Grades 6 - 8
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Winnie Foster finds a hidden spring in a nearby wood and meets the Tuck family, whose members reveal their astonishing discovery of the spring’s life-changing power. Now Winnie must decide what to do with her newfound knowledge—and the Tucks must decide what to do with her. But a suspicious stranger is also searching for the Tucks, and he will stop at nothing until he finds them and uncovers their secret.
A staple on home bookshelves and in classrooms and libraries, Tuck Everlasting has captivated readers of all ages for half a century.
Tuck Everlasting: The Graphic Novel
by K. Woodman-Maynard
From Newbery Honoree and E. B. White Award winner Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting is a modern-day masterpiece that has been a staple on home bookshelves and in classrooms and libraries for half a century. Drawing closely from the original text, it is now brought to visual life in K. Woodman-Maynard’s gorgeous watercolor artwork. The perfect book for new readers and long-devoted fans alike, Tuck Everlasting: The Graphic Novel is sure to be an all-time favorite for every generation.
Discussion Questions
- This classic novel has been adapted into a graphic novel. Do you prefer reading novels or graphic novels? Why?
- At the beginning of the story, Winnie encounters a toad. The toad appears again later in the story. Why is this toad important to the story?
- Each character Winnie encounters has a unique perspective on the spring. How does your view of the spring change as the story unfolds and you hear different perspectives?
- Would you choose to drink the spring water and stay the same age forever? Why or why not?
Activities
- Pick a favorite scene from the graphic novel and compare it to the original novel. Has anything been changed in the adaptation? What does the graphic novel format add to the storytelling? What is lost in the graphic novel adaptation?
- Watch the Tuck Everlasting movie.
- Read about the illustrator’s artistic process in the back of the graphic novel. Create your own piece of ink and watercolor art inspired by the art in this book. Attend Tween Drawing Club: Watercolor at the library on Thursday, March 26 from 6-7 PM for art activities inspired by the graphic novel. Grades 2-8. Register here for the program!
- Imagine the Tucks are coming through your town 80 years from now. Create a time capsule to be opened 80 years in the future. Choose objects that you think represent your life and the world around you now.