Sleeping Beauty: book club questions by chapter

🦉 Sleeping Beauty · meeting 1 of 2

Read: Part One, “The Thirteenth Fairy”; Part Two, “The Spindle” (pages 1–11, about 7 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 11, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Why was the thirteenth fairy not invited to the feast?
   The story's answer: The king had only twelve golden plates
2. How did the twelfth fairy help the princess?
   The story's answer: She changed the spell to a hundred years of sleep
3. Why did the old woman in the tower still have a spindle?
   The story's answer: She had never heard of the king's order
4. 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.
5. The part we just read is called "The Spindle". 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. 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.

🦉 Sleeping Beauty · meeting 2 of 2

Read: Part Three, “The Hedge of Thorns” (pages 12–17, about 4 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 17, the end of the story.

1. Why did the thorns turn into flowers for this prince?
   The story's answer: The hundred years had come to an end
2. Why did Briar Rose ask for a thirteenth golden plate at her wedding?
   The story's answer: She did not want anyone left out
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 Hedge of Thorns". 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. Who in the story was kind, and who was not? How do you know?
   Listen for: Ask for the moment in the story that shows it.
2. Which part would you change, and how would the story end then?
   Listen for: There is no wrong ending; ask what else would have to change.