About
Jack and Annie visit Antarctica looking for the fourth secret of happiness to help Merlin feel better. They get to meet some magical penguins and one even volunteers to go back to Merlin with Jack and Annie.
Read one section at a time, then discuss the questions to review understanding. These questions are a starting place for conversation, not a complete test of the chapter.
Chapter 1
Comprehension questions
What kind of face did Jack keep doing for the camera?
Page 3 — goofy/ funny
3
When did Jack finally give Annie a real smile?
Page 4 — When he saw the light flash from the tree house.
4
How many more secrets do Jack and Annie need to find to help Merlin?
Page 6 — One
6
Where are Jack and Annie going to go to find the last secret?
Page 7 — Antarctica
7
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
Why do Jack and Annie have goggles and face masks along with their coats and gloves?
Page 11 — It’s very cold and windy
11
What type of penguins do Jack and Annie meet?
Page 16 — Emperor
16
Why did the petrel dive for the penguins?
Page 18 — To get it for food
18
How do Jack and Annie save the little penguin from the petrel?
Page 19 — Jack threw his arms around the penguin, Annie chased it away
19
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
What time period do Jack and Annie travel to?
Page 22 — Their time
22
How did Jack and Annie hide they were kids to the researchers?
Page 24 — Kept their goggles and masks on, talked in deep voices
24
When Nancy was asking the people on the bus why they were visiting the Antarctic, what did Jack and say?
Page 29 — Journalist for Frog Creek Times and photographer
29
Where was the bus taking Jack and Annie?
Page 24 — A volcano
24
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
After Jack and Annie got off the bus, what did they ride to get to the volcano?
Page 34 — Helicopter
34
Why was Jack worried about looking down into the lava from the helicopter?
Page 40 — The rhyme says they need to fall down, he was worried they would fall into the lava
40
What did Nancy say everyone was going to use to get to the top of the volcano?
Page 41 — Snowmobiles
41
What is altitude sickness?
Page 42 — Not enough oxygen at high altitudes can make you sick.
42
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
Where did the water come from that Jack and Annie drank?
Page 45 — The glacier
45
Why was Jack worried about driving a snowmobile up the volcano?
Page 44 — he’d never driven one before
44
What are lava bombs?
Page 46 — Lava that spits from the crater
46
How did Nancy feel when she saw that Jack and Annie were kids?
Page 49 — Panic, stressed, surprised
49
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
Who did Nancy call to come back up and get Jack and Annie?
Page 52 — Pete the helicopter pilot
52
Where did Annie go while they waited for Pete to come and get them?
Page 54 — Outside to take more pictures
54
What were the five words Jack said to the wand?
Page 60 — SAVE ANNIE, MERLIN, AND ME
60
What happened to Jack and Annie when they used the Wand of Dianthus?
Page 61 — They fell down the crack into the darkness
61
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
After Jack and Annie fell down into the darkness, what were they floating on?
Page 63 — Ice in water
63
Where did the iceberg take them?
Page 65 — The Cave of the Ancient Crown
65
What were the penguins doing in the cave?
Page 67 — Dancing
67
Why did the baby penguin want to go with Jack and Annie?
Page 70 — To help bring joy and happiness to Merlin.
70
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
Where did Jack hide the baby penguin?
Page 76 — In his coat
76
How did the scientists treat Jack and Annie?
Page 79 — Like little kids
79
What did Jack do to cover up Penny’s peeps?
Page 78 — Cough
78
What did Nancy do when Annie told her the real story of why they were in Antarctica?
Page 84 — Laughed/ didn’t believe them
84
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
Why did Jack and Annie go to Camelot?
Page 87 — To tell Merlin the four secrets of happiness.
87
How did Merlin look when Jack and Annie first saw him?
Page 90 — hardly alive
90
What did Merlin do when Penny walked up to him and peeped?
Page 94 — Laughed and picked her up
94
What did Merlin want to show Penny in the orchard?
Page 96 — The rising moon
96
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
What is the fourth secret to happiness?
Page 99 — Taking care of someone who needs you
99
Why did Annie want to take a picture of Morgan, Teddy and Kathleen?
Page 100 — They’re like her family
100
How did Teddy feel about the camera?
Page 100 — Didn’t know what it was. Had never seen one before.
100
What happened to the pictures Annie took on their adventure?
Page 102 — Not on the camera
102
Downloads
All the book’s resources, or just the ones you need, ready to read or print.
Worksheets
Practice sheets with space to write your answers.
Download one reading section
A small printout with all the resources for the selected section.
