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