Much of the credit for my love for reading goes to my parents, my mother especially. Hours were spent on my mother’s lap reading stories. I distinctly remember seeing her reading regularly. We have regular conversations about what we are reading. Her involvement in my reading life has shaped my life as a reader. Now, as a children’s librarian, it is one of my greatest joys to watch children sit on their parents’ laps and pore over books they’ve found on the shelves. In order to keep those conversations about books going, I’d like to form a multigenerational book club centered around Flora & Ulysses. In this story, Flora’s relationship with her divorced parents is central to the plot and theme of the story, and I’d like to use this as a platform for parents/caregivers and kids to discuss a book together and think about and build their relationships to one another.
This book club, which will involve the creation of the participants’ own fantasy stories, will be for middle-school-age children and a parent or caregiver. It will meet once a week for five weeks.
During the first week, I’ll hand out Flora & Ulysses to the book club members and explain the accompanying activities for the month. We’ll be reading the book over the course of the month, as well as creating our own fantasy stories. We’ll discuss what the members think of when they think of fantasy stories, whether they enjoy them or not, and what the fantasy genre encompasses. We’ll also discuss the differences between high and low fantasy. I’ll remind the club members that we’ll come back to this discussion of fantasy as we make our way through the book. To conclude this first meeting, we’ll begin reading the book out loud together. We’ll look at Campbell’s illustrations together and will proceed through the first chapter readers’ theater-style, with a middle schooler reading Flora’s words and thoughts, one of the moms reading Flora’s mother, and me reading the narration. I’ll ask the club members to read the first 22 chapters for next week.
For the second meeting, I’ll ask the book club members what they think so far of the characters and Flora’s world. What do they think of Flora’s relationship with her parents? How do they think Flora’s parents really feel about her? What does Flora think that her parents think of her? What do the book club members think of Campbell’s illustrations and how they’re used in the text? After discussing, I’ll introduce the activity for the week: beginning our own fantasy stories. Club members can write their stories in text and make a print book; they can make a graphic novel (we’ll pay special attention to how Campbell’s illustrations function in the text); or they can use Storybird. I’ll offer a tutorial for using the site for those who are interested in that option. Each book club member will write his/her own fantasy story and will incorporate a character representing the person taking part in the book club with him/her. Kids will write a story incorporating a father or mother character, and parents/caregivers will use a child character in their stories. A central theme of this novel is love and belonging. Flora is looking for it in this story, and how she sees her parents affects her sense of home. I’d like the book club members to think about these relationships in their own lives and represent them in their stories. Everyone should work on their stories individually, not sharing them until our last meeting. I want parents and children to be surprised by how each is depicted in the others’ stories. During this week’s session, each person will sketch out some preliminary ideas for their stories. Will they use a high or low fantasy format? What will the world of the story be like? What kinds of characters will they include? Club members should work on drafting some ideas for next week and should read chapters 23-45.
For the third meeting, we’ll discuss how things are progressing in the story. What is happening with Flora and her parents? What about Flora’s other relationships? What is everyone thinking about Campbell’s illustrations? What does everyone think about Ulysses? Is there something special about him? Why is Flora so attached to him? What is everyone noticing about the significance of words to Flora and Ulysses? Why does she repeat the phrases she does? Also during this week’s meeting, everyone will add to their fantasy stories. I’ll discuss the basic elements of plot and encourage everyone to think about how these points will be represented in their stories. Club members should continue drafting their stories for next week and should read chapters 46-68 and the Epilogue, finishing the story.
For the fourth meeting, we’ll discuss the ending of the novel. What does everyone think about how DiCamillo tied everything together at the end? Do they find it believable? Satisfying? What do Flora and her parents learn? Does everyone have a favorite character? What did everyone think of Campbell’s illustrations? In addition to discussing the novel, book club members will work on finishing their stories. I’ll encourage everyone to think about the power and significance of words for Flora and Ulysses. With this in mind, book club members can consider revising their word choices, adding poetry, or using repetition.
For the fifth and final meeting, book club members will share their stories. Before asking if anyone would like to share their story with the group, I’ll ask for the kids to share their stories first with their parent/caregiver and vice versa. I’d like the kids and parents to have the opportunity to share their creations and character representations with each other before sharing with the group. Oh, and we’ll have giant donuts, with sprinkles, to eat during our meeting.
The Mermaid's Tale 