Major Theme:

Family, friendship, courage, and loyalty

Summary:

James and the Giant Peach is the story of a lonely little boy who escapes from his cruel aunts by traveling in a giant peach.  Through magic, he travels with a group of insects that are as big as he is.  The book describes the adventures this group encounters.

Question #1

Question #2

Question #3

Why do you think James' aunts dislike him?

How is living on the peach different from living with James' aunts?

Tell how you are alike (3) and different (3) from James.

Question #4

How did Earthworm react to James' plan?

Question #5

Describe a time where you were asked to do something you really didn't want to do, but did it anyway, because it was the right thing to do.

Question #6

Question #7

Question #8

Question #9

How did the Captain on the ship, Queen Mary, react when he saw the peach?

Describe something "strange and peculiar" you have seen.

How did you react?

How is traveling on the peach similar and different from traveling on an airplane?

Question #10

At the end of the story, all the characters have a happy life.  Tell what things made each one happy.

Question #11

Question #12

Question #13

What are some things that would make a happy life for you?

Question #14

Question #15

Question #16

Question #17

Question #18

Extension #1

Extension #2

Extension #3

Construct a model of the peach stuck on top of the EmpireState Building.  Write a newspaper article describing what happened.

Dress up like one of the characters; write, then tell the story from your character's point of view.

Design a colorful travel brochure about the peach trip.

Extension #4

Cook with peaches.  Make a recipe for the class.

Extension #5