%20(11).png)
.png)
FREE RESOURCES
- Space Girl & Space Cat -
Bye-Bye Earth
Chapter 1 Summary
Penelope presses her space helmet against the window of a spaceship, the TSR Intuition, as she looks at the moon. Penelope already misses her friends on Earth and is upset with her parents for making her leave. Her parents are Universal Investigators and are spending the next seven years traveling from planet to planet on a mission to solve unsolved mysteries. Penelope holds her favorite stuffed animal, Maverick, a tuxedo cat. She had made him a space helmet out of a small fishbowl for their journey. Penelope renamed Maverick Space Cat when she learned that they would be leaving Earth and deemed him her guide, protector, and only friend on their journey. The pilot’s voice comes over the loudspeaker, telling everyone onboard the TSR Intuition that they are nearly past the moon and will soon make the jump to hyperspeed. As the ship makes the jump to hyperspeed, Penelope watches Earth fade away in an instant. She will not see Earth for a long, long time.
Chapter 1 Discussion
Penelope is upset with her mother when she tells her to wave bye-bye to Earth because she already misses her friends. She won’t see them for seven years. How would you feel if you had to leave Earth and all your friends?
Penelope brings her favorite stuffed animal, a tuxedo cat named Maverick, on their journey into space. She thinks Maverick will be her guide, protector, and only friend. If you were going into space, what would you bring and why?
Chapter 2 Summary
The planet Karmaton is known for its seven purple moons and will be their first stop on their tour around the universe. At least one moon can always be seen from anywhere on the planet, and sometimes even three or four are visible. Landing always make Penelope nervous, as 87 percent of spaceship crashes occur during takeoff or landing. The landing goes far smoother than expected, and the spaceship is able to land with almost no resistance. On Karmaton, Penelope sees children playing in the distance and becomes upset again about missing her friends at home. Her mother told her this would be a brief trip; there would be no time to make friends. She kicks a rock for entertainment and hears a voice yell out to stop. After looking around and not finding the source of the voice, she kicks the rock again. To her surprise, the voice is coming from below. For the first time, Penelope encounters a talking rock.
Chapter 2 Discussion
Penelope is nervous about landing because 87 percent of spaceship crashes occur during takeoff or landing. Would you be nervous about landing? Can you tell me about another time that you were nervous?
Penelope comes across a talking rock after kicking the rock several times. How would you feel if you came across a talking rock?
Chapter 4 Summary
As Penelope catches up with her parents, her legs feel twice as heavy as they had previously, like gravity had doubled. Her father tells her they have come to Karmaton because remembering past lives makes the creatures on Karmaton very wise. They have come here to find her a traveling companion to teach her lessons along their journey. They arrive at a giant building with a large symbol of a pyramid with two stars above each side. Penelope’s father tells her it is the mark of a Certified Universal Guide. To become a Certified Universal Guide, one must have documented proof that they have traveled to over ten thousand different planets. Penelope insists this is impossible. Her father indicates that it is possible, but it may take more than one lifetime.
Chapter 4 Discussion
Penelope’s parents tell her that there are many things she hasn’t heard talk that truly do have a voice. If there was something in your life that could talk, what object would you want to talk to? What would you want it to say?
Penelope’s parents tell her that a living being must visit over ten thousand planets to become a Certified Universal Guide. They also tell her that it may take more than one lifetime. How many lifetimes do you think it would take to travel to over ten thousand planets?
Chapter 5 Summary
They enter through the doors to the building; purple light from the two moons currently visible on Karmaton makes it tough to see inside the building. Once her eyes adjust, Penelope is surprised to see an octopus at the front desk. She has a space helmet, but it is full of water, not air. To Penelope’s surprise, the octopus is not sitting at the desk. In fact, one tentacle is holding the phone, two tentacles are filing papers, three other tentacles are typing on a computer, one tentacle is writing something down on paper, and the final tentacle is holding the octopus up. She introduces herself as Olivia Octopus. Penelope’s dad tells her that they have an appointment with Mrs. Crab. Olivia Octopus presses a button on the wall. After several moments, Penelope is shocked when she looks down and sees a small crab with a smaller notebook. Penelope gently shakes her pincer, and they make their way to the meeting room.
Chapter 5 Discussion
Penelope and her parents meet Olivia Octopus, who is very good at doing many things at once with her eight tentacles. She works as a receptionist at a desk. Can you think of anything else that the octopus may be good at where she needs to do many things at once?
Penelope is going to get a Certified Universal Guide. This guide is going to be an animal. What kind of animal would you want as a Certified Universal Guide?
Chapter 6 Summary
The meeting room is modeled to match the cabin of the TSR Intuition. Mrs. Crab explains that they like to simulate the experience of the spacecraft as much as possible to make sure that they find the right fit. Mrs. Crab leaves the room and tells them that the first candidate will be in shortly. A bell rings overhead, and the door opens. To Penelope’s amazement, a small lizard walks in and tells them that his name is Gavin Gecko. Gavin, Penelope, and her family make pleasantries and introduce themselves. Gavin then asks Penelope to tell him about herself. He asks her what she likes to do. She tells him that she likes to hang out with her friend, Space Cat, and describes the cat. Suddenly, Gavin tells her that he cannot be her guide, and Penelope, who had started liking Gavin, starts to feel hopeless.
Chapter 6 Discussion
Gavin Gecko tells Penelope about his previous journeys with other kids and says he stays in contact with each of them. If you traveled for years with a talking gecko, would you stay in contact with him once you were done traveling?
Penelope feels hopeless when Gavin Gecko tells her that he cannot be her guide. How would you feel if you were Penelope?
Chapter 7 Summary
The bell rings again, and an unfamiliar voice from the doorway tells Penelope that Gavin cannot be her guide because he is meant to be her guide. Penelope cannot believe her eyes. The source of the voice is a cat, who looks like he is wearing a fancy tuxedo. Penelope is amazed and tells him that he looks just like her stuffed animal. The cat tells her that Gavin told him about her stuffed animal, and he has learned enough in his lifetimes to recognize when the universe is sending a sign. Penelope’s mother tells him that he is the perfect guide for Penelope. He also tells them that he heard that Penelope had a new nickname for him. She is excited that she will be able to call him Space Cat. Space Cat’s one condition is that he can call her Space Girl. She excitedly agrees. Things were looking up for Penelope, but she did not realize that taking off would be a much harder experience than landing on Karmaton.
Chapter 7 Discussion
Penelope nicknames her Certified Universal Guide Space Cat, and he calls her Space Girl. Would you give your guide a nickname? If so, what nickname? Would you want your Certified Universal Guide to give you a nickname? If so, what nickname?
Chapter 8 Summary
Space Girl asks Space Cat if he really has been to over ten thousand planets, and he tells her that he has. She asks him how he proved it, and he tells her that each planet provides a new experience and valuable lesson that can only be learned by actually being on the planet. The test to become a Certified Universal Guide is, therefore, a test about the lessons learned on each planet. Penelope tells him that is a lot of lessons, and he agrees. Little did Penelope know, Karmaton was about to teach her a lesson, and she was going to figure out the hard way.
Chapter 8 Discussion
Space Cat tells Penelope that the test to become a Certified Universal Guide is a test about the lessons learned on the ten thousand planets that the guide has visited. Many of you have likely only experienced life on Earth, can you tell me a lesson that you have learned on Earth? Is there anything else that you want to learn?
Chapter 9 Summary
When they arrive back at the spaceship, the pilot announces that they need to find their seats for takeoff. Space Girl tells Space Cat that she always gets nervous about taking off because 87 percent of spaceship crashes occur during takeoff or landing. Space Cat tells her to quiet her mind. She says that is easier said than done, so Space Cat teaches her a trick. He tells her to close her eyes and start wiggling the big toe on her right foot. Next, he tells her to wiggle the big toe on her left foot. He continues this process with each toe to help her quiet her mind. He tells her that she can always use this to quiet her mind in the future, instructing her to keep wiggling her toes until they leave Karmaton. The pilot counts down 3, 2, 1, while Space Girl wiggles her toes. She closes her eyes as he yells, “Blast Off!” However, when she opens her eyes, they haven’t moved. The pilot gives some bad news: they might be stuck there.
Chapter 9 Discussion
Space Cat teaches Space Girl to quiet her mind by wiggling her toes when she is nervous. Do you have any tricks to help calm yourself when you are nervous? Will you try wiggling your toes the next time you are?
The ship may be stuck on Karmaton. Can you think of any reasons why the ship may be stuck there?
Chapter 10 Summary
The pilot tells them that he does not understand the issue because the engines and all of his readings are fine. Space Cat asks the group if any of them have had any negative encounters since taking off. Space Girl thinks about her experience with the rock and tells them that she had a negative encounter. She tells them that she was disappointed about leaving her friends on Earth and was kicking a rock. Then, after talking to the rock, she dropped him to keep up with her parents. Space Cat tells the group that it is this encounter that has them stuck on Karmaton. When they landed, it felt like there was no gravity at all, but on Karmaton, what goes around comes around. There exists a force that keeps everyone and everything from floating away, but it isn’t until a negative deed is done that gravity takes hold of the individual. Space Girl remembers that she felt heavier after the incident with the rock. Space Girl fears they will be stuck there forever. Space Cat tells her that she only needs to find the rock and make amends to free herself from gravity’s hold on her. There is only one problem: she has no idea where the rock is.
Chapter 10 Discussion
Penelope finds out that Karmaton has a force of gravity holding her down that is keeping them from taking off. She also finds out that it is caused by her negative encounter with the rock that she kicked and dropped. She must make amends if she wants to leave Karmaton. Have you ever had a negative experience when you needed to ask for forgiveness? How did you feel before you asked? Did they forgive you? How did you feel after?
Chapter 11 Summary
Space Cat accompanies Space Girl and her family as they retrace their steps back to the building of the Certified Universal Guides, but they do not find the rock at first. Space Girl sits on a bench, to pout, when she hears the rock yell at her for being rude again. She has sat on the rock. She tells the rock that they have been looking everywhere for him. She apologizes and tells him she only sat on him by accident.
Space Girl asks the rock how he got up on the bench, and he tells her that a nice young girl felt bad for him after Space Girl dropped him and kindly moved him to the bench. He feels the bench will be a nice place to watch the sunset. She tries to make amends with the rock, but he refuses, telling her that she will be stuck on Karmaton forever.
Chapter 11 Discussion
The rock refuses to forgive Space Girl and tells her that she will be stuck there forever. Has anyone ever asked you to forgive them? Did you?
Chapter 12 Summary
Space Cat introduces himself to the rock and comments on the bench being a nice place to watch the sunset. Space Cat asks the rock if he has ever watched the sunset from a nearby hill, and he says that he has not. Space Cat tells him that the view will be much nicer because the hill will not block the view of the sun setting over the lake beyond the hill and asks the rock to close his eyes. The rock fights back at first, not trusting Space Cat because he is friends with the mean girl. Space Cat insists that Penelope is not mean, she is just learning how to be on Karmaton, and if he trusts Space Cat by closing his eyes and following his instructions, the rock may be able to help her learn. The rock reluctantly agrees to close his eyes, and Space Cat tells him to picture himself on the hill. He instructs the rock to take a deep breath and imagine the sunset over the hill, with the three purple moons bringing a nice purple glow to the red-orange of the setting sun. After a few moments, the rock lets out a sigh and agrees the scene in his mind is quite beautiful. Space Cat asks him if Space Girl can carry the rock up the hill to see the sunset, but he initially refuses. The rock tells Space Cat that he wants him to carry him, but Space Cat tells him that he cannot because his paws may drop him. Finally, the rock agrees that Space Girl may carry him up the hill.
Space Girl apologizes to the rock as they walk up the hill, and the rock relaxes. Space Girl begins to feel Karmaton’s gravity release its hold on her. Space Girl truly appreciates the feeling. The rock can’t believe the view upon reaching the top of the hill, and the view is as beautiful as he pictured in his mind. He asks Space Girl to keep holding him throughout the sunset because her hands are warm, and she is happy to do so. A single tear falls from his cheek as they watch the sunset, and the rock is very appreciative. Space Girl asks the rock if he would like to move anywhere else, as she will happily take him wherever he wants to go. The rock thanks her, but he chooses to stay on the hill so he can make more friends as they come to watch the sunset. They part ways as friends, as Space Girl feels the final weight of Karmaton’s gravity release. They are now ready to leave, but Space Girl has one more lesson left to learn on Karmaton.
Chapter 12 Discussion
The rock and Space Girl become friends at the end of the chapter. When was the last time that you made a new friend? How did it feel?
Chapter 13 Summary
Space Girl is delighted to see that Space Cat has his own miniature spacesuit, one that is a bit more official than Maverick’s fish bowl, he jokes. Space Cat asks how Karmaton made her feel. She felt anger and disappointment at first because she had to leave her friends. She felt excited when she met Space Cat. She felt awkward and embarrassed, at first, when she realized the effect that she had on the rock, feeling ashamed as she admitted her feelings. Space Cat tells her that she has nothing to be ashamed of, as she was simply learning how to be in a new place. Different beings and places can often lead to embarrassing experiences simply because one doesn’t know what is normal in the new place. Space Cat also tells her that she has taught the rock how to forgive. Space Girl tells him that it felt really good when the rock forgave her, and they were able to part ways as friends. Space Girl realizes that she will still miss her friends at home, but she is about to make many more. They click on their space helmets as the pilot announces that they are ready for takeoff.
Space Girl shoots Space Cat a nervous look as she remembers that 87 percent of spaceship crashes occur during takeoff or landing. Space Cat tells her to quiet her mind, and she remembers their last conversation when they previously tried to take off. She wiggles her toes as the spaceship takes off. As they take off, Space Cat lets out a loud, “MEOW!” which catches Space Girl off guard. He tells her that he talks, but he is still a cat. As they look out at Karmaton’s moons, he promises her both meows and moons during their time together. Space Girl doesn’t know it yet, but her learning experiences are only just beginning.
Chapter 13 Discussion
Penelope feels a lot of emotions during this chapter. She felt anger and disappointment at first because she had to leave her friends. She felt excited when she met Space Cat. She felt awkward and embarrassed for upsetting the rock. She felt really good when the rock forgave her. Can you tell me about a time that you felt angry? Can you tell me about a time that you felt disappointed? Can you tell me about a time that you felt awkward or embarrassed? Can you tell me about a time that you felt really good?