Family Dinner Book Club: Runaway Ralph

Family Dinner Book Club is a perfect summer activity.  This month we are featuring Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary.

Get a copy of the book and join us!

Use the great ideas below to plan your menu, make table decoration crafts, talk about the book and complete a family service project.  We have everything you need!

Full Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links.

Just to review a bit… Family Dinner Book Club is a monthly book club for your family.  On the 15th of each month, we share the title of the book that is being featured.  Then, on the 1st of each month we provide all the details for your special club dinner.  Sarah from Daisy at Home shares a special menu to compliment the book.  And, I will share conversation starters and a service project for your family.  Sarah and I will take turns showcasing table decoration crafts to make with the kids.

We invite you to share a picture from your dinner with us anytime during the month on our Family Dinner Book Club Facebook page.

Now, on to preparing for book club this month!

Runaway Ralph

The Book

Runaway Ralph is a book you might remember from your own childhood.  Ralph is a mouse who loves adventures on his motorcycle.  He decides to leave home and finds himself at a camp.  There are lots of challenges being a mouse at a human camp.  This is a fun book that the whole family is sure to enjoy.

Topics

Here are six conversation starters to get your dinner book club rolling.  Just click on this link (Runaway Ralph Conversation Starters) for a one page PDF file that you can print and then cut apart.  Use the cards on your chosen dinner night.  You, of course, don’t have to use all of them or you may even have some other discussion points that developed while you were reading.  These are just meant to be a guide.  Happy talking!

• Why did Ralph run away? Was this a good solution?
• Have you been to camp?  If so, what did you like best?  If not, what do you think you would like about camp?
• Ralph focused more on his motorcycle instead of his family.  Has there ever been a time when you’ve been distracted from being with your family?
• How are Ralph and Garf alike?  How are they different?
• What advice would you give to Garf about camp?
• Would you recommend this books to someone else? Why?

Family Service Project

Try an outdoor service project this month.  Talk about making sure to put trash in trash cans or recycling bins.  Have everyone wear gloves and collect trash in your neighborhood or a park.

Table Decorations

This month enjoy your Family Dinner Book Club outside.  Grab a blanket and spread it out for everyone to sit on during your picnic.

Everyone can wear a vocabulary watch.  Simply cut out a watch shape from paper and write one vocabulary word from the story on each face.  Attach the ends together with tape.  Here are a few words from the story that would be great to discuss.

scrounge

lingered

mysteriously 

exhilarated

ventured

rebellious

Below you will find out when it is “time” it is to discuss the vocabulary words.

Write or glue your conversation starters onto 6 pieces of construction paper.  For each person in the club, make the same number of construction paper cards and label each “vocabulary time.”  Use a rock to keep all your cards from blowing away. You could even create a pet rock by decorating the rock with paint.  Here are some tips of painting rocks.

During dinner select one card at a time to read and discuss.  If you pick a “vocabulary time” card then one person will read the word on their watch and everyone can discuss.

Simple and easy ideas for decorations this month!

Menu

Head over to Daisy at Home to get your Runaway Ralph Dinner Menu.

We hope you are inspired to create a fun and meaningful Family Dinner Book Club with your own family. Remember that we want to see pictures of your dinner.  Please share them our special Family Dinner Book Club Facebook page.

Join us again next month for another Family Dinner Book Club!