person who can come up with the funniest or silliest list can be the winner!
   
   
5. Look at some of the examples of phrases that Amelia found confusing when she was decorating her valentine cards—such as “broken hearts,” “sealed with a kiss,” and “cutie pie.”  Can you some other phrases that could just as confusing and funny? 
   
   
6. With construction paper, markers, and glitter, create your own “Amelia Bedelia silly valentines” to share with your friends and family.

The Little Prince

1. Antoine De Saint-Exupéry was a pilot in real life and, in fact, disappeared over the Mediterranean one year after the publication of this story while on a reconnaissance mission for his French air squadron. Do some research on the life of this writer and discover the many autobiographical aspects drawn from his life that are inherent in the story of the narrator/aviator in The Little Prince.
   
   
2. What do the Little Prince and the narrator think of adults? Why do they think this? Do you agree with their assessment of grown-ups?
   
   
3. The nature of these pop ups are very intricate. Which pop-up creations do you think illustrate the storyline the best? Which ones do you think need more engineering?

January's Sparrow

1. Use a map to find Marshall, Michigan.
   
   
2. What is the history of Marshall, Michigan and the Underground Railroad?
   
   
3. Research the “special” houses in Marshall that were used to hide runaway slaves.
   
   
4. When was it safe for former slaves to return to the United States?  Why was it safe?
   
   
5. Create a map and the travel routes slaves would travel from Kentucky to Michigan.
   
   
6. Calculate how many miles people would need to travel on foot to reach Michigan.
   
   
7. How many days or weeks would it take someone to walk from Kentucky to Michigan?

Yummy

1. Little Red Riding Hood is taking a basket of food to her grandmother when she meets the wolf in the forest. What kind of food do you think is in the basket? What food would you want in the basket if someone were bringing it to you?
   
   
2. The inside of the covers are both sprinkled with delightful images from the stories. Can you find: a ladybug, a pair of socks, roller skates, a worm, a yellow pillow, a bell, a golden beak, a doorknob and whiskers? Can you remember which items are found in which story?
   
   
3. What is the main problem in THE ENORMOUS TURNIP? How is it solved?

Lousy Rotten, Stinkin’ Grapes

1. Why doesn’t Fox listen to the suggestions of others?
   
   
2. What do we learn from this story?
   
   
3. What is are Aesop’s Fables?
   
   
4. Explore other fables written by Aesop.
   
   
5. What are some of the lessons learned by reading fables?
   
   
6. Create your own fable that teaches an important lesson that you would like to share with others.