Sassy Series #4- The Dazzle Disaster Party

Discussion Questions

Chapter 1 –The Mystery Limousine

1. Describe in detail the limousine that pulls up to their school.

2. What kind of speculation do the kids make? What kind of guess can you make about the mysterious car?

3. What does Sassy have in her Sassy Sack that fits this occasion?

4. Have you ever ridden in a limousine? Describe the experience. If you have not, what do you think it would be like?

5. Describe the new girl.

6. Why do you think she is not wearing a uniform like the other children?

7. How do you think the new girl feels?

8. Why do they assume that the driver is not her father?

9. Give two guesses about who you think the new girl might be and why she would show up to school in a limo?

Chapter 2 –The New Girl

1. Why does Sassy like her school?

2. Describe Mrs. Armstrong.

3. Sassy lists ten things she observes about the new girl. List the two observations that you think are most important and tell why.

4. What conclusions can you make about Lillian and Sassy at this point in the story?

5. Why does Sassy stay with Lillian in the classroom during lunch?

6. Give two interesting facts that Lillian tells about herself.

7. Why do you think Lillian is so sad?

8. Have you ever been the new student? How does it feel on the first day? If you have never been the new kid in the class, how do you think it feels?

Chapter 3—Experience and Explore

1. What does Sassy give to Lillian as a gift?

2. What does Lillian think of Sassy’s Sack and why?

3. What does Lillian think of uniforms? How do you know?

4. What is a “Creative Experience Project?”

5. Describe Mr. C. Why do the students like him?

6. Sassy’s friends are excited about working in the computer lab. What is your experience with computers or laptops or tablets or smart phones?

7. What does Mr. C say about Sassy’s Sack?

8. How do Sassy and her friends respond to Mr. C? Why?

9. How does Sassy tell Lillian about the kids in the class?

10. How do you know that Sassy and Lillian and Jasmine will be friends?

Chapter 4—Computers and Creations

1. Describe the new computer lab.

2. How can you tell Mr. C is a good teacher?

3. What does Sassy find in her sack that helps Mr. C?

4. What do the students tell Mr. C about their computer awareness? 

5. What does that tell you about the difference between students and adults when dealing with technology? 

6. What is Holly planning to do for a project? Why?

7. What is Jasmine planning to do for a project? Why?

8. What is Lillian planning to do for a project? 

9. What can you tell about Lillian’s life and about how she feels sometimes?

10. What is Sassy planning to do for a project? Why do you think she chose this idea?

Chapter 5—Dreaming of a Dinner Party

1. Recount on of the computer jokes.

2. What is research?

3. What does Sassy discover as she does her research?

4. How is Lillian starting to fit in? 

5. Why is Lillian still a mystery in some ways? 

6. List a few questions about Lillian that still have no answers.

7. Why does Sassy need recipes and menus?

8. Who does Sassy decide to invite to the dinner party?

9. What is an RSVP?

10. What else do you think Sassy will need to complete her project?

Chapter 6—Lima Beans and a Boom Box

1. How can you tell Sassy is not crazy about her school uniform?

2. What is Sassy's mom cooking for dinner, and why is Sassy so interested?

3. What is a “Bologna Bowl?”

4. How does Sassy tell her mother about her project idea? Why does Sassy want it to be “dazzling?”

5. Describe Sassy’s brother, Sabin.

6. Why is Sassy’s mother worried about her using the stove?

7. Describe Sassy’s sister, Sadora.

8. How does Sadora offer to help Sassy with her project? What does this tell you about their relationship?

9. Describe Sassy’s father and his old fashioned music player. 

10. How does Sassy and her sack help her father and her family?

Chapter 7—Creating Invitations

1. What does Sassy’s mom say about the dinner party?

2. What problems can you foresee that might happen with twenty-five children in a house or a kitchen?

3. Define the word “extravaganza.” Why does Sassy like that word?

4. How can you tell that Sassy has done her research well?

5. Why do you think she chose “healthy stuff” for her menu?

6. Describe Sassy’s invitations.

7. How does her mother help with the invitations?

8. How does her sister help? 

9. What do you predict will happen when the students receive Sassy’s invitations?

Chapter 8—A Surprise from the Sassy Sack

1. How do you know that Lillian is becoming a good friend to Sassy and her friends?

2. Why is it no longer important to Sassy and her friends where Lillian lives or whether she is rich?

3. What does Sassy have in her sack that morning? 

4. How do you know that Sassy doesn’t really want Mrs. Armstrong or Mr. C to come to the dinner party?

5. Draw a picture or write a paragraph with a detailed description of Sassy’s invitations.

6. Why do you think it might not be possible for Lillian to come to Sassy’s diner party?

7. Describe Mr. Olsen.

8. How can you tell Mr. Olsen is a good teacher?

9. What do the students think of Sassy’s project plans? Give specific examples of their reactions.

10. How does Lillian react and what does this tell you about her?

Chapter 9—Zooming with a Shopping Cart

1. Why is Sassy up so early on Saturday?

2. Why would coupons be important for the grocery trip?

3. Sassy says, “I feel like those eggs this morning—all scrambled and runny and broken.” Explain what she means.

4. How many students are planning to come to the party? How would you plan to feed that many people?

5. Describe the inside of the grocery story as Sassy sees it.

6. What is the difference between cabbage and lettuce?

7. Why does Sassy take pictures of everything during the shopping trip?

8. How does math help during the shopping trip. Give two examples.

9. Sassy says to her mom, “Nothing will go wrong. Promise. Promise. Promise.” From that statement, what can you predict?

Chapter 10—Cooking in a Thunderstorm

1. Why does Sassy decide to name each item on her menu?

2. Describe Sassy’s Red Frozen Sparkle Sickles.” 

3. How does her mother help without helping as Sassy prepares the food?

4. Describe the relationship between Sassy and her brother.

5. Describe Sassy’s Orange Supreme Frozen Pie.

6. What is a “sieve?”

7. How does thunder rumbling in the distance add “mood” or feeling to the chapter?

8. Describe what each member of Sassy’s family is doing at the end of the chapter.

9. The storm caused the power to go out. What does this mean for Sassy’s food in the refrigerator? 

Chapter 11—What Should I Wear to my Party?

1. Describe a time when you were in a storm or a time when the power went out in your house? 

2. What do we realize when we don’t have electricity?

3. How does Sadora react to the power outage?

4. How does Sassy’s family react to the lack of power?

5. What does Sassy realize about her food in the freezer?

6. What does Sassy decide to wear for her party?

7. Why does Sassy dislike her school uniform?

8. What did Sassy forget to do with her Red Frozen Sparkle Sickles? 

9. Define the word “chef.”

10. Make a prediction: What is Lillian’s secret?

Chapter 12—The Party is Tomorrow!

1. What does Sassy discover about some of her menu items?

2. How does she decide who will prepare what recipes?

3. Define the word “kaleidoscope.”

4. Describe Sassy’s Amazing Kaleidoscope No-Bake Fruit Pizza.”

5. How does Sassy stop the fruit on the pizza from turning brown?

6. What do Sassy and Jasmine learn about cooking and preparing food?

7. Describe the recipe pages that Sassy and Jasmine prepare.

8. What other preparations do they make for the party?

9. Describe an event that you had to plan, or describe an event you would like to plan.

10. Make a prediction: How successful will the party be?

Chapter 13—Almost Disaster

1. What is the weather like on the morning of the party?

2. What has happened to Jasmine’s socks?

3. List two things Sassy discovers about Sabin that morning.

4. What happened to Sassy’s recipe sheets?

5. Why is Sassy worried about what Zero might do at the party?

6. How does Sadora show that she loves her little sister and cares about her happiness?

7. What does “break a leg” mean?

8. Describe how to make Jasmine’s Famous Banana Pudding.

9. How do you think Sassy feels about the upcoming party?

Chapter 14—The Kitchen is Purple!

1. Who arrives at the party first?

2. What is dirt pudding and how do you make it?

3. What does Carmelita bring to the party?

4. Describe how to make a strawberry mouse.

5. Describe the disasters that occur. Write them in the order that each happened.

6. What does Zero do to add to the problems?

7. How do you think Sassy feels as she opens the door for Lillian?

Chapter 15—Lillian’s Surprise

1. Draw a picture or write a paragraph describing Sassy’s suddenly purple kitchen.

2. How does Sassy’s mother react? What could have been her reaction instead?

3. How do the kids react to Sassy’s fruit pizzas and the rest of the party?

4. Describe how Lillian reacts at the party compared to how she acted on her first day at Sassy’s school.

5. How does Sassy show that she is not mad at her brother?

6. What does Lillian bring as gifts for each person? How would you make Lillian’s fishbowls?

7. What is Lillian’s big announcement about her parents and how she lives?

8. What is Lillian’s other huge surprise for everyone?

9. How do you think Sassy feels as she thanks her mother? How do you know they are very close?

10. How do you think Sassy and her friends felt as they rode in the limo?

Extra Credit:

Make a list of all the photos that were taken for the party by Sassy, by her mother, and by Sadora. Sketch a few of them if you like to draw. Or prepare a photo essay.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES: 

Use the internet, or an encyclopedia, or books to find out more about the following: 

A. Information to explore and discover. 

1. Limousines

2. Whales

3. Computer Technology

4. Recipes

5. Grocery Shopping

6. Cooking and Menu Preparing

7. Photography

8. Electric Power Outages

9. School research projects

10. Creative approaches to healthy food

B. Jobs to explore:

1. Computer teacher

2. Chef

3. Photographer

4. Meteorologist

5. Program Designer

6. Event Planner

7. Recipe designer

8. Grocery Store Manager

9. Grocery Clerk

10. Limousine Driver

C. Writing activities:

1. Write a poem or story about being new in a school.

2. Write a story, with you as the main character, about you in a storm. It can be real or made up.

3. Create a menu like Sassy did. Draw a picture of something in your menu.

4. Write a poem or story about friendship.

5. Write a poem or story about feeling lonely or sad.

6. Write a poem or story about family.

7. Write a newspaper story about Sassy’s party.

8. Pretend you are Sassy and write a journal entry the party and all that happened.

9. Write a poem or story about creating a dazzling world for yourself.

Bonus! Sassy’s Delicious and Delightful Recipes

Please note: None of these require the stove. Two need a microwave for one minute. One needs a blender. The rest are all kid-friendly, healthy, and safe. And colorful!

Sassy’s Red Frozen Sparkle Sickles

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pineapple juice

• 1 cup red fruit punch

• 1 cup applesauce

• ½ cup crushed pineapple

• ¼ cup sugar

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl

2. Pour into ice cube trays (A tray with fun shapes is even better!)

3. Place in freezer

4. Add popsicle sticks after one hour 

5. Remove when frozen and enjoy! 

Sassy’s Dazzling Banana Chocolate Sprinkle Delight

Ingredients:

• 6 medium bananas

• 1 container liquid chocolate ice cream topping

• 1 container of multi-color candy sprinkles

• 1 bag crushed walnuts (or granola)

• 1 package popsicle sticks

Directions:

1. Slice bananas in half lengthwise

2. Place on waxed paper or a plastic tray

3. Insert stick into each banana half

4. Place in freezer for ½ hour

5. Pour chocolate into a deep bowl

6. Warm in microwave for one minute until it is soft 

7. Place sprinkles on a flat plate

8. Dip bananas into chocolate

9. Then roll chocolate-covered bananas in sprinkles

10. Chill until ready to serve

Sassy’s Yummy Strawberry Mice

Ingredients:

• 10-15 Fresh Strawberries

• 1 package mini chocolate chips

• 1 package red string licorice

• 1 package small almond chips 

• Small chunks of cheese (any kind)

Directions:

1. Slice a piece from the strawberry so it lies flat.

2. Press a mini chocolate chip into the pointed end of the strawberry for a nose.

3. Press two tiny pieces of chocolate for the eyes

4. Stick in two almond slivers for the ears

5. Add red string licorice for the tail (You might need a toothpick or fork to help make the hole for the tail)

6. Serve with chucks of cheese so the mice can eat, too! 

Sassy’s Technicolor Fruit on a Stick

Ingredients:

• 1 package of fruit or meat skewers (long, pointed skinny sticks)

• Pick from any or all of the following fruits: (or add your own)

• Sliced cantaloupe

• Sliced honeydew

• Sliced kiwi

• Whole strawberries (small)

• Grapes, both red and green, seedless

• Pineapple chunks

Directions:

1. Wash all fruit

2. Cut fruit into bite-sized chunks 

3. Place 6-7 pieces on each skewer, alternating colors, shapes, and textures

4. Be sure to leave space at each end of the skewer for easy handling.

5. Drizzle with lemon juice or pineapple juice to prevent browning

6. Keep them in a re-sealable plastic bag or plastic container until you are ready to serve them.

Sassy’s Purple Passion Milkshake

Ingredients:

• 3 cups vanilla ice cream

• 1 cup milk

• 1 cup grape juice

• 1 cup vanilla yogurt

• 2 large bananas

• ¼ cup sugar

• 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Place all the ingredients into a blender

2. Make sure the top is on tight

3. Blend on low for one minute, or until creamy

4. Pour into clear glasses and enjoy!

Sassy’s Orange Supreme Frozen Pie  

Ingredients:

• 1 9-inch graham cracker crust

• 1 container of non-dairy whipped topping (like Cool Whip)

• 1 cup canned mandarin orange slices

• 1 cup orange-flavored yogurt

Directions:

1. Combine yogurt and whipped topping in a bowl and stir

2. Drain juice from mandarin oranges

3. Stir oranges into mixture in bowl (Leave a few out for decorating)

4. Spoon into pie shell

5. Cover with more whipped topping

6. Add a few orange slices on top for decorating

7. Cover with plastic wrap and place in freezer until ready to serve

Sassy’s Amazing Kaleidoscope No-Bake Fruit Pizza

Ingredients:

• 1 pizza pan (disposable ones are sold at lots of stores)

• 1 large box of Graham crackers (or Graham cracker crumbs)

• 1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened

• 1/3 cup sugar

• 1 package of cream cheese, softened

• 1 cup apple jelly, melted

• 2 tablespoons apricot jam

• 1 ½ teaspoons water

• 1 container of non-dairy whipped topping (like Cool Whip)

• Pick from any or all of the following fruits: (or add your own)

• Strawberries

• Blueberries

• Raspberries

• Blackberries

• Bananas

• Kiwi

• Peaches

• Pineapples

Directions:

1. Mix apricot jam with water in a small cup

2. Slice your fruit into flat, bite-sized pieces

3. Dab the fruit with the jam/water mixture. (It will keep the fruit from turning brown)

4. Break graham crackers into pieces

5. Place in a zip lock bag and smash them into tiny fragments! (You can also buy Graham cracker crumbs in a box, but it’s not as much fun!) 

6. Wash your hands

7. Pour graham cracker crumbs into a bowl 

8. Add soft butter and cream cheese

9. Mix the batter with your hands and spread it onto the pan (This is your crust)

10. Spread the apple jelly over your crust as the next layer 

11. Spread the whole container of non-dairy whipped topping (like Cool Whip) as your next layer

12. Carefully place your fruit around the circle in a colorful, tasty pattern

13. Cover with plastic wrap and chill until served

Sassy’s Bubble-Gum Pink (or Bubble-Gum Blue) Bubbly Soda

Ingredients:

• 1 large bottle of white grape juice

• 1 two-liter 7-Up (or similar product)

• 2 cups strawberry sherbet (or blueberry sherbet for the blue soda)

• 4 drops red food color (or blue food color for the blue soda)

Directions:

1. Add food coloring to the white grape juice

2. Pour the two liquids into a large pitcher

3. Add sherbet and serve

Sassy’s Glamorous Green Shake-A-Pudding  

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of milk

• 1 small box of vanilla instant pudding

• 4-5 drops of green food coloring

• 1 jar with a top

Directions:

1. Pour milk into jar

2. Add instant pudding

3. Add food coloring

4. Put the lid on the jar and shake it, shake it, shake it!

5. Pour the pudding into small bowls and enjoy!

Carmelita’s No Bake Peanut Butter Balls 

Ingredients:

• ½ cup peanut butter

• ½ cup honey

• 2 tablespoons powdered milk (or powdered sugar)

• 1 cup crushed breakfast cereal (corn flakes or frosted flakes works well)

Directions:

1. Crush the corn flakes by placing them in a zip lock bag and smashing them.

2. Set the corn flakes aside for a moment.

3. Wash your hands

4. Mix all the other ingredients together in a bowl

5. Roll the peanut butter batter into balls

6. Roll each ball in the corn flakes until it is covered

7. Place each ball on a plate. Cover with plastic.

8. Refrigerate until time to serve.

Travis’s Dirt Pudding  

Ingredients:

• 1 box of instant chocolate pudding OR 1 carton of pre-made chocolate pudding

• 1 package of dark chocolate cookies

• 1 package of gummy worms

Directions:

1. Make the chocolate pudding according to the directions on the box

2. Crush the cookies into teeny pieces. Use the back of a spoon or place in a zip-lock bag and smash them!

3. Stir the crushed cookies into the pudding

4. Place the dirt pudding into small bowls

5. Sprinkle remaining cookie crumbs over the op of the pudding

6. Stick gummy worms into the pudding for effect

Jasmine’s Creamy Banana Pudding

Ingredients:

• 2 ¼ cups of milk

• 1 small box of banana instant pudding

• 1 box vanilla wafers

• 6-8 bananas

Directions:

1. Slice the bananas into vanilla wafer-sized pieces

2. Line a large bowl with the banana slices—from bottom to top and around the sides

3. Place vanilla wafers on top of each banana

4. Add another layer of bananas on top of the wafers

5. Add another layer of vanilla wafers

6. Continue until the bowl is almost full of bananas and wafers 

7. Make the banana pudding according to the directions on the box

8. Before it starts to set, pour the liquid pudding over the cookies and bananas

9. Decorate the top with extra cookies

10. Cover with plastic and refrigerate

Lillian’s Edible Fishbowl

Ingredients:

• 1 small clean glass fishbowl

• 2 packages of blueberry gelatin

• ½ cup grapes

• ½ cup blueberries

• 1 package gummy fish

• 1 package gummy worms

• 1 package gummy sharks

• 1 package gummy flowers

• 1 package thick pretzels rods

• 1 package red string licorice

Directions:

1. Prepare gelatin according to directions and place in a small bowl 

2. Refrigerate for one hour

3. While the Jell-O is gelling, add blueberries and grapes to bottom of fish bowl. (These are the rocks on the bottom)

4. While it is still soft-set, spoon the gelatin over the fruit. (This is the water)

5. Push the gummy fish and sharks and flowers into the gelatin

6. Place in refrigerator. Serve cold.

7. To make the fishing poles, tie the red string licorice to a gummy worm and place on top of the fish bowl

Sassy’s Pizza Pizzazz Bagel Sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 6-10 mini bagels

• 1 cup spaghetti or pizza sauce—your choice

• A variety of sliced cheeses—your choice

• Sliced pepperoni or baloney

Directions:

1. Cut bagels in half

2. Spread pizza sauce on each slice

3. Cut cheese to fit and place as next layer

4. Cut baloney to fit or add pepperoni as next layer

5. Top with another layer of cheese

6. Place in microwave for one minute or until cheese is melted

7. Serve warm

Sassy’s Sizzling Baloney Bowls

Ingredients:

• 1 package of thick-sliced baloney

• 1 package of sliced cheese

Directions:

1. Place one slice of baloney on a paper plate

2. Break cheese into several pieces

3. Place pieces of cheese in the center of the piece of baloney

4. Microwave for one minute

5. As it cooks, the baloney will curve into a bowl that holds the melted cheese

6. Serve immediately while still warm

Sassy’s Sassy Sandwiches

Ingredients:

• An assortment of fun-shaped cookie cutters

• Sliced bread—whole wheat or white—your choice

• A variety of sliced lunch meats—chicken, turkey, ham, or beef

• Sliced cheese—your choice

• Lettuce

• Sliced tomatoes

• Sliced onions

• Mayonnaise

• Ketchup

• Mustard

Directions:

1. Choose your bread and your lunchmeat

2. Choose a cookie cutter

3. Cut your bread and meat into matching shapes

4. Stack your sandwich with condiments of your choice

5. Add ketchup, mustard, and/or mayonnaise for flavor and color

6. Enjoy your custom-made, fun shaped sandwich!

Sassy’s Smart Sandwich Wraps

Ingredients:

• All of the leftover meat and bread from Sassy’s Sassy Sandwiches

• All of the leftover tomatoes and onions from Sassy’s Sassy Sandwiches

• Soft sandwich wraps—red or green or plain

• 1 bag of shredded cheese—your choice

• ¼ cup mayonnaise or soft cream cheese

Directions:

1. Chop all ingredients into very small pieces

2. Toss everything into a mixing bowl

3. Mix all leftovers with the shredded cheese and the mayonnaise (or cream cheese)

4. Place the wrap filling into the soft shells

5. Fold the shells and serve, or refrigerate and save for later.

6. Looks ugly—tastes great!