The Cloud Spinner

Name: The Cloud Spinner
Author: Michael Catchpool

A story that explores integrity and opens a conversation with your child.

★★★★★ Loved by families

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♥ This book teaches: Integrity. doing what is right when no one is watching.

Before, During & After Reading

Guiding Questions for Parents.

Definition: Integrity means being honest, and responsible and respectful all the time, whether or not people can see what you’re doing. In short: Do the right thing, even when no one's looking. Summary: This is a beautifully illustrated magical tale of a boy who weaves clouds into cloth. One day when the boy is in the village, he is approached by the king. The king orders him to make him a large scarf, and other clothing for his family. The boy advises against this, but he dutifully does it. When he’s done, the clouds are all used up and the much-needed rain ceases. Fortunately, the princess takes all the clothing made from the clouds to the boy, who turns them back into clouds, and the rain comes again to replenish the fields. Lesson Objectives:

Students discuss what greed is and why it creates problems in this story and in real life. They practice the refrain in the story: “enough is enough, and not one stitch more.”

Guiding Questions:

What is the special talent the boy in this story has?
What does “enough is enough, and not one stitch more” mean?
What does the king want from the boy?
Why did the boy advise the king to not demand so much clothing from him?
What consequences happened after the boy supplied the king with all the clothing?
What do you think would happen if the boy refused to make the clothes for the king?
What did the princess do to save the village?
Most of us become greedy sometimes, when we want more and more of something, even though we’ve had enough. Is there a time when you’ve had greedy feelings? What happened? Did you get what you wanted? How did that make you feel?
It’s okay to really, really want something, as long as you need it, and are willing to make some effort to get it. Do you agree with this?
Can you give an example of something you’ve really, really wanted? What happened, did you get it, or not? Did you have to wait for it? Did you have to work for it?

🌿 Virtue Connection: Integrity means doing what is right even when no one is watching.

About the Story.

This guide is part of the Values & Virtues library, a free collection of 400+ book guides and activities organized around 12 core virtues for children from pre-K to 6th grade. Each guide includes Guiding Questions designed to open a real conversation with your child in 10 minutes or less.

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Integrity · Family Discussion Guide

The Cloud Spinner

by Michael Catchpool

Guiding Questions

Students discuss what greed is and why it creates problems in this story and in real life. They practice the refrain in the story: “enough is enough, and not one stitch more.”

Guiding Questions:

What is the special talent the boy in this story has?
What does “enough is enough, and not one stitch more” mean?
What does the king want from the boy?
Why did the boy advise the king to not demand so much clothing from him?
What consequences happened after the boy supplied the king with all the clothing?
What do you think would happen if the boy refused to make the clothes for the king?
What did the princess do to save the village?
Most of us become greedy sometimes, when we want more and more of something, even though we’ve had enough. Is there a time when you’ve had greedy feelings? What happened? Did you get what you wanted? How did that make you feel?
It’s okay to really, really want something, as long as you need it, and are willing to make some effort to get it. Do you agree with this?
Can you give an example of something you’ve really, really wanted? What happened, did you get it, or not? Did you have to wait for it? Did you have to work for it?

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The Cloud Spinner

Guiding Questions for Parents.

About the Story.

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The Cloud Spinner

Guiding Questions