Thumbelina: book club questions by chapter

🦉 Thumbelina · meeting 1 of 3

Read: Part One, “The Barleycorn”; Part Two, “The Toad” (pages 1–5, about 4 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 Toad". 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.

🦉 Thumbelina · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Three, “Down the Stream”; Part Four, “The Cold Winter”; Part Five, “The Field Mouse” (pages 6–11, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 11, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. How did Thumbelina get away from the toads?
   The story's answer: The fish nibbled the stem of her leaf
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 Field Mouse". 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.

🦉 Thumbelina · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Six, “The Swallow”; Part Seven, “Flying Away”; Part Eight, “The Flower King” (pages 12–17, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 17, the end of the story.

1. How did Thumbelina first come into the world?
   The story's answer: She grew inside a tulip from a magic barleycorn
2. Why did Thumbelina help the swallow in the mole's passage?
   The story's answer: She felt sorry for it and heard its heart beating
3. Why did Thumbelina not want to marry the mole?
   The story's answer: She did not want to live under the ground and never see the sun
4. What does this story suggest about kindness?
   The story's answer: A kind act can come back to help you later
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 "The Flower 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.
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. 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.