Characters and the decisions they make are a good place to start a discussion for this age group: "Let's talk about...."

1. What do you think of_____ ? Do you like
    him or her? Why or why not?

    [Ask children to think about qualities like
    bravery, loyalty, kindness, fairness,
    truthfulness, humor, friendliness
    respectfulness....]

2. Why does _____ do what she does?

    [This has to do with motivation—getting
    kids to understand what lies behind
    someone's actions.]  

3. Do you think what _____ did is right or
    wrong? If he were your friend, what would
    you do or say to him?

    [This questions tries to explore the idea of
    right and wrong and what those concepts
    mean.]

4. Does _____ remind you of someone in
    your family? Or a friend?

5. Have you ever felt the same way _____
    feels?

6. If you could be someone in the book, who
    would you like to be? Why?

7. Who would you most like to meet in the
    story? What would you do or say to her?


Plot, the events of the story (what happens) is the other most prominent element of storytelling.

8. What do you think is the most important
    moment in the  story? What happens and
    why?

    [This is the climax, the point of highest
    tension, the defining moment.]

9. How did you feel when it happened?
    Where you afraid, angry, worried? Were
    you surprised?

10. Has something in the story happened to
      you? What would you do if it ever did
      happen?

12. If you could be a character in the story,
     or even a new character, who would you
     be? Would you do things differently?


Endings are also important to discuss— especially whether or not the way a story ends is satisfying.

13. Do you like the way the story ends? Why
     or why not? If you don't like the ending,
     how would you change it?

14. Did you expect the way the story ended
     —or were you surprised?

15. Do the characters learn anything by the
     end of the story? Who has changed by
     the end of the book?

     [This is about character development;           usually, by the end, characters grow or
     develop new insights—becoming wiser.]

16. Sometimes when stories end, readers
     are sad to say goodbye to a book and its
     characters. Do you feel that way? Or were
     you ready for it to end?

17. Are there things we can learn from this
      story? What?

18. Overall, how do you like the book? Will
      you tell another friend to read it?