Discussion Question Category: Ethics

Strega Nona’s Magic Lessons

How could magic help Bambalona? Is it possible to get what you want without hard work? Why did Big Anthony want to learn magic? Why couldn’t he? Was it fair for Strega Nona’s to trick Big Anthony? Did Bambalona actually learn how to do magic? Did Big Anthony? What is magic? Contributed by Gobe Hirata

Shelter in Our Car

Why do Zettie and her mother live in their car? Can a car be a home? Do people need shelter? Why? What are the most important things people need in life? What does it mean to be homeless? Why does Zettie want her mother to drop her off at the corner behind the school instead Shelter in Our Car

Real Thief

FRIENDSHIP AND LOYALTY What should Derek have done? Why did Derek stay silent? Was Derek a good friend to Gawain? What makes someone a good friend? Was Derek punished for what he did? If so, how? What were the consequences for the king of his own actions? Did the king have any obligations to Gawain? Real Thief

Rainbow Fish

Is it better to be different or to fit in with the community? Should everyone be the same? Is the Rainbow Fish acting selfishly when he won’t give away his scales? What makes the Rainbow Fish unique? Does he have a right to keep what makes him unique? Why do the other fish stop talking Rainbow Fish

Peach & Blue

FRIENDSHIP What is friendship? What can you be friends with? Can you be friends with any of the following? The moon. A car. A stone. A pair of shoes. A book. A movie. A cat. A plant. A bird. A house. A piece of land. An idea. A dream. A song. A painting. A tree. Peach & Blue

Paperbag Princess

Why does the story tell us that Elizabeth wore “expensive princess clothes?” Does being a princess depend on wearing certain clothes or looking a certain way? Why does Elizabeth chase the dragon? Is Elizabeth brave? How does Elizabeth save Ronald? Why doesn’t Ronald thank Elizabeth? Should he? Does Ronald expect certain things of Elizabeth because Paperbag Princess

Other Side

Why did the fence stretch through the town? Why wasn’t it safe for Clover to climb over to the other side of the fence? Why was it safe for Annie to climb over to Clover’s side of the fence? Why did Annie want to sit on the fence? Were Clover and Annie friends? Does race Other Side

Lorax

Was the Once-ler responsible for the environmental destruction that ensued as a result of his decisions? Does the fact that the Once-ler ultimately regrets his actions make him a better person? What about the other members of the Once-ler family who worked in the business, and all the people who bought thneeds—were they all responsible Lorax

Inch by Inch

Can our weaknesses be our strengths? Does the appearance of something capture what it really is? Is there a hierarchy in nature – if so, on what is it based? Do we assume some creatures are more important than others based on external features (appearance, size, etc.), and, if so, is this assumption morally justifiable? Inch by Inch