Room on the Broom

Product Information

Though directed at sons, the guidance presented is sensible for kids of all genders navigating life. This edition features the captivating classic story with a stunning, redesigned cover and beautiful finish, making it a must-have addition to the bookshelves of all Donaldson and Scheffler fans – big and small!

All of the animals in the story help the witch. Students can have discussions about why we help others. Why did the animals return the witch’s belongings? It could be that the animals care for the well-being of the witch. Or could it be that the animals have a self-interest to go on the broom? Could it be both? Is one reason better or worse as motivation to help others? Why did the witch let the animals on her broom? Would you have made room on the broom for the animals? The witch is grateful to the animals for saving her life. Think of things that you are grateful for. How could you say ‘thank you’ for these? Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler raises questions about what it means to be a friend, helping others, and teamwork. Throughout the story, many different animals help the witch collect items that she has lost. In return, she makes room for them on her broom. At the end of the book, the animals must unite and work together to save the witch from the mean dragon. The witch eventually makes room on the broom for a cat, dog, bird, and frog. Are all of these characters considered friends? Students can discuss what makes people friends. Would you have made friends with the witch? How do you treat your friends? Further, because the witch allows everyone on her broom, it snaps in two. Students can consider why the witch continued to make room on her broom when there wasn’t really room.

Look at the rhyming words in the book. Is there a pattern to the rhyming? Can you think of other words that rhyme? Peter Fogarty has kindly contributed a set of Thinking Hat resources linked to the book (see Resources below).

Questions for Philosophical Discussion » Summary Room on the Broom considers questions about friendship, helping others, and teamwork.The broom broke when the frog “jumped for joy.” Was it the frog’s fault that the broom broke? Who’s fault was it? Look at the different types of landscapes the witch flies over.Can you find similar landscapes near your local area using a map or an atlas? The book was made into an audiobook narrated by Josie Lawrence and adapted for the stage by Tall Stories Theatre Company in 2008, and has toured around the United Kingdom and the rest of the world since then. Look at the expressions of each of the characters in the illustrations. Can you describe how they are feeling? Could you draw your own pictures which show different people’s emotions?

Read the description of the ‘horrible beast’ that rises from the ditch and use it to draw the creature. Look at the use of punctuation within the story. Can you explain why each type of punctuation has been used?A witch and her cat fly around on a broom and the witch accidentally drops some of her things. Other animals on the ground return her items to her and ask for a ride on the broom. The witch says yes to them all, but is there room for all of these new friends? The dog, cat, frog, and bird all contributed to the statue to scare off the dragon. Would it have mattered if the frog had refused to help?