Why?

Nikolai Popov

Discussion Guide by:   Pat Bowes

Setting:  A meadow

Main Characters:  Frogs and Mice

Topics/Themes:
Escalation of the war
Peace
Conflict
Conflict Resolution
Arms Race
Human Nature

Prereading Activity:
Ask the students the following questions:
1) Look at the cover.  How does the frog feel?  How do you know?
2) What do you think the title means?  What do you think this book is about?
3) If a bully on the playground suddenly took a ball you were playing with, what would
     you do?  What would you do if there were no adults around?
    (Optional - question #3 is also in the discussion guide.)
 

Activity:
: Role play a scene where a student is playing with a ball outside, then suddenly a bully comes and takes the ball.  Have the child go get bigger friends and have them attack the bully and retrieve the ball.  The bully then returns with more of his or her friends and a fight ensues.  Gradually escalate the activity by introducing weapons and more and more students into the battle.  Have the students then go into a tableau where many students are hurt and crying.  Play serious melancholy music.  Hold the tableau for several minutes, pulling students one by one to a front area so they can each see the entire tableau while the music is playing.  Pull the group together and ask the students one question.   Why?

: Play the song, “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?”  by Pete Seeger.
  Ask the students to listen to the words and apply the message of the song to the
  story Why? by Nikolai Popov.
  Distribute the words of the song to help the students with their understanding.
 

Discussion Guide

1) What is the initial reaction of the frog when he sees the mouse?

2) Are there plenty of flowers in the meadow?

3) Why did the mouse attack the frog?

4) Why did the frogs fight back?  What else could they have done?  If you say nothing,
     what would have prevented the mice from doing even worse things?

5) Look at the colors of the background on each page.  What is happening to the
     colors as the story progresses?  Why did author/illustrator Nikolai Popov use the
     colors he chose?

6) Does war make sense?

7) Why do people fight wars?  Why do kids fight on playgrounds?  Why do brothers
     and sisters fight?

8) If a bully on the playground suddenly took a ball you were playing with, what would
     you do?  What would you do if there were no adults around?

9) Why do some kids do things like that?

10) What can you do to help prevent war from ever happening again?

11) Based on what you have learned thus far, how do you intend to live the rest of your
       life?


 
Why?
Nikolai Popov
   One day a frog is peacefully smelling a flower he has just picked, when a mouse jumps out of a nearby hole and kicks the flower from the frog's hand. The mouse leaps away with the flower and the frog simply shrugs, as if to say, "Why would he do that? There's plenty of flowers here for everyone." The frog and his friends enjoy the other flowers until the mouse returns in a tank and fires missiles at them. The conflict escalates in this wordless picture book as the frogs take action to defend themselves against the aggressive army of mice. The first few pages are lush and green but as the story unfolds, the illustrations become increasingly darker until they are almost entirely black and gray. Finally, only one mouse and one frog remain on the somber battle field. Why did the frog fight back? How else could the frogs have dealt with the bullies? The message in this book is obviously that war is not the answer. In the author's note, Nikolai Popov describes some of his childhood memories that inspired this book. His images of a Nazi invaded Russia and the horrific post-war destruction are vivid reasons for creating a book about the senselessness of war. 1996, North-South, Ages 7 to 9, $15.95, $15.88 and $6.95.
Reviewer: Sally J. K. Davies

Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
by Pete Seeger
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the flowers gone?
The girls have them, ev’ry one.
Oh, when will you ever learn?
Oh, when will you ever learn?

Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the young girls gone?
They’ve taken husbands, every one.
Oh, when will you ever learn?
Oh, when will you ever learn?

Where have all the young men gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the young men gone?
They’re all in uniform.
Oh, when will you ever learn?
Oh, when will you ever learn?

Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the soldiers gone?
They’ve gone to graveyards, every one.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the graveyards gone?
They’re covered with flowers, every one.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls picked them, every one.
Oh when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?