A Perfect Time for Pandas
By Mary Pope Osborne
Grades 2-5; Genre - Historical Fiction with Fantastical Elements; GRL M; AR pts: 2.0
Jack and Annie go to China looking for the last object needed to help break Penny’s spell. They get to help at a giant panda reserve and get caught in a huge earthquake.
Comprehension Questions
Chapter 1
- What did Jack and Annie’s mom make them for breakfast? Egg sandwiches p. 4
- Where were Jack and Annie going to find the fourth item they needed to break Penny’s spell? China p. 7
- What were they supposed to find? Healthy food p. 8
- What would the magic potion do to Jack and Annie if they took a sip? Make them five times their size p. 9
Chapter 2
- How long do Jack and Annie have to complete their mission? A day and a night p. 11
- Why did Jack decide they had better stop laughing at the menu items? It was rude p.16
- What was Annie’s dream to see? Giant pandas p. 20
Chapter 3
- How did Jack and Annie get to the giant panda reserve? On bikes p. 22
- Why did the bike owner tell Jack and Annie to be very careful riding up to the reserve? They had to travel on a very busy highway p. 26
- Why are the people at the panda center worried for the pandas? They’re threatened with extinction p. 30
Chapter 4
- How did Annie solve the problem of getting into the center though they were under eighteen? She met Sylvia and they tagged along with her p. 33
- What did the newborn panda look like? A fuzzy pink mouse p. 34
- What giant panda were Jack and Annie assigned to? Bing-Bing p. 36
- Where did Jack and Annie find Bing-Bing? In a tree p. 41
Chapter 5
- Why did Master Lee tell Jack and Annie they couldn’t go pet Bing-Bing? They’re wild animals, he doesn’t want them in his habitat p. 43
- Why did Master Lee give Jack and Annie clipboards and pencils? To watch Bing-Bing and collect data on what he does p. 44
- Why didn’t Jack write down very many of his observations? He made more observations with his heart than with his head p. 47
- What did the panda center call the fenced in area where they kept the really little pandas? Panda Kindergarten p. 48
Chapter 6
- When Jack and Annie were riding their bikes back to Wolong, why did the earth start shaking? It was an earthquake p. 54
- What happened to Jack and Annie’s bikes? They were crushed by a boulder p. 55
- How did Jack turn into a King Kong? Took a sip of the potion p. 57
Chapter 7
- Why didn’t Annie turn into a King Kong? She dropped the bottle and it broke p. 57
- How long did Jack have before he turned back to normal size? One hour p. 62
- What did the boulders seem to Jack as he kicked them out of his way? Soccer balls p. 63
Chapter 8
- What did Jack and Annie put over their clothes to show they were volunteers and helping? Coveralls p. 71
- Who did Master Lee want Jack and Annie to go find? Bing-Bing p. 70
- How many small pandas did Jack and Annie find? Three p. 76
- Who led Jack and Annie back to Master Lee? Bing-Bing p. 75
Chapter 9
- How did Dr. Ling want to get Jack and Annie back to Wolong Town? Helicopter p. 81
- When Jack went to say good-bye to Bing-Bing, what was Master Lee feeding him? panda bread p. 83
- Why was Jack excited to see the panda bread? It’s the special food they need to help Penny p. 83
Chapter 10
- Who met Jack and Annie when they got off the helicopters with the small pandas? Women from the panda center p. 90
- What helps pandas survive? People who care for them p. 93
- Where did Jack and Annie wish for the tree house to go? To Camelot p. 95
Chapter 11
- Where did Jack get the flashlight? Dr. Ling p. 87
- Where did Teddy and Kathleen take Jack and Annie to break the spell on Penny? Merlin garden house p. 99
- What broke the spell on Penny? Teddy’s tears p. 103
Chapter 12
- What did the sound of trumpets mean? Merlin and Morgan have returned p. 107
- What did Annie call their egg sandwiches when they remembered they were still in the backpacks? Panda bread p. 111