Zippy has numerous pets—such as Sam the Pig, a pony named Time, and Skippy the Hamster. Children often have a special affinity for animals. How does a child's relationship with their pet differ from that with a sibling or an adult family member?

Each chapter of the book details a specific part of Kimmel's life in Mooreland. Is there a theme that tie all the stories together as a whole? Do you see the resolution of certain issues as Zippy gets older?

The Jarvis family has very strong and different personalities in Bob, Dee Dee, Melinda, Daniel and Zippy. In what ways is their dynamic strange? In what ways is their family very typical?

Haven Kimmel prefaces the book as a tribute to the town she grew up in. She feels that the story of Mooreland needs to be told. How do...