What do you think would be Zoë’s definition of a family? What is yours? Do families have to be blood-related to each other? Is there a family you are born into and another family you can make for yourself? Do families have to be composed of people, or can animals be part of families too?
Zoë says that animals’ love is purer than people’s (p. 22). What does she mean by this? Do you think that’s true? Have you ever experienced this purer love yourself?
“Miss Avery said that I was to study all the sculptures Henry was making for his show and find one piece that reached deep down inside me, tugged at my heart, or spoke my name” (pp. 187–188). The names of many well-known artists—most sculptors like Henry—are listed at the bottom of page 34. How many of them do you recognize? Pick two or three of these artists, choosing at least one you don’t know, and look up their work in the library or on the Internet. Does any of the artwork tug at your heart or speak your name? Might looking at or living with art change the way you think about or look at things? How?
For more information about Clay Carmichael and Wild Things, visit claycarmichael.com.
Author-illustrator CLAY CARMICHAEL’S award-winning books for children have been translated into many languages. She teaches writing and illustrating and lives in Carrboro, North Carolina.
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