Balto of the Blue Dawn
Grades 2-4; Genre - Fiction with Fantastical Elements; GRL N; AR pts: 2.0
Jack and Annie always go on important missions, but this time they must save an entire town! The town is Nome, Alaska, and the year is 1925. Many children and grown-ups are sick and dying. The medicine that will save them is coming from Anchorage, a thousand miles away. Its being carried by a relay of dogsleds and dogs, but a huge blizzard is coming through. It's up to Jack and Annie to find a lost team led by the famous sled dog, Balto.
Comprehension Questions
Chapter 1
- What did Annie see above the woods? A
bright flash of light p.4 - Where are Jack and Annie needed in
this adventure? A seaside town below the Arctic; Alaska p.6 - What will the enchanted gold dust
help Jack and Annie do and how long does it last? Receive a skill that will
only help them when they are saving the lives of others; 12 hours p.7 - Why did Teddy give the kids stardust?
It will make people forget; Merlin didn’t want Jack and Annie to be
remembered by anyone on their mission p.9
Chapter 2
- Where did Jack and Annie travel to? Nome,
Alaska p.17 - What does “quarantine” mean? To be
isolated if you’re sick with a deadly illness, so you won’t spread it p.21 - What’s the sickness that’s going
around the town that requires medicine? Diphtheria p.22 - Why did the Board of Health order
Gunnar Kaasen to stay in Solomon and not continue to Nome? A huge blizzard
was expected to come through the area, and they didn’t want to lose the
medicine p.23
Chapter 3
- What was the only form of
transportation to and from Nome during the winter? Dogsled p.29 - What was Oki going to do? Go by
dogsled himself to get the medicine from Gunnar Kaasen p.29 - What was the radio bulletin Jack and Annie
heard while waiting for Oki to talk to his uncle? That 5 people had died in
Nome, Alaska from the outbreak of Diphtheria, and the best mushers and dogs
were trying to get the medicine to Nome before anyone else dies, but there’s a
big blizzard coming from the Arctic and the mushers may not be able to continue
to Nome p.34 - Why is getting the medicine a race
against death? If the medicine doesn’t arrive in time, Oki’s mom, sister and
others will die p.38
Chapter 4
- If Oki stays in Nome, how are Jack
and Annie going to know where to go? Uncle Joe’s sled dogs know the way p.43 - What was Oki’s resolve when Jack and
Annie told him he had to stay in Nome? He accepted it, but was disappointed p.46 - How do Jack and Annie always treat
dogs? By being firm, fair and giving kindness and respect p.27 - What did Oki give Jack and Annie for
food to give to the dogs? Dried fish p.49
Chapter 5
- What was Jack an expert of as they
travelled through the night? a musher; knowing what a musher does and giving
commands to the dogs p.51 - Why did the huskies come to a halt
and start barking? Jack tumbled off the sled from a sharp curve p.56 - Why did Jack fall behind Annie when
he was running with the sled? As they were running on ice he broke through
and got stuck in the ice p.58 - Why did Jack need to get out of his
wet boots? It was so cold he could get severe frost bite p.59
Chapter 6
- How did Ed help Jack and Annie? He
gave them shelter and a warm place to be. He knew what to do for Jack’s feet; he
fed them; he also unhitched the dogs so they wouldn’t freeze out in the cold
and let them come inside p.62 - What did Ed and Annie do to help the
dogs feel better? Gave them water and massaged each foot p.64 - How did Ed react when Jack and Annie
told him they needed to go back into the storm? he thought they were crazy
p.69 - What did Ed do to stop Jack and Annie
from going back into the blizzard? Fed them and was firm on not letting them
p.71
Chapter 7
- Who is Balto? Gunnar Kaasen’s dog;
he’s one of the best lead dogs in Alaska; loves to run a trail; great strength
and courage; big shaggy black dog p.74 - Why are Alaskans grateful for the
animals that live there? The people couldn’t live without them; they get
their clothing, food and other necessities from them p.75 - What happened when Annie used the
stardust in Ed’s home? It made everything look like they were never there
p.80 - What did the jingling bells mean? Another
dogsled was near p.84
Chapter 8
- Who did Jack and Annie find? Gunnar
Kaasen and his dogsled p.86 - What fell off the sled into the snow?
The medicine p.88 - Why did Annie unhook Balto? So he
could help them find the medicine p.88 - What influence did Balto have on the
other huskies? They were livelier and stronger than before p.94
Chapter 9
- Why was Oki excited the newspaper
reporters were in town? He wanted the whole world to hear their story and
that Jack and Annie saved the day p.98 - Why did Jack and Annie throw the
stardust into the air? So everyone who saw them on their mission would
forget them p.99 - Who did Mr. Kaasen say he owed the
success of his part of the relay? His dog, Balto p.101 - Who bounded after Jack and Annie as
they headed for the tree house? Balto p.102
Chapter 10
- What did Annie think was the best part
of their mission? The dogs p.108 - What did Annie find in the greenery? A
puppy p.110 - Why would the puppy be a gift to Jack
and Annie? For always being willing to serve and help Merlin and Morgan p.111 - What did they name the puppy? Oki
p.114