Preview
Copywork
About This Passage
Selected because Papa Mouse turns a request for one tale into an offer of seven, with one small condition. Lobel teaches dialogue punctuation here, and the copywork shows how a parent can be both generous and shrewd at the same time — give more than asked, but with a deal attached.
"I will do better than that," said Papa. "I will tell you seven tales — one for each of you, if you promise to go right to sleep when I am done."
Full copywork activity with handwriting lines available in the complete study guide.
Discussion Questions
Narration Prompt
In your own words, tell the story of this chapter. What were the most important moments? What made them important — and how do you know?
Discussion Questions
- Lobel structures the entire book as a frame: a bedtime conversation contains seven separate tales. Why does Lobel use a frame instead of just publishing seven small stories on their own? What does the bedtime frame add to each tale?
- In the wishing well tale, the mouse hears the well say "ouch" and is so worried about hurting the well that she brings a pillow. Argue what this reveals about how Lobel thinks small kindnesses begin.
+ 3 more questions in the complete study guide
Vocabulary Builder
Item 1
A story, often made-up, told for entertainment or instruction; the literal title of the book.
Item 2
An outer story that contains inner stories; the bedtime conversation that holds all seven tales in this book.
Item 3
A folkloric well into which one drops coins to make wishes come true; the setting of the first tale.
+ 7 more vocabulary words in the complete study guide
Critical Thinking
+ 5 more questions in the complete study guide
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