Reading Guides: Kids, Adults
Reading Guides: Kids, Adults are opportunities to dive deeper into the reading experience from a personal perspective. What do I think, feel, and believe? How do stories challenge or encourage me? Can my reflections on what I read teach me about myself and help me process my life? If self-discovery, leading to better communication in the real world, is a goal for you, then read on. The most powerful part of reading a good book is not meeting great characters, enjoying a plot twist, or encountering a fresh idea, but discovering a new facet of our true selves.
Feel free to download the free Reading Guides and coloring pages from the links below.
Children’s Book The Adventures of Tally-Ho
Elementary
1 Who is your favorite character? Why? What makes him or her so great?
2 Does anyone do something you would like to try doing?
3 Were there any problems in the story? How were they resolved?
4 Describe two different places in the story. How did they make you feel? Would you ever like to visit a place like that?
5 Is there any part of the story you would like to remember forever? Why?
Secondary
1 If you were reading the story to a child, which character would you narrate most true to life? Why so?
2. Children’s books tend to simplify conflict and resolution. Is that healthy for children? Would there be positive ways to draw out subtleties in real life while reading? Or would that ruin the story?
3 The natural setting can create dream-like qualities in children’s books. How might that assist children in processing the real world? Would photos have the same effect as paintings or other drawings?
4 If a child has never experienced the natural world as Tally Ho does, can he or she still relate to the characters and bridge the events to their personal lives? Would an adult need to do this? Would it be helpful to make the story more meaningful?
Adult/Book Clubs
1 The father is depicted in the story rather than the typical central mother figure. Is there still a sense of her presence? What does the father figure add to the story?
2 The siblings treat each other in a supportive, nurturing manner, which isn’t always the case in real life. How might that affect young children’s thoughts and feelings?
3 Though conflict resolutions might not always be neat and perfect, the story maintains an emotional calm equilibrium. How might adults draw out real-life conflicts in contrast?
4 Adults reading the story to children unfamiliar with farm settings might have to explain aspects of farm life, leading to later learning experiences. Are the characters still relatable? Might a child equate the animals’ emotions with humans? Does a distinction need to be made? How could it be handled sensitively without equalizing the two?
5 Do the stories of Tally Ho offer opportunities for follow-up discussions and further investigation? What might they be?
Paperback/Journal Reflections
1 What were my favorite stories as a kid? Why did I love them so much?
2 Did anyone read to me when I was young? Do I feel I missed something? Are there any children I could read stories to now?
3 Children’s stories often touch the unconscious in profound ways. What do the stories of Tally Ho mean to me? What emotions do they bring to the surface?
4 What do I find most attractive in the Tally Ho stories? How can I apply this insight to my real life?
5 How does the combination of childhood, the natural world, and faith in God and angels play in my mind? What do I really believe about a supernatural world?
The Adventures of Tally Ho Coloring Page PDF
Short Stories It Might Have Been—And Other Short Stories 2nd Edition
1 Which story sticks with you? What part of it resonated or clashed with you on a personal level?
2 Generally, there is a resolution to each story, but not always a “happy ending.” Do the stories still feel complete? Is there a story you wish had ended differently? How might you have ended it?
3 Is there a character in the story that you recognize? Does anyone seem so familiar that you could see his or her face? Who and what is the personal connection?
4 Did any of the stories help you see a new perspective? Whose?
5 What setting grabbed your attention? Was that because it was familiar or so different from familiar settings? Would you like to visit that place?
Paperback/Journal Reflections
1 Which story(ies) did I react to emotionally? Why? What feelings did they stir up? Why might that be?
2 Did I wish for a different ending to any of the stories? Why one? How would I have ended it? Why does it need a different ending?
3 What characters did I admire or feel attracted to? Do I wish there were more stories with these characters? What is the attraction? Do I have people in my life who fill these roles for me or am I missing these kinds of relationships?
4 What characters made me angry or simply ticked me off? Why? Do they remind me of anyone in particular? How do I deal with this kind of person in real life? If I were writing the story, what would happen to these characters?
5 Were there any details that jumped out at me? Settings? Scents, tactile experiences, images, sounds? Do I naturally resonate with these things, or are they missing pieces in my life that I long to fill, perhaps with the time and peace of mind to notice them in the real world?
It Might Have Been Coloring Page PDF
The most powerful part of reading a good book is not meeting great characters but discovering a new facet of our true selves. A. K. Frailey is the author of 21 books, a teacher for 35 years, and a homeschooling mother of 8. Make the most of life’s journey. Novels, short stories, poems, and non-fiction inspirational reflections are available as eBooks, paperbacks, hardcover, and as audiobooks. https://www.amazon.com/author/akfrailey
“The vintage feel of the artwork perfectly suited the story’s rural setting, and it added an extra layer of nostalgia to the reading experience. I found myself admiring the illustrations as much as I enjoyed reading the three engaging stories contained within the book.” ~Nate
“One of the strengths of the collection is the author’s ability to create an entire world in just a few pages, leaving the reader wanting more. The stories are compact and move at a brisk pace, yet are filled with drama and excitement.” ~Gina Mitchell
For a complete list of books by A. K. Frailey, book trailers, links, and reviews, check out A. K. Frailey’s Books Page For translated versions of A. K. Frailey’s Books, check out A. K. Frailey’s Translated Books
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