The Skull

Summary

The Skull retells a Tyrolean folktale with Jon Klassen’s signature blend of stark humor and quiet unease. A girl named Otilla runs away into the snowy night and finds refuge in a large house. There she meets a talking skull who lives alone but is pursued each night by a headless skeleton. Otilla helps the skull by facing the skeleton herself, defeating it, and ultimately choosing to remain in the house with her new companion. The story raises questions about fear, courage, loneliness, death, and what it means to belong.

Guidelines for Discussion

The Skull offers many layers for philosophical exploration, and different themes may resonate with different groups of children. One important thread is fear and courage. The skull admits it is terrified of the skeleton, while Otilla takes action despite being frightened herself. This contrast invites reflection on whether courage means feeling no fear or whether it means acting in spite of it. Teachers can encourage children to think about moments when they have been afraid and whether they still showed bravery. Otilla’s resourcefulness—her clever plan to trap the skeleton—can also spark discussion about whether courage always involves physical confrontation, or whether it can be thoughtful, strategic, or quiet.

Another theme is friendship and loneliness. The skull seems resigned to solitude until Otilla arrives, and their unlikely companionship raises questions about what makes someone a true friend. Is it shared interests, or simply being there for each other when needed? Children might notice how Otilla treats the skull with respect, even though it is unusual, and they can consider whether friendship requires similarity or just care and trust. Talking about the skull’s loneliness can help students articulate what it feels like to be alone and how companionship can change that experience.

The story also brushes against the theme of death and mortality. Skulls and skeletons often symbolize death, and children may ask why Klassen chose these images. This provides an opportunity to explore how stories and traditions represent death, why people sometimes make it frightening, and what different cultures believe happens after life ends. It is important for teachers to acknowledge that children may hold different perspectives, and part of the discussion can involve exploring why such differences exist.

Finally, the ending centers on home and belonging. Otilla chooses to stay with the skull, not out of obligation but because she feels safe and at peace. Students can reflect on what makes a place feel like home—whether it is the physical space, the people within it, or a sense of comfort and security. They can also consider whether belonging is something we inherit or something we create through our choices and relationships. The open-ended nature of the story allows children to project their own ideas of home and safety into the discussion, making this theme particularly personal.

Taken together, these themes create a story that is eerie, humorous, and comforting all at once. Teachers can draw out whichever threads their students respond to most strongly, guiding them to see how stories about skulls and skeletons are not only about fear but also about courage, friendship, and belonging.

Discussion Questions

Fear and Courage

1. What does it mean to be brave?
2. Can you be brave while still feeling afraid?
3. Why do you think Otilla was willing to face the skeleton when the skull could not?

Friendship and Loneliness

1. What makes Otilla and the skull friends?
2. Can you be friends with someone very different from you?
3. Do you think the skull was lonely before Otilla came?

Death and Mortality

1. Why do you think there are a skull and skeleton in this story?
2. Why do people tell stories about death?
3. What do you think happens when someone dies?

Home and Belonging

1. Why does Otilla choose to stay with the skull?
2. What makes a place feel like home?
3. Can we choose where we belong, or is it something given to us?

Suggested Activity: Your Safe Place

After the discussion, invite children to explore the theme of home and belonging by imagining their own safe place. Provide paper, crayons, or markers and ask students to draw or design a house, room, or space where they would feel completely safe and comfortable. Encourage them to think about what would be inside: are there people, pets, or companions there? Are there objects or features that make the place feel secure?

As students draw, walk around and ask gentle prompting questions like, “What makes this spot feel safe to you?” or “Who would you want to share this space with?” Once they finish, invite them to share their designs either with a partner, in small groups, or with the whole class. After sharing, bring the group back together to connect the activity to the story: Why did Otilla decide to stay with the skull? How do our own ideas of safety and belonging compare to hers? This activity helps students link their personal experiences to the philosophical themes of the book and gives them a creative way to express abstract ideas.