A

Curriculum Guide for

Educators & Readers
Aligned to the Common Core Grades 3-7

Discussion points, activities, and

writing prompts to help educators use
Elvis and the World As It Stands as a
classroom read aloud or as a selection
for independent reading. Great for
book clubs, too!

About the Author

Lisa Frenkel Riddiough is a Northern California-based
writer who earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young
Adults from Hamline University. She is a former sales executive,
an avid squirrel watcher, a frequent baker of chocolate pound
cake, and an exclamation point enthusiast! Elvis and the World
As It Stands is her debut novel.

Guide content © Copyright 2022 by Marcie Colleen. Available free of charge for educational use
only; may not be published or sold without express written permission. Marcie Colleen is an
education guide creator and a former teacher with a BA in English Education from Oswego State and
MA in Educational Theater from NYU. Marcie can often be found writing her own books at home in
San Diego, California. Visit her at http://www.thisismarciecolleen.com/.

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About the Book
"Riddiough has lovingly crafted a group of fully realized animal characters—even a
fish—as well as three sometimes-mystifying humans, all of whom share their hopes and
tribulations and demonstrate that not all happy families look alike. . .This gentle effort
will leave engaged readers purring contentedly." Kirkus Reviews

"Riddiough’s debut doesn’t shy away from sadness or struggle, including a thoughtful
discussion of 9/11, with the animal antics providing a lighter framework for tough
topics. A playful and poignant exploration of family, in all its forms." Booklist

"Readers will race to find out how everything ends, with character growth and plenty of
failed escape attempts before the satisfying conclusion." School Library Journal

Most shelter animals dream of going home with a forever family. But for Elvis, being
chosen by Mrs. Pemberton is a nightmare. He’s been separated from his sister, Etta,
and is determined to get back to the shelter to find her. In spite of himself, Elvis
becomes curious about ten-year-old Georgina Pemberton, who builds LEGO skyscrapers
in her bedroom while navigating her parents’ separation. The longer he’s in his new
home, the more he starts recognizing new feelings: admiration for Georgina’s creations,
affection for the other pets, and even sympathy for the Pembertons—despite their
inability to listen.

As Georgina sets out to build her most important skyscrapers yet—the Twin Towers—
Elvis realizes that maybe both humans and animals can take a page from Georgina’s Big
Book of American Architecture and “build a world of their own choosing,” even if the
choices aren’t what they’d initially expected.

Common Core Aligned for Grades 3-7

3rd grade: ELA. RL.3.1,2,3,4,6,7; W.3.1,2,3; SL.3.1,2,4; L.3.4,5

4th grade: ELA. RL.4.1,2,3,4,6,7; W.4.1,2,3; SL.4.1,2,4; L.4.4,5

5th grade: ELA. RL.5.1,2,3,4,6,7; W.5.1,2,3; SL.5.1,2,4,5; L.5.4,5

6th grade: ELA. RL.6.1,2,3,4; W.6.1,2,3,4,7,8,9; SL.6.1,2,3,4,5; L.6.4,5

7th grade: ELA. RL.7.1,2,4; W.7.1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9; SL.7.1,2,3,4,5; L.7,4,5

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Before You Read…
1. Take a close look at the front cover of Elvis and the World As It Stands. Create a
list of everything you see.

2. Can you make any predictions about the main characters, Elvis and Georgina
Pemberton? Why do you think there is a hamster on the cover, too? What from
the illustration and title of the book supports your prediction?

3. Can you predict what this book might be about?

4. Read the text on the jacket flap. What do you learn about the book from this
text?

5. Look closely at the design of the book: the colors, text, illustrations, and word
choice. How would you describe the design?

6. Who do you think is the intended audience for this book? If you saw this book on
the shelf, would you want to read it? Why or why not?

Write one paragraph describing your thoughts about the book and include one question
you have that you hope to learn the answer to when you read. Share your paragraph
with the class.

Chapters 1-7

1. Using specific examples from Chapter One as evidence, describe life at the
shelter, include the following in your
description:
Who is Elvis?
a. Carly
Draw an outline of a cat figure, which will
b. Etta represent Elvis, on a large piece of paper.

c. The whiteboard calendar Using Chapters 1-7 as evidence, write any

known details about Elvis inside the outline.
d. Rupert
Outside the outline, record any questions
e. The Second Chance Club you may have about Elvis.

f. The alphabet book

2. What is so special about the Fourth of July at the shelter?

a. Elvis and Etta long for a “forever home.” What is a forever home?

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 b. Create a list of what Elvis and Etta imagine their forever home to be.

3. Describe what happened at the Fourth of July Adoption Extravaganza through

the following characters’ points-of-view:

a. Elvis

b. Etta

c. Carly

d. Mrs. Pemberton

e. Rupert
Who is Georgina?
4. Draw a picture of Georgina’s room. Be
sure to include all details as described Draw an outline of a human figure, which
will represent Georgina, on a large piece of
in Elvis and the World As It Stands.
paper.
5. Write 2-3 sentences each describing the
Using Chapters 1-7 as evidence, write any
other pets at the Pemberton house.
known details about Georgina inside the
a. Mo outline.

b. Laverne Outside the outline, record any questions

you may have about Georgina.
c. Clementine

6. Mo says “You’ve got to keep your eyes focused on the positive. Don’t look back.”
What do you think he means by this?

a. How might this advice relate to Elvis’s situation?

b. How might this advice relate to Georgina’s situation?

7. Georgina’s mom says that “sometimes plans change.” What is she referring to?
And how does Georgina feel about the changing plans?

8. Clementine provides Elvis with a plan on how to escape. What is the plan?

a. Why do you think Clementine tries to help Elvis escape?

b. What happens when Elvis gets out the door?

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Making Connections:

Elvis struggles to be understood by humans. He knows that if he could only

understand the alphabet, he would be able to communicate through writing. But, then
again, it seems like the humans in the story are not fully listening to each other, also.
How so?

Learning to be good listeners and communicators is important. What are some ways to
let someone know you are listening to them? Create a list.

Then, rewrite the scene between Georgina and her mother at the breakfast table and
include good listening on both their parts. How does the scene change?

Chapters 8-14
1. Why is Elvis unable to try right away to escape again?

2. Why do you think Clementine topples the Transamerica Pyramid? Do you think she
is just being mean? Or is something else bothering Clementine? Use evidence from
the text to support your answer.

3. What is the plan to try and fix the Transamerica Pyramid?

4. How does Mommy treat Clementine? Do you think this bothers Clementine?

5. Who is Jasmine?

a. Who is Bambi?

b. How is Bambi going to help Elvis get to the shelter?

6. Elvis says that Clementine made him knock Laverne’s bowl over. Is this true?
Explain what happened in your own words.

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Making Connections:

One of the main themes of this book is communication and how to talk (and listen) to others even
when speaking different languages.

If you have a pet or pets, how do you know your pet is sad, scared, happy, having to go to the
bathroom, etc.

Do some additional research online. How do hamsters, cats, dogs, and even fish, like Laverne,
communicate their emotions and needs?

Take a close look at how the animals throughout Elvis and the World As It Stands communicate to
their humans. Without words, how do they show how they are feeling?

Do humans use non-verbal communication? How do you non-verbally tell others how you feel?

Chapters 15-19
1. Why do you think Clementine helps Elvis find the spire for the Transamerica
Pyramid?

a. Why do you think she decides to take Elvis to the shelter? What do you
think her own reasons for going might be?

2. Georgina seems to have a personal reason for choosing each skyscraper that she
builds out of LEGO. She even tries to display each finished sculpture with a
photograph. Can you explain why each of the following seem to be important to
her? Then, using the computer, do some research to find images of each
building and at least five fun facts about each of them.

a. The Sears Tower

b. Transamerica Pyramid

c. The Flatiron Building

d. The Chrysler Building

e. The Empire State Building

f. The Twin Towers

3. What does 9/11 mean? What happened on that day?

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 a. Most grownups were alive then and have strong memories of the tragedy.
If you feel comfortable, ask someone you trust what they remember
about 9/11.

4. Her mother is always trying to get Georgina to have a playdate with some other
kids. Do you think this is important? Explain, using evidence from the book, the
points-of-view of the following characters about Georgina interacting with other
kids:

a. Georgina

b. Georgina’s mother

c. Elvis and the other pets

5. Bambi arrives just as the trio are about to cross the road to the shelter. Imagine
that you are the following characters and recall the moment in your own words.

a. Clementine

b. Mo

c. Bambi

Making Connections:

Georgina realizes that something is not quite right with the Transamerica Pyramid that Mo
and Elvis rebuilt. However, Mo says “We did our best…considering the circumstances.”

What do you think he means by this?

How are each of the characters in Elvis and the World As It Stands doing their best
“considering the circumstances”?

Share a time from your own life when circumstances were tough, but you did your best.

Chapters 20-27
1. When Georgina’s parents gave her The Big Book of American Architecture for her
10th birthday they wrote an inscription, or special message, on the title page.
You can see an image of this inscription at the beginning of Elvis and the World
As It Stands. What does it say?

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 a. After spending some time looking at the inscription, Georgina decides to
build the World Trade Center. How do you think the inscription and
building two towers that collapsed in a tragedy are somehow connected?

2. Why do you think Georgina is so angry that her mother does not know where the
photo album is?

3. Her mother says, “Sometimes things happen that are out of our control, and it’s
okay to be upset. But there are some things we can choose. We can choose how
to react when things change. We can choose what to do next in life. Life is still
good, Georgina, even when it feels unbearable.” Explain why she says this to
Georgina in your own words.

a. How can Mommy’s words be applied to Elvis’s situation, as well?

4. Mo says “communication doesn’t always come from words. It can come from
actions. It’s what we do together that connects us. That’s how we learn to
understand one another. That’s where the magic happens.” Explain what he
means in your own words.

a. According to this advice from Mo, how can Elvis communicate with
Georgina, even though they don’t speak the same language?

5. Draw a picture of Daddy’s apartment. Be sure to include all details as described

in Elvis and the World As It Stands.

a. What is so special about where Daddy’s apartment is located?

6. When Elvis and Clementine both look out the window at the familiar building
they stand on their hind legs and reach their paws up onto the glass, “like a
couple of Xs.” What is this moment reminiscent of?

a. What does this moment say about Elvis and Clementine and the idea of
family?

7. Clementine finally tells the story of her time at the shelter, who she left behind,
and how she came to live with Georgina’s family. Imagine that you are the
author of this book and write a new chapter telling the story from Clementine’s
point-of-view.

Chapters 28-34
1. How is Elvis finally able to communicate with Georgina?

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 a. What does Elvis mean when he says that the act of “building the shelter”
is the common ground he shares with Georgina?

2. Both Clementine and Elvis receive information about their lost family from Carly
at the shelter. Describe this in your own words.

3. Who is Eliot?

a. Why do you think Elvis says that seeing Clementine with Eliot “saves his
life”?

4. Georgina decides to build the Freedom Tower next. What is the Freedom Tower?

a. What does the Freedom Tower represent and why is it important that
Georgina made the decision to build it? What does that say about her
emotional journey?

5. Who is Marisol?

6. Would you say Elvis and the World As It Stands has a happy ending even though
Elvis didn’t reunite with Etta and Georgina’s parents didn’t get back together?

a. Using evidence from the book, discuss endings and what it meant for the
following characters? Did each get a happy ending? If so, how?

i. Georgina

ii. Elvis

iii. Etta

iv. Clementine

After You Read…

Below are a few final project ideas for the conclusion of Elvis and the World As It
Stands.

1. Revisit the cover illustration for the book. Explain the details that the artist chose
to include, using textual evidence as support.

a. Having now read the book, design your own cover illustration.

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2. Several themes run through Elvis and the World As It Stands.

Family Divorce Pets Communication Separation

Friendship Home Change Rebuilding Loss

Choose one of these themes on which to base a 500-word essay.

What can readers take away from Elvis and the World As It Stands in relation to
this theme?

3. Choose a character and explore how they have changed from the beginning to
the end.

4. When building the World Trade Center, Elvis says “I never thought a skyscraper
could be that important to a family. It’s not like it was their home.” To which Mo
responds, “Sometimes unexpected things feel like home.”

Where, other than where you live, feels like home? Using either LEGO bricks or
other art supplies, build a replica of a place that feels like home to you.

5. Create a book trailer for Elvis and the World As It Stands. Carefully choose
music, visuals, and words to create an overall feel for the book.

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