Questions for THE GREAT MOLASSES FLOOD

Study the following people, places and things mentioned in this book. Can you identify the following: USIA, The North End, anarchists, prohibition, John F. Fitzgerald, the USS Nantucket, the 18th Amendment, Paul Revere and the DiStasio family?

Sarah Brannen’s map of Boston’s North End across from Chapter One is a very interesting picture of the “place” in which this event happened. Locate the following: the molasses tank, the firehouse, the elevated train, the train yard, the fireboat, North End Park, Commercial Street and Mrs. O’Brien’s home. Can you reconstruct the chain of events when the molasses tank exploded?

It was eventually determined that gas emitted by the molasses as it fermented inside the tank was the process that caused the explosion. Can you discuss this chemical process? See the sidebar on page 85.

The author, Deborah Kops, has provided sidebars of information throughout the book to give depth to the place and times in which the event happened. Look back over the story and find an area where you would have liked more information. Do some research with the help of a parent or teacher and then write your own short sidebar.

Questions for POEM RUNS: Baseball Poems and Paintings

The artist reminds us on the back cover, where there is a 16th poem, that fans are important to the game of baseball.  Read the poem carefully.  Have you had any of these experiences when you have attended a baseball game in person? Discuss the following: where did you see a game, who was playing, did you yell, scream, hoot, holler, rave or wave as the poem describes? Would you rather see a game live or see a game on television? Why?

Read the poem, A BASEBALL, out loud. How does it sound to you? What outcome does the repetition of the word “it” have on the sound of the poem? How do the verbs influence the rhythm of the poem? Try to read the poem out loud with friends and family to see how more voices add to the auditory fun.

Which illustration is your favorite? Douglas Florian’s drawings show players in very funny and exaggerated poses. Using your power of observation try to do the following: put your body in the same position as the pitcher, copy the stance of the third baseman, mold your body into the shape of the umpire and reproduce the facial expression of the slugger. Trying these poses out in front of a mirror can add to the fun.

Questions and Activities for Magritte’s Marvelous Hat

1. Have you ever thought about creating something new?  Take a few minutes and write a short story about a time when you painted a picture, made something special, or imagined doing something special. 
2. Have you ever had a favorite toy or gift that was lost or broken?  How did you feel when it happened? 
3. The author/illustrator created  the beautiful drawings in this book.  Use a selection of your favorite media to draw a picture.  Practice creating a scene that would be a good illustration for the story you wrote. 
4. The author presents his readers with some information about the artist, Rene’ Magritte and other artists who were part of the surrealist movement. Using the references available, find out more about both the artist and his paintings.  What other information did you learn through your research? 

Questions for TILLIE THE TERRIBLE SWEDE

Tillie was criticized for wearing a body-hugging racing suit in public and for wanting to participate in serious athletic pursuits. Have you ever been criticized for wanting to do something different? Please discuss who criticized you, how it made you feel and what you did about it.

Tillie’s story was very similar to the first long distance female swimmer Annette Kellerman. Kellerman was arrested on a Boston beach when she appeared in a sleek tank suit in 1905 rather than the swimming gear of women at the time which included bloomers, shoes, hats, collars and corsets under their bathing dress.  Do some research in the library and on the internet with the help of a teacher or parent, if needed. How are the stories of these two pioneering women athletes alike and how are they different? Check out the picture book biography MERMAID QUEEN  written by Shana Corey and illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham.

Across from the title page of this book is a poem written anonymously and published in the Indianapolis Trade Journal on March 26, 1898. It is called “When Tillie Rides Her Wheel” and celebrates Tillie’s athletic skills. Study the poem and try to write one in celebration of one of your favorite athletes. Notice that the rhyme scheme is aa,b,cc,b---in other words the first two lines rhyme, the third and the sixth lines rhyme and the fourth and the fifth line rhymes.  Pick a subject and write  your poem.

Questions for TITANIC: Disaster at Sea

The four-page gateway fold out includes details about every area of the ship’s design. Study the fold out and find the following locations: third class cabins, grand staircase, Turkish baths, swimming pool, first class luggage, crow’s nest, bridge, boiler room, hospital, third class dining room, first class state rooms, poop deck, galleys, rear funnel, Verandah Café and post office.

The Titanic was carrying a number of odd items. See the list of Strange Cargo on page 17.  Select one of the thirteen items listed and make up a story about what would have happened to that item if the Titanic had reached her New York destination. Please do some research and use your imagination.

The book shows that second and third class passengers were not allowed to go into areas of the ship set aside for first class passengers. Study the color-coded diagram on page 10. How did the environment, daily activities and entertainment differ between these three classes? For the most part, who was travelling third class, where were they going and why were they making the trip? Study both the text and the pictures on pages 26-29.

There were many heroes when the disaster struck. Find the following heroes within this book and make a journal note about who they were and what deed of heroism they performed: Molly Brown, Father Thomas Byles, Wally Hartley and Harold Lowe.

Questions and Activities for Zoey Gets Ready

1. Have you ever spent a summer day just “hanging out” with a parent, grandparent, or family member? What do you remember as the best part of the day?  Take a few minutes and write a short story about the day, the place, and the special time you had.
2. Has your parent or teacher ever given you directions or asked you to do something that you didn’t quite do as they intended or expected? Were you able to “find your way back” to the original request and get it done?  Was it more or less work? 
3. The author/illustrator  created  the playful drawings in this book.  Use a selection of  your favorite media to draw a picture.  Practice creating a scene that would be a good illustration for the story you wrote. 

Questions for BROTHERS AT BAT

The National Baseball Hall of Fame honored the Acerra family in 1997. If you would like to see what positions each of the twelve brothers played go to the Hall of Fame website and read the June 4, 1997 press release. There were two catchers, two pitchers, one first baseman, one second baseman, one shortstop, one third baseman and four outfielders.

The illustration of the Acerra boys in their bedroom contains a number of interesting details. Study the picture and try to find the following items: seven baseball mitts, three baseballs, five baseball bats, ten brothers, one flashlight, one baseball cap, a Dodgers’ flag and one baseball card. How many brothers are in this picture?

This story emphasizes the importance of teamwork. What does it mean to be part of a team? Are you on a team? What does a good team player do? Discuss your experience on a spots team, a team at school or a team in your community.

Questions and Activities for Little Man

1. Have you ever thought about creating something new?  Take a few minutes and write a short story about a time when you painted a picture, made something special, or imagined doing something special. 

2. The illustrator created  the beautiful drawings in this book.  Use a selection of your favorite media to draw a picture.  Practice creating a scene that would be a good illustration for the story you wrote. 

3. Readers are presented with some information about the author, David Freeman Wooley as a young boy and his passion for drumming. Using the references available, find out more about both of the authors.  What other information did you learn through your research? 

Questions for HERE COME THE GIRL SCOUTS

Today there are 3.2 million girls in The Girl Scouts. There are also 5 million Girl Scout alums in America including former First Ladies Laura Bush, Nancy Reagan and Hillary Clinton, singers Taylor Swift, Sheryl Crow and Natalie Merchant, athletes Venus Williams, Dorothy Hamill and Rebecca Lobo and former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Martha Stewart and Lucille Ball. Find out what a selected number of these women have accomplished. Ask a parent or teacher to help you do some research in the library and on official websites.  Can you see a connection between the Girl Scout Law that is published at the back of this book and the life and accomplishments of any of these women?

The author of this book says Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low had gumption when she was a young girl. Look the word up in the dictionary. Does this word describe Daisy well?  Why? What word do you think describes you well? Why?

Community service has always been one of the main goals of girl scouting.  Today, service is still an important element of citizenship. How could you personally or with your classmates serve others and your community?  Have you ever taken part in food drives, clothing drives, helping with community gardens, writing letters to men and women in the armed services, doing errands for the elderly or planting trees? If not, how would you go about organizing any one of these service projects?

Questions for THOSE REBELS, JOHN AND TOM

This book looks at two opposites and how their friendship grew. But, how were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson alike? Reread the book and look for the following: What profession did they both follow? Which national office did they both hold? How did they both feel about independence? On what day in the same year did they both die?

From the artist's renderings of King George what do you think he was like? How to you think he walked? How do you think he sounded when he talked?  How do his facial expressions reveal his feelings about the colonists? Why is his piggy bank so full?

The artist uses humorous details in each picture to enrich the story.  Study Tom's arrival in Philadelphia by coach. What can you tell about Tom from what he is bringing with him in the carriage? What is your favorite illustration in this book? Study it carefully. Does it tell you more than you know from the text?

John Adams, the second President of the United States, and Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, did not agree on the issue of slavery. Adams never owned slaves and Jefferson owned many slaves. Can you find the three illustrations that show Jefferson as a slave owner? Check what the Author's Note says about this difference.

1. Patricia Polacco uses time travel as a means for Derek and Michael to experience history.  What are the benefits of using this narrative device?
2. Describe some times when you  studied some aspect of history that you felt engaged with the events.
3. How would you teach someone else about an event in history that your wanted them to know about and remember?
4. Ask your teacher if your classroom could create a new way to think about history such as through stories, use of timelines, or dioramas.
5. What did you learn about the Civil War that you didn’t know prior to your reading of Just is Time, Abraham Lincoln?

Questions for The Artist who Painted the Blue Horse

(For young children)
Why did Eric Carle paint the horse blue? Which of the other animals painted by the artist did you enjoy seeing colored in an imaginative way? Have you ever drawn an animal and painted it in a color that was not realistic or usual? Discuss your artwork---what animal was it, how was it painted and how did it make you feel when it was complete?

Each of the nine animals has a personality. Can you think up a name to call each of them? For instance, what would you call the polka-dotted donkey? Use your imagination. Have fun. Name all of the animals!

Look at Franz Marc’s BLUE HORSE I in the back of the book. Study this famous picture. What do you like about it? How is it like Eric Carle’s picture of a blue horse? How is it different?

Can you make up a story about one of the animals in this book? Select one of the animals to move off the page. Where could the animal go? What would the animal do? Would he get into trouble? Would he meet other animals? Would he go to the circus? What would happen if he attended a child’s birthday party or climbed into your bed or chased the family dog? Have fun story making!

Questions for These Hands

1. The author tells the story of Joe Barnett through the eyes of a grandfather.  Discuss how this is an effective way to tell this story and why?
   
2. What new information did you learn from this stiry?
   
3. The author provides some additional information about Joe Barnett and the labor unions.  Using available resources, research more information about this time period and key events, create a time line that will provide more information about key figures for the time period.
   
4. Floyd Cooper has illustrated many books and has received several awards.  Using available resources, research the other books illustrated by Floyd Cooper.

Questions for Just Behave, Pablo Picasso!

Picasso’s work often was called terrible and ugly. In this book, how did Picasso handle this criticism of his work? Have you ever had one of your drawings or paintings criticized? If so, how did it make you feel? What did you do about it? Did it discourage you? Have you ever complimented someone on her/his artwork? How did that make you feel?

In 1907 Picasso created one of his most famous paintings entitled Les Desmoiselles d’ Avignon. Picasso painted it after he had seen an exhibit of African masks. Generally people and art critics disliked the painting when it was first shown to the public. Turn to the illustration where you see the art critics calling it ugly and terrible. How does this illustration visually relate to the painting? Do the two pictures have anything in common visually? Do you find anything humorous in this comparison?

All of the paintings visually interpreted by Kevin Hawkes in this book are identified on the last page. Have you ever seen a picture of any of Picasso’s work? If need be, ask a parent or teacher to help you go online to see some of Picasso’s paintings as they exist in museums and collections round the world. Les Desmoiselles d’ Avignon is in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Activities for The Pet Shop Revolution

1. The author uses a young girl and the caged animals to tell this story.  Why do you think this is an important perspective?

2.Try your hand at writing a story through the eyes of a pet or favorite animal.  What things do you need to know about your animal to make the story believable?

3. Some people are embarrassed by how they look.  How did Mr. Walnut’s embarrassment prove to be a key element in this story? 

4. Mr. Walnut’s actions were hurtful to the animals in his pet shop.  Tell a story of a time when you or someone you know was hurt by the actions of another.  How did that make you feel and how did you deal with it?  Does your school have a plan in place to deal with mean comments or actions?  Discuss what you or others should do if you see someone being bullied by another.

Activities for Wonderstruck

After reading the whole novel try to draw Ben's family tree. Who was his father? Who was his grandmother? Who was his great grandmother? Does he have any aunts or uncles? Make sure you pay attention to the words.  Also try to depict a family tree for Rose---who was her mother, who was her father, who was her stepfather and who was her brother? Make sure you read the pictures.

In this graphic novel Ben's story is told only in words and Rose's story is told only in pictures. Why do you think Brian Selznick decided to handle the narration this way?  How is this different from the integrated format used in THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET?

Did you know anything about Deaf culture before you read this book? What did you learn about Deaf culture from this book? Selznick did a lot of research on this before writing the novel including relying upon experiences from his own brother who was born deaf in one ear. Do you know how to sign? Would you like to learn?

Why did Selznick title this book WONDERSTRUCK? Have you ever been struck by wonder? Can you describe the situation? How does wonder feel?

Activities for Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite

1. The author uses the recreation of the famous  Nutcracker Suite,  to introduce the work of Duke Ellington and jazz as the basis for this book.  Discuss how this is an effective way to tell this story and why?

2. The illustrator makes a point of capturing the images of the faces of the band members and different settings to tell this story.  What image has the most meaning to you and why?

3. What new information did you learn from this story?

4. The author provides some information about Duke Ellington and his band members.  Using available resources, research more information about any of them and some key events and create a time line that will provide more information about key figures for the time period.