The Swiss Family Robinson: book club questions by chapter

🦉 The Swiss Family Robinson · meeting 1 of 3

Read: Part One, “The Wreck” (pages 1–4, about 4 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 4, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Why was the family left alone on the ship?
   The story's answer: The captain and crew left in the last boat
2. What idea did Jack have for getting to land?
   The story's answer: Sailing in tubs, like the one he used on the pond
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 "The Wreck". 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 Swiss Family Robinson · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Two, “The Strange Shore”; Part Three, “Falconhurst” (pages 5–12, about 8 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 12, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. How did the father get the first thread over the high branch?
   The story's answer: He shot an arrow with a thread tied to it
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 "Falconhurst". 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 Swiss Family Robinson · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Four, “New Switzerland” (pages 13–17, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 17, the end of the story.

1. Why did the father stop Fritz from shooting a monkey?
   The story's answer: He believed no creature should be killed without need
2. What does the family's story show?
   The story's answer: Courage, work and good sense can turn a wreck into a home
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 "New Switzerland". 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. 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.