Sundiata, Lion King: book club questions by chapter

🦉 Sundiata, Lion King · meeting 1 of 3

Read: Part One, “The Child Who Could Not Walk” (pages 1–5, about 6 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 5, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. 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.
2. The part we just read is called "The Child Who Could Not Walk". 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.

🦉 Sundiata, Lion King · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Two, “The Years Away” (pages 6–9, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 9, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Why did Sogolon leave Niani before dawn?
   The story's answer: Sassouma Bérété's plots had made the palace dangerous for Sundiata
2. Why did the people of Niani say nothing about Sumanguru?
   The story's answer: His owls reported everything people said
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 Years Away". 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.

🦉 Sundiata, Lion King · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Three, “The Lion Returns” (pages 10–14, about 6 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 14, the end of the story.

1. What did Sundiata do to prove he could walk, according to the story?
   The story's answer: He pulled himself up on an iron bar that bent like a bow
2. What does Sundiata's story teach?
   The story's answer: Someone who struggles early can still grow great
3. What broke the sorcerer's enchantments at Kirina?
   The story's answer: An arrow tipped with the spur of a white rooster
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 Lion Returns". 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.