Comprehension Questions – Magic Tree House Merlin Missions #26 Balto of the Blue Dawn

Balto of the Blue Dawn

by Mary Pope Osborne

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

  1. What did Annie see above the woods? A bright flash of light p.4
  2. Where are Jack and Annie needed in this adventure? A seaside town below the Arctic; Alaska p.6
  3. 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
  4. 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

  1. Where did Jack and Annie travel to? Nome, Alaska p.17
  2. What does “quarantine” mean? To be isolated if you’re sick with a deadly illness, so you won’t spread it p.21
  3. What’s the sickness that’s going around the town that requires medicine? Diphtheria p.22
  4. 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

  1. What was the only form of transportation to and from Nome during the winter? Dogsled p.29
  2. What was Oki going to do? Go by dogsled himself to get the medicine from Gunnar Kaasen p.29
  3. 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
  4. 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

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. How do Jack and Annie always treat dogs? By being firm, fair and giving kindness and respect p.27
  4. What did Oki give Jack and Annie for food to give to the dogs? Dried fish p.49

Chapter 5

  1. 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
  2. Why did the huskies come to a halt and start barking? Jack tumbled off the sled from a sharp curve p.56
  3. 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
  4. 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

  1. 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
  2. What did Ed and Annie do to help the dogs feel better? Gave them water and massaged each foot p.64
  3. 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
  4. 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

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. What happened when Annie used the stardust in Ed’s home? It made everything look like they were never there p.80
  4. What did the jingling bells mean? Another dogsled was near p.84

Chapter 8

  1. Who did Jack and Annie find? Gunnar Kaasen and his dogsled p.86
  2. What fell off the sled into the snow? The medicine p.88
  3. Why did Annie unhook Balto? So he could help them find the medicine p.88
  4. What influence did Balto have on the other huskies? They were livelier and stronger than before p.94

Chapter 9

  1. 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
  2. Why did Jack and Annie throw the stardust into the air? So everyone who saw them on their mission would forget them p.99
  3. Who did Mr. Kaasen say he owed the success of his part of the relay? His dog, Balto p.101
  4. Who bounded after Jack and Annie as they headed for the tree house? Balto p.102

Chapter 10

  1. What did Annie think was the best part of their mission? The dogs p.108
  2. What did Annie find in the greenery? A puppy p.110
  3. Why would the puppy be a gift to Jack and Annie? For always being willing to serve and help Merlin and Morgan p.111
  4. What did they name the puppy? Oki p.114