The Nutcracker: book club questions by chapter

🦉 The Nutcracker · meeting 1 of 3

Read: Part One, “Christmas Eve”; Part Two, “The Mouse King” (pages 1–8, about 6 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 8, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. What did Marie throw at the Mouse King?
   The story's answer: Her slipper
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 Mouse King". 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 Nutcracker · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Three, “The Hard Nut” (pages 9–14, about 4 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 14, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Why did the spell on the Nutcracker finally break?
   The story's answer: Marie loved him just as he was and would not give him up
2. 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.
3. The part we just read is called "The Hard Nut". 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 Nutcracker · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Four, “The Land of Sweets” (pages 15–18, about 3 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 18, the end of the story.

1. What did Fritz do to the Nutcracker?
   The story's answer: He pushed in a nut that was too big and hard
2. Why did the Nutcracker ask Marie for a sword instead of letting her give the Mouse King more?
   The story's answer: Giving a bully more only makes him ask for more
3. What does this story suggest about being a good friend?
   The story's answer: Loyal love for a friend can break a spell
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 Land of Sweets". 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. 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.
3. Is there a rule of three in this story (three tries, three wishes, three visitors)? Why do you think fairy tales like threes?
   Listen for: Many do; a third time is where the change happens.
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.