About This Book
Kate DiCamillo's "Raymie Nightingale" tells the poignant story of ten-year-old Raymie, whose father has just left her mother. Convinced that winning the Little Miss Central Florida Tire pageant will bring him back, Raymie dedicates herself to practicing baton twirling and performing good deeds. Along the way, she forms an unexpected and deep friendship with two other contestants: the dramatic Beverly Tapinski and the enigmatic Louisiana Elefante. This chapter book explores themes of loss, hope, resilience, and the power of friendship in navigating difficult family circumstances, making it suitable for readers aged 8-11.
Hoping that if she wins a local beauty pageant her father will come home, Raymie practices twirling a baton and performing good deeds as she is drawn into an unlikely friendship with a drama queen and a saboteur.
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Discussion Prompts
1
Why do you think Raymie believed winning the pageant would bring her father home?
2
How did Raymie, Beverly, and Louisiana help each other throughout the story?
3
What does it mean to be a good friend, and how do the girls show this?
4
What challenges did each girl face, and how did they show resilience?
External Reviews
Google Books
3/5 (3 ratings)
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