Discussion Guides

Welcome, teachers, parents, and young adventurers!

Every story is a doorway.

Some doors lead to faraway planets where astronauts ride dinosaurs. Some open into bubble-filled bathtubs occupied by very confused alligators. Others lead to talking leaves, bouncing kisses, brave children, and sandwiches determined not to become toast.

But the greatest adventures begin after the story ends.

These classroom activities are designed to help children step inside the stories they love. Through imagination, creativity, discussion, drawing, writing, acting, and laughter, young readers can become explorers, inventors, storytellers, problem-solvers, and even characters in their own adventures.

So gather your crayons, sharpen your pencils, stretch your imaginations, and prepare for a little bit of magic.

The story may be over…

…but the adventure IS just beginning.

The following activities could help to build:

  • ✅ Reading comprehension
  • ✅ Creativity
  • ✅ Speaking skills
  • ✅ Social-emotional learning
  • ✅ Fun

🍎 Classroom Story Activities

🎭 Story Character Interview

Choose a character from the story.

One student becomes the character while classmates ask questions.

Examples:

  • Why did the alligator want the bathtub?
  • Why didn’t Benji want to become toast?
  • How did Oumi feel when Cuddles left?

🎨 Draw the Missing Page

Ask students:

“What do you think happened next?”

Children draw and explain a brand-new page for the story.

🎙️ Story News Report

Students pretend they are news reporters covering story events.

Examples:

🚨 “BREAKING NEWS: Leaf Caliph Found Drying Beneath Tree!”

🚨 “Local Bread Refuses To Become Toast!”

🤣

🦖 Character Advice Column

Students write advice to a character.

Examples:

  • Advice for Oumi
  • Advice for Benji
  • Advice for Leaf Caliph
  • Advice for Mr. Alligator

🎵 Story Theme Song

Create a song for the story.

Questions:

  • What would Benji’s song sound like?
  • What music would play when Oumi rides a dinosaur?
  • What would Magnolia’s theme song be?

🎤 Talk Show Time

Students host a pretend talk show.

Interview story characters.

Examples:

  • Magnolia interviews Violet Breeze.
  • Benji hosts Crumbs of Wisdom.
  • Mr. Alligator explains the elevator misunderstanding.

🤣

🌎 Story Setting Explorer

Describe the story setting using the five senses.

What would you:

  • see?
  • hear?
  • smell?
  • touch?
  • taste?

📝 Write a New Ending

Students create their own ending.

Examples:

  • What if Cuddles came back?
  • What if Benji became famous?
  • What if the alligator stayed for dinner?

🧩 Character Match-Up

Match characters to personality traits.

Examples:

Character Trait
Benji Determined
Oumi Curious
Magnolia Leaf Confident
Leaf Caliph Responsible
Mr. Alligator Confused

🤔 What Would You Do?

Ask students:

  • What would you do if an alligator appeared at your door?
  • What would you do if your kisses bounced back home?
  • What would you do if everyone thought you ran away with a yoga leaf?

🤣

🎨 Design a Book Cover

Students create a new cover for the story.

Include:

  • title
  • illustration
  • author name

🎲 Story Shuffle

Change one part of the story.

Examples:

  • Replace the alligator with a penguin.
  • Replace Benji with a waffle.
  • Replace Cuddles with a turtle.

How does the story change?

🌟 Favorite Quote Poster

Students illustrate a favorite story quote.

Examples:

“Toast is NOT the most!”

“Follow your dreams, kid!”

“Turn over a new leaf!”

🤣

🏆 Story Character Awards

Create awards such as:

🏆 Most Determined Character

🏆 Funniest Character

🏆 Best Problem Solver

🏆 Most Likely To Cause Confusion

🏆 Best Friend

✨ Secret Story Object

Students choose one object from the story.

Examples:

  • a bathtub
  • a kiss
  • a Lego
  • a leaf
  • a piece of toast

Then explain why it was important.

My Favorite Dr. Zee Activity

🎬 Become the Character

Students stand and complete this sentence:

“If I were Benji, I would…”

“If I were Oumi, I would…”

“If I were Leaf Caliph, I would…”

“If I were Magnolia Leaf, I would…”

This gets children moving, imagining, and laughing while strengthening comprehension.

🍃 Magnolia Leaf’s Question of the Day

What would YOU do if your family thought you ran away with a yoga leaf?

📚💛✨