Elves Don’t Wear Hard Hats

By Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones

Grades 3-5; Genre - Fantasy; GRL M; AR pts: 1.0

The kids at Bailey School are excited to get a new playground, but the adults in charge can't decide how to make the playground and argue about it constantly.  A construction crew of workers show up at the school and begin to take down the old playground.  The kids think they are elves, but don't understand why Santa's elves are helping them with their playground.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

1. What drove up to the playground as the kids were playing?  construction trucks  p. 3
2. What did the man’s voice sound like who got out of the truck?  High and squeaky   p. 4
3. What did Hollis Bell say they were going to build?  The best playground they could imagine  p. 4

Chapter 2

1. How do the adults feel about the new playground?  Grumpy/ upset  p. 8
2. Why did Hollis Bell want the children to stay away from the trailer?  So they wouldn’t see what was inside  p. 10
3. What was blocking the view so the children couldn’t see into the trailer?  Christmas trees  p. 11
4. What does Hollis Bells' tool belt sound like?  Santa’s jingle bells   p. 13

Chapter 3

1. Why did Hollis Bell visit the kids’ class? To find out what they want on the playground p. 16
2. What are some ideas of things the kids wanted on the playground?  Slide, swings, tree house, picnic tables  p. 18
3. How many times did Hollis Bell tell the children to check their lists?  Twice   p. 18
4. Who else makes a list and checks it twice?  Santa Claus  p. 19

Chapter 4

1. Who does Eddie think the construction workers are?  Elves   p. 22
2. What were the new Christmas trees decorated with that were planted around the playground?  Lights and candy canes  p. 22
3. Why did the kids go into the trailer?  To see if the workers were elves  p. 25
4. What did the kids see when they looked inside the trailer?  Toys on tables   p. 28

Chapter 5

1. Who did the children go see to help them know if the construction workers were elves?  Santa Claus  p. 31
2. Where was Santa?  In a store    p. 32
3. How long did the kids have to stand in line to see Santa?  One hour   p. 32
4. Why did Santa think the elves were at the school building the playground?  Because there’s trouble that needs to be fixed   p. 36

Chapter 6

1. When the children arrived at the playground who was fighting?  The parents   p. 42
2. What were the parents fighting about?  The playground   p. 41
3. What did Eddie have in the brown paper bag?  Pair of old sneakers   p. 45
4. Why did Eddie want to leave old worn shoes next to the trailer?  If Mr. Bell was an elf he couldn’t resist fixing them.   P. 46

Chapter 7

1. What was in the brown paper bag Eddie left out for Mr. Bell?  Nothing   p. 48
2. Where did the tennis shoes go that Eddie left out for Mr. Bell?  On Mr. Bell’s feet   p. 48
3. What other things did the kids want the elves to fix?  Their shoes and dolls   p. 50
4. When did the plans for the playground need to be decided?  That day   p. 51

Chapter 8

1. What does “compromise” mean?  When people disagree with something, but everyone finds a way to cooperate   p. 52
2. Where are the construction workers going?   Up north  p. 55
3. Why are they leaving?  The elves couldn’t wait for the parents to decide any longer   p. 55

Chapter 9

1. What did the playground look like that Eddie wanted to build?  A dragon slide, castle with a bridge  p. 57
2. How did the parents feel about his plan?  Too expensive, they didn’t think they could build it   p. 58
3. Who was chosen to be the new director of the playground committee?  Eddie   p. 64
4. Why?  He planned the playground and convinced the parents to build it  p. 64

Chapter 10

1. What were the kids surprised to see when they got to school and saw the playground?  It was completely finished and had very large bows wrapped around it  p. 68
2. Who do the kids think helped finish the playground?  The elves   p. 70