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.
CONTEMPORARY FICTION SET IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND (2023)
On paper, things look fine. Sam Dennon recently inherited significant wealth from his uncle. As a respected architect, Sam spends his days thinking about the family needs and rich lives of his clients. But privately? Even his enduring love of amateur astronomy is on the wane. Sam has built a sustainable-architecture display home for himself but hasn’t yet moved into it, preferring to sleep in his cocoon of a campervan. Although they never announced it publicly, Sam’s wife and business partner ended their marriage years ago due to lack of intimacy, leaving Sam with the sense he is irreparably broken.
Now his beloved uncle has died. An intensifying fear manifests as health anxiety, with night terrors from a half-remembered early childhood event. To assuage the loneliness, Sam embarks on a Personal Happiness Project:
