Chapter 1 (The Girl Who Could Be King)

🗣️ Discuss

• Pg. 6 Why do you think the substitute believes that Ryan shouldn't play on the monkeybars?  Has there been a time that you felt like an adult underestimated you?

• What does the name Ryan mean? How does she show she is trying to be who her parents named her to be?*

• What does the name Raymond mean? How does he show he is trying to be who his parents named him to be?*

🔎 Investigate

What does your name mean?  Try out this name meaning search and find out!

Chapter 2  (The Thing About Ice Cream)

🗣️ Discuss

• Have you ever had to move to a new house or even a room in your house?  How did you feel? Excited, scared, both or something else?

• What is your favorite ice cream flavor and why?

• Why was the Hart family having ice cream for dinner?*

• Describe how Ryan reacted to the news?*

🎮 Play

Play the Make an Ice Cream game. 

Chapter 3 (Saying Goodbye)

🗣️ Discuss

• Ryan waves goodbye to her old car.  Is there an item or nonliving thing (car, teddybear, mug) that makes you feel or remember something special?

• Why was Ryan sad they were selling the car?*

• What did Ryan think of their new (old) house?*

• Compare and contrast the kitchen in the new house to the kitchen in her old house. Why is the kitchen important to Ryan?*

🛠️ Do!

Ryan and Roy play the License Plate game in the car.  You can print out this checklist for your next trip to another state or just to the grocery store! 

▶️ Watch 

When Ryan and her family go on their last drive, they stop to do some birdwatching.  She lives in Oregon and we live in Colorado.  Check out these videos about birds in both states! 

Chapter 4 (New Beginnings)

🗣️ Discuss

• Have you ever been in or had to stay in a place new to you?  What did it feel like?  What did you do to feel more comfortable?

• Ryan talks about her concoctions (pronunciation). Are you good at inventing or putting something together?  If so, what? 

• Compare and contrast the kitchen in the new house to the kitchen in her old house. Why is the kitchen important to Ryan?*

📣 Listen & 🔎 Investigate

On page 26, Ryan talks about her Sous-chef (pronunciation) table.  Check out the definition to find out what it means!

🍲 Prepare

Have a family or friend dinner.  Try making a recipe you have never tried!  Not sure what to make?  Try the recipe finder at Cooking Matters a nonprofit working to solve problems of hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world.

Chapter 5 (What Night-Lights Are For)

🗣️ Discuss

• Describe the contents of the metal tin? Why did Ray think that Ryan shouldn’t bother them?

• What was Mom’s solution to keep Ray out of Ryan’s room at night? Why do you think Ryan agreed with Mom’s solution?

📚 Read

Ray scares Ryan by pretending to be a ghost after talking about the items in the tin.  Check out the Scary Story Collection on Sora to read some ghost stories! 

🖍️ Create

Create a keepsake box that holds special memories.* 

Chapter 6 Chapter 6 (Finders, Keepers)

🗣️ Discuss

• On page 42, Ryan says: "Amanda and I used to be neighbors at our old house but she moved last month to Lake Oswego, a place Dad says is too far and too white."  What do you think she means by this?

• On page 46, it says "Amanda touches everything gently, like sacred (Pronunciation and Meaning) keepsakes." What do you think makes something sacred?

• Compare and contrast Ryan, KiKi, and Amanda. How are they alike? How are they different?*

🧭 Explore

This story takes place in Portland, Oregon.  In this chapter it mentions Lake Oswego.  Can you find it on the map?

🍲 Prepare

In this chapter Amanda and Ryan make a smoothie called the Blackberry Extravaganza.  Try making your own blackberry lime smoothie with this recipe by clicking on the picture below.

Questions with an * borrowed from: 

HCS Reads Program. (n.d.). Ways to Make Sunshine - Chapter Questions. https://sites.google.com/hamiltoncentral.org/hcs-reads/chapter-questions?authuser=0