Pinocchio: book club questions by chapter

🦉 Pinocchio · meeting 1 of 3

Read: Part One, “The Talking Log” (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. What did Geppetto sell to buy Pinocchio a spelling book?
   The story's answer: His only coat
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 "The Talking Log". 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.

🦉 Pinocchio · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Two, “The Long Nose” (pages 7–10, about 3 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 10, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. What happened to Pinocchio's nose each time he lied to the Fairy?
   The story's answer: It grew longer
2. Who do you think the two robbers in black sacks really were?
   The story's answer: The Fox and the Cat
3. 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.
4. The part we just read is called "The Long Nose". 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.
5. 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.

🦉 Pinocchio · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Three, “The Land of Toys”; Part Four, “Inside the Shark” (pages 11–18, about 7 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 18, the end of the story.

1. Who did Pinocchio find inside the Terrible Shark?
   The story's answer: Geppetto
2. What finally turned Pinocchio into a real boy?
   The story's answer: Working hard and caring for others
3. 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.
4. The part we just read is called "Inside the Shark". 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.
5. 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. Which character changed the most from the beginning to the end?
   Listen for: Ask what changed them.
2. Which scene would you put on the poster if this were a film?
   Listen for: A way to find the scene that mattered most to each reader.
3. Is there a line or a moment you will remember? Why that one?
   Listen for: Let readers find it in the book and read it aloud.
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.