QUESTIONS FOR READERS ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH MUCH OF THE ENCYCLOPEDIA
- “Which animal would be the best model for a hair product?”
- “What monkey has the best facial hair?”
- “Which animal has the most ridiculous name?”
- “If you had to choose a(nother) middle name and you had to be named after an animal, which animal name would you choose for yourself?”
- “If animals could throw a talent show, which animal do you think would win and what talent would they display?”
- “Pick four animals to play in a rock band. What would the different animals play?”
- “If animals could have social media accounts, what kind of posts would your favourite animal make?”
- “If animals wore clothing, which animal do you think would have the best fashion sense?”
- “If animals starred in a reality TV show, what would it be called, and which animals would be the most dramatic contestants?”
- “Pick an animal as a travel companion. Where would you go and what would you do together?”
- “Which animal do you think would be the best candidate for a superhero movie, and what would their superpower be?”
- “If this had their own version of the Olympics, what sports would this animal excel at?”
- “Which animal from the encyclopedia would you invite to your dream dinner party, and what would you cook for them?”
- “Which animal would be the most likely to win a ‘Dance-Off’ competition, and what would their signature dance move be?”
- “If animals opened a fast-food restaurant, what dishes do you think they would serve, and what would they call it?”
- “If you could train any animal to talk, which talking animal would be of most use in solving crimes?”
- “If animals could write a bestselling novel, which animal would be the author, and what would the book be called?”
- “Which animal would you trust to plan a surprise party for you, and what kind of party do you think they’d throw?”
- “If animals had their own version of the Olympics, what would be the most hilarious event to watch?”
- “Which animal from the encyclopedia do you think would excel in a job interview, and what position would they be applying for?”
- “Which animal from the encyclopedia do you think would make the most interesting tour guide, and where would they take you on a tour?”
- “Which animal from the encyclopedia would you trust to give you relationship advice, and what wisdom do you think they’d share?”
- “If animals could participate in a cooking competition, which animal would win a ‘MasterChef’ competition, and what dish would they prepare?”
- “If animals hosted a sports tournament, which animal would be the referee, and which sport would they officiate?”
- “Which animal from the encyclopedia would be the most likely to write a bestselling self-help book, and what would its title be?”
- “If animals formed a circus, which animal would be the main attraction, and what would their act involve?”
- “If animals had their own version of the ‘Masters of Disguise’ competition, which animal would be the ultimate master of disguise, and how would they blend in?”
- “Which animal would excel in a karaoke contest, and what song do you think they’d choose to perform?”
- “If animals opened a theme park, what would be the most thrilling ride or attraction in the park, and which animal would operate it?”
- “Which animal would be the most likely to star in a ‘Day in the Life’ documentary, and what would their daily routine look like?”
OPEN TO A RANDOM PAGE AND PICK A RANDOM ANIMAL
- “If this animal could talk, who do you think it would sound like?”
- “Which human celebrity would be the best friend of this animal?”
- “What would this animal’s favourite TV show be, and why?”
- “If this animal were a superhero, what would its superpower be?”
- “Which animal from the encyclopedia would throw the wildest party, and what games would they play?”
- “If this animal went on a vacation, where would it choose to go?”
- “What do you think this animal dreams about when it’s sleeping?”
- “If this animal had a job, what profession would it excel in?”
- “If this animal had a catchphrase, what would it be?”
- “What fashion trend do you think this animal would start?”
- “If this animal had a dance style, how would it dance?”
- “What would this animal’s favourite type of music be, and why?”
- “If this animal were a chef, what kind of dish would it specialize in?”
- “What would this animal’s profile look like on an animal dating app?”
- “If this animal were a movie character, what role would it play in a film?”
- “If this animal starred in a reality TV show, what would it be called?”
- “What would be the title of this animal’s autobiography?”
- “If this animal could drive, what vehicle would it choose?”
- “If this animal were a stand-up comedian, what would its comedy routine be about?”
- “If this animal had a social media account, what would its username be?”
- “What do you think this animal’s hidden talent is?”
- “What would this animal’s signature dance move look like?”
- “If this animal could time travel, where and when would it go?”
- “What would be the name of this animal’s talk show, and who would be its first guest?”
- “If this animal hosted a game show, what would the grand prize be?”
- “What do you think this animal’s favourite fast-food restaurant is?”
- “If this animal were a detective, what kind of mysteries would it solve?”
- “What would this animal’s preferred mode of transportation be?”
- “If this animal had a bucket list, what would be at the top of it?”
- “What would this animal’s pet peeve be?”
- “If this animal were a motivational speaker, what would its catchphrase be?”
- “What would be the title of this animal’s hit song if it were a pop star?”
- “If this animal were a news anchor, what kind of stories would it cover?”
- “What do you think this animal would do on a rainy day?”
- “If this animal were a teacher, what subject would it teach?”
- “What would this animal’s New Year’s resolution be?”
- “If this animal were a game show contestant, what game show would it excel in?”
- “What would this animal’s favourite holiday be, and how would it celebrate?”
- “If this animal were a fashion designer, what would its fashion line look like?”
- “What would this animal’s favourite book or novel be, and why?”
- “If this animal could have a sidekick, what kind of sidekick would it choose?”
- “What would this animal’s go-to karaoke song be?”
- “If this animal had a favourite sport, what sport would it be, and why?”
- “What would this animal’s personal motto or mantra be?”
- “If this animal were a chef, what would its signature dish be, and what would it call it?”
- “What type of TV show do you think this animal would binge-watch?”
- “If this animal were a world leader, what global issue would it prioritize?”
- “What would this animal’s ideal day off look like?”
- “If this animal had a catchphrase, what situation would it use it in?”
- “What would be the title of this animal’s travel blog, and where would it document its adventures?”
EXTENDED ACTIVITIES FOR A RAINY DAY
- Animal Charactonyms
- A charactonym is a name especially for a fictional character (such as Mistress Quickly or Caspar Milquetoast) that suggests a distinctive trait of the character.
- Players select an animal from the encyclopedia and create a list of adjectives or traits that describe the animal’s personality, appearance, or behavior.
- They then share their charactonyms and see if others can guess which animal they are describing.
- Sketch cartoons to go with the charactonyms.
- Animal Alphabet Story
- Start with the letter ‘A’ and challenge players to collectively create a story where each sentence features an animal whose name starts with the next letter of the alphabet (e.g., “Aardvark ate bananas,” “Cheetah chased a deer,” etc.).
- Animal Haikus
- Have players write haikus (three-line poems with 5-7-5 syllable structure) about animals they choose from the encyclopedia.
- Share and discuss the haikus, and you can vote on the most creative or evocative ones.
- Build an Animal
- Players take turns drawing an animal body part (e.g., head, legs, tail) without seeing the previous player’s drawing.
- The goal is to create a unique and often hilarious composite animal by adding one body part at a time.
- Use the Animal Encyclopedia for inspiration.
- Animal Evolution
- Create a game where players choose an animal from the encyclopedia and then write a fictional evolutionary history for that animal.
- They describe how the animal’s physical and behavioral traits have changed over time.
- Players can then share their stories, and you can discuss the most imaginative evolution.
- Animal Drawing Challenge
- Players select an animal from the encyclopedia and draw it as accurately as they can.
- Then, they pass their drawing to the next player, who tries to redraw the animal from memory.
- Continue passing and redrawing until the original animal is reconstructed.
