December Book & Cookie Club "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon"

Book and Cookie Club is a monthly book discussion group for students in third through sixth grade and an adult caregiver.  I have been facilitating Book and Cookie Club at my library since December of 2015.  This is one of my favorite school-age programs to plan and lead. 

At my new library, I take turns facilitating Book and Cookie Club with two of my colleagues.  Instead of facilitating Book and Cookie monthly, I facilitate it four times a year.

The way that I lead Book and Cookie has changed as well due to the participants that come to the program.  Most of the participants that come to Book and Cookie are older (4th and 5th grade) and I have more caregiver engagement.  As a result, we have more of a discussion format.

The book: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

This is the second time that I have selected Where the Mountain Meets the Moon for Book and Cookie Club. Grace Lin is one of my favorite authors. Grace has such a way for weaving together a story that is compelling, exciting, and wonderous. I also find it fascinating how the children perceive Minli's running away from home versus how the adult caregivers feel about it. The themes of family, fortune, gratitude, friendship, and kindness all lend themselves to a really great discussion.

Icebreaker: Minli's Bag

Materials Needed:

• paper treat bags
• paper list
• pencils

Activity Description:
Before Minli leaves home she places these eleven items in her bag:

1. chopsticks
2. fishnet
3. needle
4. uncooked rice
5. copper coin
6. gourd
7. pot
8. water
9. dried bamboo
10. knife
11. rabbit rice bowl

If you were to leave home to change your family's fotune, what items would you take with you?  On your paper, write down the eleven items you would take with you and place your list inside of your bag.

When I say "fortune" get into (pairs or a group) to compare your lists.

Discussion

I used the discussion questions from The Educator's Guide by LB School & Library

Activity: Painting Watercolor Dragons

Materials: 

• Crayola watercolor paint pens
• Strathmore water color paper

Activity Description:
Participants will use the provided materials to create a watercolor dragon