A Good Night for Ghosts
By Mary Pope Osborne
Grades 3-5; Genre - Historical Fiction with Fantastical Elements; GRL N; AR pts: 2.0
Jack and Annie travel to New Orleans to help Louis Armstrong see the importance of sharing his musical gifts with the world.
Comprehension Questions
Chapter 1
- Where did Merlin want Jack and Annie to go this time? New Orleans p. 7
- What did Kathleen turn the Wand of Dianthus into? A trumpet p. 8
- Why do you think she turned it into a trumpet? There are lots of trumpets in New Orleans. P. 7
- Who did Merlin want Jack and Annie to help? Louis Armstrong p. 9
Chapter 2
- Tell me about jazz music. Type of music that began in early 1900’s, made up on the spot, has a strong beat, lots of feeling, played first by African Americans p. 14
- How did Jack and Annie find out what year it was? The newspaper boy told them p. 17
- What is All Saints’ Day? November 1, celebrates all those saints that have passed away p. 20
- Why is New Orleans considered the most haunted city in the United States? Lots of ghost sightings p. 21
Chapter 3
- What is Louis Armstrong’s nickname? Dipper p. 26
- How did the waiters treat Jack and Annie? Rudely, called them beggars p. 28
- What was Louis Armstrong doing when Jack and Annie first met him? delivering coal p. 29
- What is Louis Armstrong like? Friendly p. 30
Chapter 4
- How did Jack and Annie get to spend time with Dipper? Worked his jobs with him p. 33
- What was their first job? Shoveling coal p. 34
- Why is Dipper working and not playing music? He can’t earn as much money playing music/ he’s got a family to take care of p. 39
- How much did Dipper try to pay Jack and Annie for helping him shovel coal? Five cents each p. 40
Chapter 5
- What did Dipper teach Jack and Annie about music? It’s everywhere p. 49
- What job did Jack and Annie help Dipper with next? Hauling bananas p. 51
- What scared Dipper and made him drop his last box of bananas? Rat p. 53
- What’s Jack scared of? Ghosts p. 54
Chapter 6
- What did Dipper get for Jack and Annie as a payment for helping him? dinner p. 59
- Why was Dipper in the restaurant washing dishes? To pay for the dinner p. 61
- Why does Dipper say he’s got a rich life? He doesn’t have everything, but he gets to feel everything p. 62
- Where did Dipper, Jack and Annie go to get out of the rain? Haunted blacksmith shop p. 66
Chapter 7
- How many matches does Dipper have? Four p. 72
- What did they light with his last match? Lamps p. 73
- What did Jack sing when he couldn’t think of any words? Nonsense sounds p. 75
- Who did the magic trumpet reveal the ghosts were? Dipper’s friends p. 76
Chapter 8
- What real ghosts appeared to the kids? Jean Lafitte/ pirates p. 80
- What was Dipper able to do with the trumpet? Make music p. 81
- What did the pirates do when Dipper’s friends sang? Danced p. 83
- What did Jack and Annie do while Dipper played and his friends sang? Made a drum beat p. 82
Chapter 9
- Where did Dipper get so good at playing the trumpet? At the Waif’s home p. 88
- What treat did Dipper bring out for Jack and Annie? Doughnuts p. 92
- Why doesn’t Dipper want to play music anymore? He shot off a gun once and had to go to prison p. 94
- Why do Jack and Annie need to show Dipper their research guide about his success? He doesn’t believe he can earn money playing music. P. 95
Chapter 10
- Why did Dipper recognize the picture of himself when he was older? It’s the picture he’s had in his heart p. 98
- Why did Dipper get teary when he saw the book? Playing music is his dream p. 99
- Why did Jack and Annie need to go back? Curfew at 13 years old p. 100
- Why didn’t Dipper want to go on the streetcar with Jack and Annie? They’d sit in front, he’d have to sit in back p. 102
Chapter 11
- What did Jack and Annie see out the tree house window? the river boat p.105
- How do they know Dipper was on the boat? They could hear his trumpet p. 106
- What kinds of feelings did Jack and Annie share as they walked home? Sad, mad, good, scared p. 107
- What would Jack and Annie hear all around them that would help them remember Dipper? Music in everything p. 108