As you know by now, Journey is wordless. During this reading, you will focus on the details in the illustrations and make predictions about the girl and her journey. During the Analysis, your child and you will construct a story to match the illustrations.
Pages 1 – 6:
~On pages 1 and 2, who is the main character? How does she seem to be feeling? From the evidence in the illustration, why might she be feeling this way? Find the other character with a crayon. What color is the crayon?
~Why might her scooter be red? Why is the rest of each illustration without color?
~On pages 3 and 4, why might her other toys be red?
~On page 6, what does she draw with her crayon?
~What do you see when she opens the door? Predict what is on the other side of the door?
Pages 7 – 10:
~Where does her door lead her? Could this be real, or is it make-believe?
~On page 10, why does she draw a boat? Where do you think the boat will take her? Why didn’t she draw any oars?
Pages 11 – 16:
This magnificent illustration is based on a real French castle, Mt. St. Michel, and a wonderful book, David Macauley’s Castle.
~On page 11 and 12, there is a gate that seems to be blocking her entrance to the castle. How will she get inside?
~On page 13 and 14, the guards are welcoming her. The people in the city seem to use boats for moving around within the castle. The waterways seem like streets.
~On page 15, there is a spot of purple. What do you think it is?
~On page 16, what does she draw next with her red crayon? Why?
Pages 17 – 22:
~On page 17, what do you think the girl and the guards might be saying to each other?
~On page 18, what do you see in the sky? ~Do you think this is taking place in the past, in the present, or in the future?
~On pages 19 and 20, what does the girl see happening? Do you think the men want to catch or shoot the bird?
Pages 23 – 26:
~On page 23, where has the girl landed? What might she be thinking?
~On page 26, why is she letting the bird out of the beautiful cage? What might the soldiers say to her?
Pages 27 – 30:
~On pages 27 and 28, what has happened to the red crayon? Now the girl is in a cage similar to the bird’s cage. Why is she in the cage? What might she be thinking?
~On pages 29 and 30, how did the bird gets the red crayon? How is the girl feeling now?
~What might she be drawing? How did the girl get out of the cage?
Pages 31 – 34:
~Do you see anything in the illustrations that you recognize? Where do you think they are going?
~On page 34, look at the palm tree. Where might this door lead?
Pages 35 – END:
~On page 35 and 36, note the color of the door in the palm tree. Why is it purple? Where do you think it leads?
~On page 37 and 38, who is the new character? He looks like he is running toward something? Toward what might he be running? What might the boy and girl be drawing with their crayons?
~On page 39, where do you think the boy and girl are going on their bike