September Book Club: Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

For September's book club, we read Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. Abigail, Amelia, Ava, Claire, Fiona, Kathryn, Lauren, Lottie, Luna, Mari, and Truman were present. We used these questions to guide our discussion but allowed ourselves to go off topic!



Fern shows her parents that she is responsible enough to care for Wilbur. What do you need to do to care for any pet? Do you have a pet? 




-You have to feed it and make a bed for it. 
-Wash it, feed it, give it water and let it play outside
-You should walk it
-Feeding it your leftovers (if you had a pig)
-You have to treat the yard for fleas and ticks   
-Take them to the vet
  

When Wilbur escapes from his pen, he runs about frantically until he lets himself be captured. He thinks, “I’m really too young to go out into the world alone” (chapter 3). Do you ever feel this way? When you are trying something new on your own, do you feel excited, brave, nervous, or frightened? 

-I'm sometimes scared to do new things
-I feel mostly excited and am nervous about doing something wrong
-It depends on what it is


Charlotte’s Web takes place on Mr. Zuckerman’s farm. Which farm animal would you most want to be, and which farm animal would you least want to be? Why? 

-I would be a horse because they would be one of the tallest and biggest animals
-I would be a spider. I would like to make a web and they are tiny so they can go in tiny spaces.
-I would want to be a goat.
-I would not want to be a pig because I don't want to get roasted.
-I would want to be a goat because they can eat trash
-I would be a horse because cows, chickens and other animals get eaten
-I would like to be a horse because you get to jump a lot. I would not want to be a rat because, like Templeton, they eat a lot.
-I would not like to be a pig because I don't want to be bacon. I would like to be a sheep because they're not eaten that often. 
-I would not want to be a spider because of what happened to Charlotte. They don't live very long. And I don't want to be captured by someone and tortured. I would like to be a rat. I would be a good rat and others would like me.
-I would like to be a horse because they don't get killed that often. I wouldn't want to be a pig because of bacon and pork.
-I would like to be an old dog. I wouldn't want to be a chicken because I don't want to be chicken.          


Fern and her brother, Avery, spend their days on the farm swinging on a rope swing, catching frogs, and picking raspberries. Do you think these activities are similar or different to what a lot of kids do for fun today? What activities do you like to do? 

-I go rope swinging.
-I do all.
-I catch frogs
-I pick raspberries, blueberries, etc.
-I usually
-They didn't have technology
-Trampolines
-Video games?
-No phones!       
-We all have books


Charlotte is desperate to save her friend Wilbur’s life, and she’s determined to come up with a plan. What are the disadvantages Charlotte faces as a spider trying to save a pig’s life?

-Spiders can get smooshed often and easily. She is tiny. And she can't talk to humans. And most people don't like spiders.
-Wilbur is so big compared to Charlotte. She's tiny but she saves him.
 

Mr. Zuckerman tells his wife, “Our pig is completely out of the ordinary” (chapter 11). Do you think this is true? Are there multiple characters in the story that are extraordinary?

-Charlotte
-The talking spider
-The talking pig
-All of the talking animals


When Charlotte’s plan starts to work, Wilbur becomes a famous pig. Fern is happy that Wilbur will be saved, but finds that now “the barn was not nearly as pleasant—too many people. She liked it better when she could be all alone with her friends the animals” (chapter 11). Would you like to be famous? Why or why not? What do you think are the costs of being famous? 

-I wouldn't want to be famous because then everyone knows your personal information
-I would not like to be famous because they ask stupid questions of you.
-I would half and half. People wait for you to mess up. 
-I would not want to be famous because I would always have to ask questions and I would never be home for dinner and I would miss my family
-People would be following you around all of the time.
-People would be crowding around you all the time and ask personal questions and you'd have no alone time
-I would like to be famous because I would have an entourage. Plus, I'd have my own private jet. I would bathe in money.
-I would like to be famous because lots of people like you and you have bodyguards and then you go to dinners and you can have dinner any place.   



In chapter 13, Charlotte has to complete the difficult task of weaving “TERRIFIC” into her web. She talks to herself as she works until the task is completed. What is the most difficult thing you have accomplished? How did you do it? Did you encourage yourself by talking to yourself or in another way? 

-The most difficult thing I did took me years. It took me a long time to learn to read. I still look up to him. I was trying to read out loud. I had to encourage myself along the way. When I was five, I started to read in my head. And Harry Potter was my breakthrough.
-I used to want to draw like my dad. So I started to draw.
-Climbing a mountain
-My friend from kindergarten was reading a lot and I was watching her. I watched her. And I learned from you.
-One of the hardest things was a competition and there was a trophy you could win for reading the most books.
-Skiing down a really hard mountain
-My hardest thing is to beat the battle of my sister. 
-If I was rich, I could have cookie gun. When we ran of Oreos (and cookies in general).  
-We went to the Alps and there were no ski lifts and we had to climb up the mountain and it was really yard
-I had to face doing a front-flip into a foam pit. I never did it. And my brother.
-Playing soccer
       

Here are some questions that I had prepared but we didn't get to. We were pretty busy in today's book club!

At first Wilbur is embarrassed that Charlotte is going to write “TERRIFIC” in her web, but eventually he begins to feel that he really is terrific. Why do you think Wilbur’s feelings about himself change?



How has fame affected Wilbur? What is the most important thing in his life? What are the most important things in your own life? Do you think those things would change if you became famous? 


Wilbur blushes when he receives a medal at the fair. Have you ever won an award or trophy? How did you feel (or how do you think you would feel)? 


Charlotte reflects upon her life and tells Wilbur, “By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone’s life can stand a little of that.” Think about ways that kids can “lift up their lives a trifle” by helping others. What can you do to “lift up your own life?”


Charlotte saves Wilbur’s future, and Wilbur saves Charlotte’s future. How does each character accomplish this?

For October's Book Club, we will be reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio, per the club vote.

Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman, who was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was not expected to survive, goes from being home-schooled to entering fifth grade at a private middle school in Manhattan, which entails enduring the taunting and fear of his classmates as he struggles to be seen as just another student. We will be meeting on Wednesday, October 11 at 3:00 p.m. Please pick up your copy of the book and sign up at the Circulation Desk so that Miss Lisa knows how many snacks to buy!

May Grades 3-4 Book Club: The False Prince

For May's book club, we read The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen. Anthony, Avery, Claire, Maida, Madison, Quinn and Reagan were present. This is what we discussed, based on questions from Scholastic.com. 

1. Sage lives in an orphanage and steals food to live, but refuses to go with Conner, who seems to offer him a great life. Why is Sage so reluctant? 

-Because Sage didn't know what would happen once he was with Conner
-Because his dad told him to stay in hiding
-He didn't know there would be death involved 


 2. Why doesn’t Conner let Latamer go? 

-So he can teach the other three a lesson about how serious he is about his plan
-Conner wants the kids to know that he isn't fooling around
-Latamer was there solely to teach the kids a lesson 


3. During the lessons and competitions with Tobias and Roden, Sage frequently acts as if he does not want to be prince. Why does he behave this way? 

-Probably because he doesn't want to give his identity away
-No one wanted him to be king when he was the prince and so he thinks that the people of the kingdom would not want him as their ruler






4. The only person Sage seems to trust is Imogen. Why do you think they have such a strong bond? 

-Possibly because she gets cut and bruised all the time so they feel sympathetic toward each other
-They have a bond because every time Sage gets hurt, Imogen has to heal his wounds



 
5. Why does Sage put the kitchen knife under Tobias’s mattress? Why doesn’t Sage tell Mott or Conner that Tobias attacked him? 

-He didn't tell Mott or Conner because he really didn't want Tobias to kill him
-He promised Tobias that he would forgive him and let him go when he became king
-Sage made a promise to Tobias and Roden that he would set them free after he became king
-He put the knife in the mattress so that there's no evidence. Sage didn't tell on Tobias because he didn't want Tobias to be killed    


6. Do you think Sage is like a caterpillar that goes wherever he wants without being noticed? Or as Mrs. Turbeldy believes, is he like a cockroach that runs freely in the night but scatters in the light? 

-I think he's like a caterpillar
-Consensus is that he's like a caterpillar


7. Sage says that it’s not easy to be one type of person when you’ve worked so hard to be a different type of person. Have you ever pretended you were a different type of person than who you really are? What was that like? 

-I am extremely introverted but with some people I act extroverted
-When I'm at home, I like to shout and run around. At school I am more quiet.
-I pretended I was funny


8. What clues foreshadowed Sage’s true identity? How did Mott figure it out? What might have happened if Conner found out Sage’s true identity before he was ready to reveal it? 

-He looks so like Jaron and he didn't reveal his identity because Conner would have killed him
-Mott has eyes on the back of his head (in that he is very intuitive)


9. Sage insists that Imogen, Roden, and Tobias follow him to Drylliad. Why did he insist on their company? How did they feel about accompanying him? 

-He invited them because they were his "friends" even though Imogen was very reluctant
-He decided to bring them along because he felt bad that they might die because he left them behind
-Imogen did not want to go. But then she wasn't mad at him anymore because she realized she had been tough on him 


10. Conner beats Sage to try to ensure that Sage follows his orders once he is king. Why doesn’t Sage tell Conner the truth and save himself the beating?

-Because he wants to save his identity unveiling when he becomes king
-Plot sequence
-He doesn't tell Conner because his father told Sage/Jaron not to tell anyone his real identity
-Also, Conner tried to kill Jaron when he sent the pirates to kill him


11. Would you read a sequel to this book?:

-Everyone would read the sequel
-This is my second favorite series besides Wings of Fire


12. Please rate this book between 1-5

-Seven 5s 
-Shoutout to Quinn for suggesting this book
 


In June, the members of all of the Book Clubs (Grades 1-2, Grades 3-4, Grades 5-6 and Grades 7 and Up) are invited to come discuss their favorite books on Wednesday, June 21 at 3:00 p.m. We will not be reading any specific books during June, July or August, but in June we will be sharing books that we've read and would like to recommend to others. Or books that we've disliked. Or books that we can't wait to read. It's an open discussion. Snacks will be provided. Get some great ideas for Summer Reading! Your suggestions might be a part of a Summer Reading Book List compiled by Miss Lisa and school librarian Miss Casey!

April Grades 3-4 Book Club: Julie of the Wolves

For April's Book Club, we read Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George. Anthony, Avery, Clare,  Madison, Maida, Quinn, and Reagan were present. This is what we discussed, guided by scholastic.com.




 
Why has Miyax (Julie) run away from home? 

-she doesn't want to be with Daniel who tried to mate with her
-she wants to go to San Francisco to be with her pen pal Amy
  



   
How is it that she is lost on the tundra?

-she ran away and didn't make it to California
-she didn't have a compass and other things that she needed to find her way
-she didn't have the North Star to guide her because the sun is always out   -she didn't have enough food


How does Miyax (Julie) feel about American ways of life? How does she feel about traditional Eskimo ways of life? 

-the American way is that they will kill animals for fun (or sport)
-she likes the Eskimo traditions better because she was born into them
-at the beginning, she wanted to go to SF and the lifestyle 

Do her feelings about these remain constant throughout the novel?

-they do remain consistent
-they is always trying to be friends with the animals
-they changed a bit because she decided to stay with the Eskimos
 
What has Kapugen taught Miyax?

-he taught her how to speak some animals languages
-he taught her how to hunt and survive and make shelter
-he taught her to skin animals and make hides
   

What are the different seasons on the Alaskan tundra like?

-in winter, it's cold 
-in summer, it's hotter outside
-the sun goes down 
-the sun stays out in other months
-the North Star is her guide through the tundra when the sun goes down   

What does the author tell us about the people and animals of Alaska?

-they started hunting for sport (at the end)
-they know how to survive in the frigid cold weather
-they are sly and will run from humans
-they are furrier than animals here because they need to stay warm

What are some clues from the author that tell the reader when the story takes place? 

-it's 1957
-there are cars, TVs and TV dinners, electricity
-in the mid to late 1900s


What do you think is the most important theme in Julie of the Wolves?

-the Eskimo way and how to be friends with animals
-survival


When have you had to be courageous? 

-I jumped off a cliff into the water
-I fell into a 10 foot hole and had to wait for my father to rescue me
-I went on a really high swing in the forest.
-in Hawaii, I went in a canoe that went out really far from the shore. The ride was rewarding.
-Tower of Terror 
-Campbell and I were free-skating on really hard ice which was very painful on our knees 

Which of the characters do you like the most? The least? Why? 

-I liked Kapu the best because he was the best friend to Julie. I liked Jello the least because he stole Julie's food.
-I liked Amaroq the best because he stood up for Julie. I disliked Jello the most because he was mean.
-Amaroq was a leader and was kind to Julie.
-Amaroq because he stood up for Julie. Jello the least because why would you steal food?
-Kapu because of his name. Least was Kapugen because he killed Amaroq and turned from his culture.
-I agree with Maida that Kapu is the best because he was a friend to Julie. Jello stole from Julie.  
-Kapu the best because he gave her meat when she was starving.    


Is Miyax similar to kids you know who are the same age? How are they different?

-My brother is courageous
-My babysitter Allie is nice like Julie
-My older cousin who is brave and nice to people
-My older cousin because she likes doing sports

Is there a character in Julie of the Wolves who you think is a little like you? How so? 

-I might be like Silver
-I'm like Amaroq because I'm a leader and nice to people
-I think I'm kind of like Miyax because I love animals
-I'm like Miyax or Kapu  



Are the messages and themes and lessons taught in Julie of the Wolves important now? Do you think they will be more or less important in the future? How so? 

-we don't have much in the way of Eskimo ways
-you should be nice to people
-Eskimo way of only taking from the Earth what you need is like the modern recycle movement

Is it okay that the author included some sensitive issues and events in Julie of the Wolves? Do you think anything should have been left out?

-Amaroq's death
-that Amaroq was killed by Miyax's father
-why Julie left home 


Ranking
 
-(2) 1s
-(1)  2
-(2)  3s
-(2)  4s




For May's Book Club, we will read The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen.

In the country of Carthya, a devious nobleman engages four orphans in a brutal competition to be selected to impersonate the king's long-missing son in an effort to avoid a civil war. 


Book Club will be held on Wednesday, May 3 at 3:00 p.m. Please pick up a copy of the book at the Circulation Desk and be sure to register so that Miss Lisa knows how many snacks to buy!