The Boy Who Drew Cats: book club questions by chapter

🦉 The Boy Who Drew Cats · meeting 1 of 2

Read: Part One, “The Boy and His Cats”; Part Two, “Keep to Small” (pages 1–6, about 4 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 6, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. What advice did the old priest give the boy?
   The story's answer: Avoid large places at night and keep to small
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 "Keep to Small". 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.

🦉 The Boy Who Drew Cats · meeting 2 of 2

Read: Part Three, “The Empty Temple”; Part Four, “The Night”; Part Five, “Morning” (pages 7–14, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 14, the end of the story.

1. What did the boy love to do more than anything?
   The story's answer: Draw cats
2. Why was there a light in the window of the empty temple?
   The story's answer: The goblin lit it to trick travelers
3. Who beat the goblin-rat in the night?
   The story's answer: The cats the boy had painted
4. What does the story suggest about the boy's love of drawing?
   The story's answer: A gift that seems like a fault can turn out to be a strength
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 "Morning". 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.