Discussion questions

1. Sammy is curious to know where BB goes. She thinks of a plan to find out. What sort of things are you curious about? What are some ways to find out about them?

2. Sammy worries that BB might not come back. Do you have a pet? How would you feel if your pet was missing? What would you do?

3. Sammy is afraid she might be left alone, with no one to care for her. Her mother assures her that’s not going to happen. Have you ever felt this way? What did you do about it?

4. Sammy practices watching BB in the mirror for a whole month. Have you ever wanted something enough to work that hard for it? How did you feel when your hard work paid off? If you gave up in the middle of the project, how did you feel about that?

5. What was Sammy thinking and feeling when she started up the moonbeam? Was she afraid? Excited? How would you have felt?

6. Selena lives in a big house or castle, with plenty of servants to take care of her but no friends to talk to. Do you think she’s lonely? Why or why not?

7. Selena’s crystal ball viewer is a little like a computer or a television. She can use it to see things on our world as well as hers. If you could use Selena’s viewer, what would you choose to see? Why?

8. The hall of doors is magic. Even Selena doesn’t know where all the doors go, and they change around. Sammy opens the doors to a stormy place, a jungle, and an ocean. Would you want to explore any of these places? Why or why not? What might you need to take with you?

9. What about the door that was high up in the air? Could you use that one? How would you do it?

10. Selena asks Sammy to make a very hard choice. What does she want Sammy to do? Do you think Sammy made the right choice? Have you ever had to make a difficult decision? How did you handle it?

11. When Sammy gets lost, how does she find her way back? What would you have done?

12. Why doesn’t BB get lost when she goes through the magic doors or gates? Sammy thought she figured it out. What was her idea? Do you think she’s right?

13. What does Sammy find in the crystal garden? Does it help her to decide about BB?

14. How does Sammy convince BB to stay with Selena? Is Sammy thinking about what she wants, or about what’s best for BB? Have you ever had to give up something you wanted, to make someone else happy?

15. Did BB have to make a hard decision too? How do you think she felt about it?

16. How did Sammy get home?

17. Do you think Sammy will get another cat? Why do you think that?

18. Do you think Sammy will tell her mother everything that happened? Why or why not? Is her mother likely to believe it?

19. How do you think Sammy will feel the day after her adventure? Will she be happy or sad or a little of each? Will she believe it really happened? Why?

20. What would you do if you had the chance to climb a moonbeam or go through a magic doorway to another world? Would you go? Why or why not?