Stone Fox
About
Grandfather is sick and ten year old Little Willie is left to care for the farm and find a way to pay the taxes. His only hope to keep the farm is to win a dog sled race, but the legendary dog sled racer, Stone Fox, has also entered the race.
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 is the setting of this story?
Page 1 — 1800's; Jackson, Wyoming; harsh winter; small potato farm and the surrounding area
1
Why is Little Willie concerned in this chapter?
Page 5 — Grandfather gave up living and wouldn’t get out of bed
5
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
Describe Little Willie?
Page 11 — 10 years old; lives with his grandpa; speaks with his grandpa using hand signals; they have a farm and grow potatoes; he has a dog named Searchlight
11
How was Searchlight a good and helpful dog?
Page 19 — She helped harvest the potatoes when Grandfather fell ill
19
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
What do little Willie and Searchlight do every evening when the clock BONGS at six o’clock?
Page 26 — Race home using the dog sled
26
Why wasn’t little Willie scared to race like this at night?
Page 28 — Searchlight had done it so many times, she knew how to get them home safe
28
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
Why did Clifford Snyder have a gun?
Page 34 — He came to collect the taxes on the farm and used the gun to threaten Little Willie and Grandfather
34
How would you feel if someone brought a gun to your home?
Listen to your child's answer
What will happen if Grandfather doesn’t pay the taxes?
Page 37 — Snyder will take the farm and sell it
37
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
What is making Grandfather sick?
Page 40 — He is stressed because he owes $500 in taxes
40
How was Little Willie proactive in this chapter?
Page 40 — He went to the bank
40
Give two examples of how Little Willie felt alone in this chapter.
Page 40 — He had to make a decision on whether to sell the farm or not; He went to the bank by himself. Grandfather should have been the one taking care of these things
40
Do you agree that Little Willie should enter the dog sled race? Why, or why not?
Page 46 — Listen to your child's answer
46
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
Why is it a sacrifice for Little Willie to use his college money pay for the race?
Page 49 — He is giving up on going to college and getting an education
49
Describe Stone Fox.
Page 51 — Giant, Indian, never talks, his face as hard as stone
51
What characteristic describes Stone Fox after you read page 54?
Page 54 — charitable; good heart
54
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
What was in the old deserted barn?
Page 60 — Stone Fox’s five white dogs
60
Why did Stone Fox hit Little Willie in the barn?
Page 60 — Little Willie was going to pet his dogs
60
Why wasn’t Little Willie able to sleep the night before the race?
Page 62 — His eye was killing him from Stone Fox hitting him
62
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
Why didn’t Little Willie like to hunt?
Page 65 — He loves animals too much
65
Have you ever gone hunting?
Describe your experience if you have
Compare Little Willie and Stone Fox. What do they have in common?
they both have dogs and want to enter the dog sled race; they both have meaningful reasons to enter the race, Stone Fox to help his tribe and Little Willie to help he and Grandpa
Why didn't Little Willie tell the townspeople about how he got hurt?
Page 68 — He didn't want to tell on Stone Fox; Listen to your child's answer
68
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
Who was winning the race at the beginning?
Page 71 — Little Willie
71
When Little Willie passed Grandfather’s farm, who did he see looking out the window?
Page 74 — Grandfather
74
Why was Stone Fox able to creep up on Little Willie?
Page 76 — Little Willie was thinking about Grandfather
76
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
How did Searchlight sacrifice everything she had?
Page 79 — She died; Her heart burst/she gave it everything she had
79
Why did Stone Fox draw in the snow?
Page 83 — to create a new finish line, so Little Willie could win
83
Why did Stone Fox let Little Willie win?
Page 83 — Stone Fox respected Little Willie and had compassion on him; to help Little Willie and Grandfather
83
What is a theme in this story?
Love and Sacrifice; Overcoming obstacles; Perseverance & Determination; Loyalty
What did you like about this story?
Listen to your child's answer
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.
Thank you! I really hope my students appreciate reading Stone Fox with full comprehension as transitional readers from Spanish to English.
Yay!!! This is one of my favorite stories for this level.
Hi, in the book StoneFox what surprises willy when he turns onto MainStreet
My ESOL students are enjoying this story a lot! I am too! I am pleased to have found ready made reading comprehension questions. Now… I need to figure out if I can print them without the banner and such.
I’m so glad you’re all enjoying this story. Have you tried to copy and paste the questions to a word document?