About
It’s a bona fide mystery at Dink’s school. Some sneaky soul has stolen the skeleton from the nurse’s office! The principal promises free aquarium tickets to the savvy student sleuths who can track down poor Mr. Bones. Soon mysterious clues are showing up all over the school. It’s up to Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose to follow the clues and put those old bones to rest.
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
Why does Donald David Duncan go by Dink?
Page 2 — When he first learned to talk, all he could say was Dink when he tried to say his name
2
Why did Dink need to go to the nurse’s office?
Page 3 — He got a paper cut and needed a Band Aid
3
What did Dink notice was missing from the nurse’s office?
Page 7 — Mr. Bones the skeleton
7
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
What’s the reward for the class that finds Mr. Bones?
Page 13 — Free tickets to the new aquarium in Hartford, CT
13
Why did Josh think Mr. Neater could be a suspect for the missing skeleton?
Page 14 — He has keys to the doors in the school
14
What was the topic of the story Mrs. Eagle assigned the kids to write?
Page 16 — The vanishing school skeleton
16
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
Describe the footprint Ruth Rose and Josh found in the corner where the skeleton usually hung?
Page 18 — It was in the dust and looked like it was made by a sneaker; it was the left foot and adult sized
18
What did the kids want to do with the footprint before Mr. Neater swept up the office?
Page 21 — Draw and measure it
21
How did Dink know the nurse, office secretary, or principal didn’t take the skeleton?
Page 25 — The bottom of their shoes didn’t match the print in the dust
25
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
What size shoes does Dink think the skeleton snatcher is?
Page 28 — A size 10
28
How many teachers did the kids need to measure for their footprint?
Page 29 — 8
29
What did the kids plan to do the next day to figure out the footprint clue?
Page 31 — They wrote a note to the 8 teachers to ask if they would talk with them, Mrs. Waters would put them in their boxes, then when they would meet the kids would measure the footprint against each of their shoes
31
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
How did Mrs. Eagle respond to the kids needing to leave class to talk to the other teachers?
Page 35 — She said it was ok
35
What were the results from measuring the teacher’s feet that were on the list?
Page 38 — None of them matched Josh’s footprint
38
What happened to Mr. Palmer that proved he didn’t steal the skeleton?
Page 42 — He slipped on ice and got a cast on his foot the day before and was in the emergency room when the skeleton was stolen
42
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
What did the kids see on the ground on their way back to class?
Page 45 — A footprint on the ground in white powder
45
Why did Mrs. Eagle want the boys to open their lockers?
Page 47 — The footprint was in front of their lockers and she wanted to see what was inside
47
What was in Josh’s locker?
Page 49 — A twisted white paper with a skeleton on it and a shiny key hidden inside
49
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
Why did Mrs. Eagle ask Josh, Dink, and Ruth Rose to tell the class what they’ve been up to?
Page 50 — So the class could help and be involved
50
Where does Ruth Rose think the powder on the floor came from?
Page 55 — Mrs. Waters said her powder was missing and someone could have taken it
55
What does Ruth Rose think the message with the key, skeleton and the 2 means?
Page 58 — Key to skeleton
58
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
What was strange about the key and how did it differ from Ruth Rose’s?
Page 61 — it looked brand new and didn’t have any marks on it yet; Ruth Rose’s had tiny scratches from using it frequently
61
Why did the kids decide to go see Mr. Neater?
Page 62 — Because he has keys to everything in the building and he could have put the key in Josh’s locker
62
Who else came to visit Mr. Neater and why?
Page 66 — Cory from fifth grade and Jane and Susan from second grade; they also had found a footprint by their lockers and a paper with a skeleton wrinkled up with a key hidden in it
66
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
What clues points to Mr. Dillon as the skeleton snatcher?
Page 71 — There’s a small door from his office to Miss Shotsky’s and he had easy access to Mr. Waters powder
71
What’s Mrs. Waters missing now?
Page 73 — Her key to the closet
73
Where was Mr. Bones?
Page 74 — Hanging in Mrs. Waters’ coat closet
74
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
What did the note read that was hanging from Mr. Bones?
Page 77 — April Fools!
77
What day is it?
Page 78 — April 1st; April Fools
78
Why did Mr. Dillon hide the skeleton and leave the clues?
Page 82 — He loves April Fools Day and doing pranks. No one does pranks anymore, so he wanted to make it a memorable holiday
82
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.
