Anastasia, Absolutely (An Anastasia Krupnik story)
#9 in Anastasia Krupnik Series
on Goodreads (836)
What’s inside...
As usual, Lowry delivers tight, page-turning prose, plenty of humor, and characters right out of readers' neighborhoods. What could possibly go wrong when Anastasia Krupnik walks to a mailbox early one morning with two packages and a dog? A mail mix-up of a most embarrassing kind occurs when she deposits her dog’s morning business instead of mailing the letter. As her school 'Values' class debates moral issues and the local police confiscate the corner mailbox, Anastasia faces a dilemma of her own. Should she confess? What is the right thing to do? With her characteristic integrity and humor, Anastasia weighs her options.
Discussion points
How do you think Anastasia feels when she finds the suspicious package, and what would you do in her situation?
What are some ways Anastasia shows responsibility throughout the story, and how do you show responsibility in your daily life?
Discuss how Anastasia's relationship with her family and friends changes throughout the book. Which relationships do you find most important in your life?
How does humor play a role in the book, and what parts did you find funniest?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading to highlight the comedic and suspenseful elements of the story, making the reading experience more enjoyable and immersive.
Relate the story’s themes to real-life scenarios your child could encounter to help them connect with Anastasia’s experiences.
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the book’s events, fostering empathy and understanding for the characters’ decisions and dilemmas.
Discuss the importance of problem-solving and decision-making skills demonstrated throughout the book, drawing parallels to the challenges they might face.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Anastasia learns to take responsibility for her actions when she inadvertently sends a bag of dog waste to a government official, thinking it's a threat to the environment.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of being responsible for their actions and understanding the consequences that follow.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving
Explanation: Throughout the book, Anastasia faces various challenges and learns to tackle them using her intelligence and creativity.
Real-World Application: This teaches children that problems can be approached and solved in different ways, encouraging them to think critically and creatively in their day-to-day challenges.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: Anastasia's interactions with different characters, like her younger brother Sam, teach her to understand and share the feelings of others.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of empathy and how understanding others can lead to better relationships and social interactions.
Example Lesson: Honesty
Explanation: Anastasia learns the value of honesty as she navigates through her misunderstanding with the government about the dog waste.
Real-World Application: This lesson underscores the importance of honesty in communication and maintaining trust with others in real-world interactions.
Example Lesson: Independence
Explanation: The protagonist, Anastasia, often finds herself making decisions and solving problems on her own throughout the book.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to be independent thinkers and doers, boosting their confidence and self-reliance.