The Chalk Box Kid

When Ivy brings her brother to see Gregory’s chalk art, what is she trying to teach her brother? How does this help support the story’s message about individuality?

How do the chapter titles help point out important ideas in each chapter? What else do they have in common? How do they help support the story’s larger meaning?

How is Gregory like the sunflowers he loves to paint and draw? What does the motif of plants symbolize throughout the story?

What is the ironic result of Vance’s decision to bring his classmates to make fun of Gregory’s garden? How does his decision lead to positive changes in both his and Gregory’s lives?

Compare and contrast the adults in Gregory’s world. What kinds of qualities do they share? How do their relationships with Gregory define them?

How do the story’s plot reversals create tension and suspense? How do they create empathy for Gregory’s character and develop his characterization?

What patterns do you see in the illustrations the book contains? How do these categories of illustration support the story’s meaning?

Why is the setting of Gregory’s new home and the abandoned chalk factory behind it so important to the story’s meaning? How would you describe these settings—what do they have in common and what is different about them? How do they contribute to the story’s atmosphere and mood?