Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves: book club questions by chapter

🦉 Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves · meeting 1 of 3

Read: Part One, “The Rock in the Forest”; Part Two, “Open, Sesame” (pages 1–6, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 6, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. How did Cassim's wife find out that Ali Baba had gold?
   The story's answer: A gold coin stuck to the wax in her measuring cup
2. Who have we met so far, and what does each of them want?
   Listen for: Make a list together on the board; keep it for next time and add to it.
3. The part we just read is called "Open, Sesame". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
4. Stop here. What do you think will happen next? Write or draw one guess to check next time.
   Listen for: Keep the guesses in an envelope. Don't say whether a guess is right: the next part will.

🦉 Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Three, “The Forgotten Word”; Part Four, “Clever Morgiana” (pages 7–12, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 12, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Why did Morgiana chalk the same mark on every door in the street?
   The story's answer: So the thieves could not tell which house was Ali Baba's
2. Look back at last time's guesses. Which came true, and what surprised you?
   Listen for: Read the guesses out. Nobody was wrong: a guess that missed often shows what the author wanted us to expect.
3. The part we just read is called "Clever Morgiana". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
4. Stop here. What do you think will happen next? Write or draw one guess to check next time.
   Listen for: Keep the guesses in an envelope. Don't say whether a guess is right: the next part will.

🦉 Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Five, “The Jars and the Dance”; Part Six, “The Captain Unmasked” (pages 13–18, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 18, the end of the story.

1. What words opened the door in the rock?
   The story's answer: "Open, Sesame!"
2. Why did the merchant refuse to eat salt at Ali Baba's table?
   The story's answer: Sharing salt meant friendship, and he meant to harm Ali Baba
3. What does the story show about Cassim and Ali Baba?
   The story's answer: Greed can trap you, but sharing and kindness keep you safe
4. Look back at last time's guesses. Which came true, and what surprised you?
   Listen for: Read the guesses out. Nobody was wrong: a guess that missed often shows what the author wanted us to expect.
5. The part we just read is called "The Captain Unmasked". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
6. Now that you know the ending, was it the ending you expected?
   Listen for: Ask what in the earlier parts pointed to it, or pointed the other way.

About the whole story

1. What does this story tell you about the place it comes from?
   Listen for: Food, weather, animals, how people live: anything the story shows.
2. Does it remind you of another story you know?
   Listen for: Many folk tales have cousins in other countries.
3. Who was the cleverest person in the story, and how did they show it?
   Listen for: Ask for the moment.
4. Who would you give this story to, and why them?
   Listen for: A reader who can name the right person has understood what the story is like.
5. If you could ask the person who first told this story one question, what would it be?
   Listen for: Collect the questions; some have answers on the story's page in the library.