Flora & Ulysses - Samantha Green Mysteries in Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures....

Images and excerpts from Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Author Kate DiCamillo and Illustrator K. G. Campbell, Candlewick Press

SamanthaGreenMysteries.com

Discussion Guide - Book 9

Flora & UlyssesBy Kate DiCamillo

The Illuminated Adventures

Including:• Create Your Own Comics• Squirrel Poetry

• Building Character• Are You Wordier Than a 4th Grader?

http://samanthagreenmysteries.com

http://samanthagreenmysteries.com


Dear Serious Reader,

FROM THE DESK OF

Christy Lynn Allen

AUTHOR, SAMANTHA GREEN MYSTERIES

SamanthaGreenMysteries.com/SRC

QQQ

Food-obsessed rodent one minute. Superhero squirrel the next.Self-proclaimed cynic. Devoted fan of comic books.

From Newbery Medal Winner and New York Times best-selling author, Kate DiCamillo, comes the hilarious story of two unlikely friends who "together will conquer . . . something.”

When a squirrel is sucked up by the "super-suction, multi-terrain Ulysses 2000x” vacuum and spat out a superhero, Flora must choose between cynicism and hope.

Meet Ulysses.

Meet Flora Belle Buckman.

Faster than a "Ulysses 2000x," you will be sucked in by the comic book styled graphics by artist K. G. Campbell!

Have you started Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures yet? If not, join the fun!

Flora & Ulysses

By Kate DiCamillo The Illuminated Adventures

Finished reading? Rate the book!https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7Y5G2PN

1) Visit the SRC Website: http://samanthagreenmysteries.com/src2) Click book cover on the SRC Bookshelf3) Click “Discussion” link

G CESee what other Serious Readers are saying!

http://samanthagreenmysteries.com/src


https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7Y5G2PN





“HOLY BAGUMBA!”

Create Your Own Comics Flora & Ulysses

By Kate DiCamillo The Illuminated Adventures

Create your own superhero adventure starring Flora & Ulysses, or

Imagine and draw your own original story with action-packed scenes

Draw something funny that happened to you or someone you know, or

It’s your turn to make your own comics! Here are some ideas:

Use pictures to show action

Use speech bubbles for dialogue

Use captions to narrate

Use sound effectsDraw boxes to separate scenes

u


SQUIRTEL POETRY Flora & Ulysses

By Kate DiCamillo


Superhero squirrels have a lot to say! Tap into your inner Ulysses and write your own poem. Use one of the ideas

below or come up with your own!

Remember, poems don’t need to rhyme

-

R R“I am. Ulysses. Born anew.”

“I love your round head, the brilliant green, the watching blue, these letters, this world, you, I am very, very hungry.”

Write from the perspective of Ulysses (a flying villain-vanquishing, Flora-loving, food-obsessed squirrel) after a big day of super-heroism

Ulysses has a deep appreciation for the world around him—the good, the bad, the beautiful, the tragic. Think of a place he might go that is completely new to him. How might he describe it?

Pick a title or a theme to help you get started


BUILDING C h a r a c t e r

Flora & Ulysses

By Kate DiCamillo


Author Kate DiCamillo built characters who came alive on the page!

Each had unique personality and style—just like real people in real life.

GINSTRUCTIONS - Part 1Who said it?

GPart 2What are they made of ?

Flora

“Tootie”

William Spiver

Dr. Meescham

Flora’s Dad

Flora’s Mom

Ulysses

“I’m a cynic. Nothing in human nature surprises a cynic.”

“I am very, very hungry”

“George Buckman. How do you do?”

“When I was a girl in Blundermeecen, we left the window open for the very same

reason . . . because we believed something wonderful might make its way to us . . .”

“That squirrel . . . He’s rabid, diseased. He’s got to go.”

“The�� universe�� is�� a�� random�� place.”

“There’s just no end to the excitement.”

Match each speech bubble to the character who said or wrote it

Write down traits (behaviors, expressions, quirks) that are unique to each character


are you wordier than a

th grader

Flora & Ulysses

By Kate DiCamillo


Ten-dollar words (impressive, uncommon words) are sprinkled like nuts in Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures.

INSTRUCTIONSUse the context clues (what’s happening in that moment of the story) provided below

and draw a line between each underlined word and its correct definition.

“This malfeasance must be stopped.” Pages 7, 146

?4DICTIONARY

for Squirrels, Superheroes,

and those who love

them

When you figure out new and difficult words, it makes reading even more fun!Of course, a dictionary can help while you read, but you can also use context clues.

E. wrongdoing; injustice; unfairness

“As a cynic, Flora found it wise to be prepared. Who knew what horrible, unpredictable thing would happen next.” Page 14

F. one who mistrusts, doubts; a skeptic

Context clue: Flora loves reading TERRIBLE THINGS CAN HAPPEN TO YOU! because it helps her prepare for the worst.

Context clue: Flora says this after watching Ulysses get sucked up by the vacuum, and after hearing her mother tell her father to kill Ulysses.

“The average squirrel cogitation goes something like this, I wonder what there is to eat.” Page 10

A. deep thinking; contemplation

Context clue: Next sentence, “This ‘thought’ is then repeated with small variations (e.g. Where’s the food? Man, I sure am hungry . . .)”

“Are you positing that a squirrel typed those words?” 0

Context clue: William Spiver says this when Flora shows him the typed poem (“Squirtel! I am. Ulysses. Born anew.”) to prove Ulysses has superpowers.

B. proposing; suggesting as a fact

“Flora surreptitiously (The Criminal Element recommended surreptitious action at all possible junctures) removed the lid from the shoe box.” Page 94Context clue: Flora doesn’t want Giant Do-Nut’s waitress to notice Ulysses.

“An eerie quiet descended. The whole of the Giant Do-Nut became preternaturally calm.” Page 105

Context clue: Normally the Giant Do-Nut is noisy with customers talking, but after Ulysses’ flying stunt, the restaurant becomes completely silent.

D. doing something secretly; covertly; undercover

C. abnormal; unusual; not natural

Answer Key is on the bottom of this Discussion Guide’s last page.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

u


Discussion Questions

G CE1. Superheroes are born of tragic accidents that have unexpected

consequences! After falling into a vat of powerful “Incandesto!” cleaning solution, Alfred T. Slipper glows like a pillar of light and becomes the Amazing Incandesto.

Get more from your reading experience. pick a few questions, then dazzle your friends with your deep thoughts!

2. Why do you think Flora likes to think of herself as a cynic?

Write your own Superhero-in-the-making story!Check out the Journal Ideas on the last page.

Flora & Ulysses

By Kate DiCamillo


Write down your ideas about how the “Ulysses 2000x” vacuum cleaner gives Squirrel the superhero powers of strength, flying, and poetry-writing.

Strength:

Flying:

Poetry writing:

Hint: Re-read the comics in the first 4 pages of Flora & Ulysses. Pay attention to how the Ulysses 2000x vacuum is described, and what it sucks up on its way out the door!

Hint: Think about what has happened in her life to make her mistrustful, to not allow herself to hope.


Discussion Questions

4. How is Flora’s relationship with her father different from the relationship

she has with her mother?

3. Why does Flora hate the little shepherdess lamp, Mary Ann?

Flora & Ulysses

By Kate DiCamillo


Do you relate better (or share more in common) with one parent or sibling over

another?

5. Just like Dolores the Parakeet does for the Amazing Incandesto, what very

important job must Flora do for Ulysses the Squirrel?


Discussion Questions Flora & Ulysses

By Kate DiCamillo


6. William Spiver continually complains of his “temporary blindness,”

but is he really blind? Why do you think he’s created this

fantasy? Hint: Think about why he is staying with Great-Aunt Tootie.

7. What does Ulysses love about Flora? How does just hearing her voice help him?

8. “Cynics are people afraid to believe,” says Dr. Meescham.

Do you think Flora is really a cynic? Why or why not?


Discussion Questions Flora & Ulysses

By Kate DiCamillo


10. Flora may not be a superhero, but she does some very heroic things.

How does Flora help Ulysses, her parents, and William Spiver?

9. What four words hit Flora like stone in Chapter 45?

How does she think her mother feels about her? Is this true?

She helps Ulysses by:

. . . her parents by:

. . . William Spiver by:

Who helps Flora? How?

Finished reading? Rate the book!https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7Y5G2PN




Journal Ideas

Now it’s your turn to write!Pick an idea and grab your journal .

“Who can say what astonishments are hidden inside the most mundane being?”

Just like most people looked right past Alfred T. Slipper (the Amazing Incandesto!) because he was an ordinary guy who worked as a janitor, Ulysses admits it was “rare for someone to look a squirrel in the eye.”

“There is much more beauty in the world if I believe such a thing is possible.”

Dr. Meescham helps Flora see that by simply being open to the possibility that good and unexpected things could happen at any minute, the world could be a more beautiful place.

1.E 2. A 3. F 4. B 5. D 6. C

Answer KeyAre You Wordier Than a 4th Grader?

Flora & Ulysses

By Kate DiCamillo


u

u

Write about a time someone misjudged you, and you surprised them by something amazing you did. Then, write about a time you assumed someone was nothing special, but then he or she surprised you.

Are you struggling with anything in your life? Instead of focusing on how difficult this thing is, write as if anything were possible. How might thinking this way make the situation (and your world) a little brighter?

u

Superheroes are born out of tragic accidents and unexpected consequences! Write your own original story of how a superhero is born!

JOURNAL IDEA 1

u

JOURNAL IDEA 2

JOURNAL IDEA 3

Flora & Ulysses - Samantha Green Mysteries in Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures....

Documents

Transcript of Flora & Ulysses - Samantha Green Mysteries in Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures....