Sinbad and the Roc: book club questions by chapter

🦉 Sinbad and the Roc · meeting 1 of 3

Read: Part One, “Left Behind”; Part Two, “The Dome and the Bird” (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. Why was Sinbad left alone on the island?
   The story's answer: He fell asleep, and the ship sailed without him
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 Dome and the Bird". 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.

🦉 Sinbad and the Roc · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Three, “The Valley of Diamonds”; Part Four, “The Merchants' Trick” (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. 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.
2. The part we just read is called "The Merchants' Trick". 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.
3. 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.

🦉 Sinbad and the Roc · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Five, “Home to Baghdad” (pages 13–15, about 3 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 15, the end of the story.

1. What was the great white dome Sinbad found?
   The story's answer: A roc's egg
2. Why did the merchants throw meat into the valley?
   The story's answer: So the diamonds would stick to it and eagles would carry it up
3. What does Sinbad's story show about trouble?
   The story's answer: Keeping a calm, clear head can turn a disaster into luck
4. Why did Sinbad give the merchant some of his diamonds?
   The story's answer: He was grateful and generous
5. 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.
6. The part we just read is called "Home to Baghdad". 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.
7. 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.