The Cat That Walked by Himself: book club questions by chapter

🦉 The Cat That Walked by Himself · meeting 1 of 2

Read: Part One, “The Wet Wild Woods”; Part Two, “Three Friends” (pages 1–7, about 4 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 7, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Why did the Dog come to the Woman's cave?
   The story's answer: He smelled the roasting meat
2. What did the Woman ask the Horse to do for her?
   The story's answer: Carry her Man on his back
3. 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.
4. The part we just read is called "Three Friends". 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.

🦉 The Cat That Walked by Himself · meeting 2 of 2

Read: Part Three, “The Cat's Bargain”; Part Four, “By Himself” (pages 8–15, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 15, the end of the story.

1. Why did the Woman say the Cat was not her friend?
   The story's answer: He walked by himself and had not helped
2. How did the Cat earn his place by the fire?
   The story's answer: He played with the baby
3. What does the ending show about the Cat?
   The story's answer: He kept his bargain, but he still liked his freedom
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 "By Himself". 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. 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.