Mr. Popper’s Penguins
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 was Mr. Popper so absent-minded?
Page 5 — He was day-dreaming of far-away places
5
What far-away place did Mr. Popper want to see most of all?
Page 7 — The north and south poles
7
Why is Mrs. Popper worried that Mr. Popper doesn’t work in the winter?
Page 8 — They won’t have as much money
8
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
How does Mrs. Popper feel about the South Pole?
Page 10 — That its dull and cold
10
Why does Mr. Popper want a penguin for a pet?
Page 12 — They’re intelligent
12
Why is Mr. Popper mentioned over the radio?
Page 14 — He sent a letter to Admiral Drake about the penguins
14
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
What surprise did Admiral Drake send Mr. Popper?
Page 18 — A penguin
18
Why did Mr. Popper fill up the bathtub?
Page 19 — He thought the penguin was thirsty
19
Why did Mr. Popper call the penguin Captain Cook?
Page 21 — The penguin made noises that sounded like Cook
21
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
Why was the Popper family upset with Captain Cook?
Page 28 — He ate their goldfish
28
Where did Captain Cook go to sleep?
Page 29 — In the refrigerator
29
How did Mrs. Popper feel about Captain Cook?
Page 30 — That he would make an all right pet
30
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
What did the serviceman do to the ice box?
Page 32 — Put holes in it and put a handle on the inside
32
How much money did Mr. Popper give to the serviceman?
Page 33 — $10
33
How did the serviceman react when Mr. Popper asked him to do these things?
Page 33 — He thought Mr. Popper was crazy
33
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
What did the policeman want when he came to the back door?
Page 39 — The serviceman reported the penguin
39
Why did Mr. Popper get frustrated when he called the city building?
Page 42 — They were confused on what he was calling about and didn’t know what a penguin was
42
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
Why did Captain Cook gather odds and ends and put them in the fridge?
Page 48 — He was putting together a nest
48
Why did Mr. Popper look like a penguin in this chapter?
Page 49 — He shaved, slicked back his hair and put on his evening tailcoat
49
Why did Mr. Popper ask his wife for clothesline?
Page 49 — He wanted it to take Captain Cook on a stroll
49
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
How did the men with the camera know that Mr. Popper owned a penguin?
Page 54 — They heard it from the police officer
54
What were the men doing with the camera?
Page 54 — They were writing an article for the newspaper
54
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
Why did the barber yell, “Good night!” when Captain Cook jumped onto the mirror ledge?
Page 57 — He was surprised; this was an expression of surprise at the time this book was written
57
Why did Captain Cook want the shaving cream on the man’s face at the barber?
Page 58 — It looked like snow
58
Why did Captain Cook want to climb the stairs?
Page 60 — So, he could toboggan down them
60
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
Why did Mrs. Popper call the doctor in this chapter?
Page 63 — Captain Cook was ill and had a 104 degree temperature
63
What did the curator think was wrong with Captain Cook?
Page 67 — He thought the penguin was lonely
67
What was the curator’s cure to help Captain Cook?
Page 67 — He’s sending him Greta, the aquarium’s penguin who is also ill
67
Chapter 11
Comprehension questions
What does Mrs. Popper compare the two penguins to at the beginning of the chapter?
Page 68 — Two peas
68
How could they tell the birds apart?
Page 69 — Mr. Popper painted their names on their backs
69
How did Mr. Popper make a bigger, more comfortable home for the penguins?
Page 71 — He left the windows open in his home and snow came into the house
71
Chapter 12
Comprehension questions
How did the Popper’s take care of the penguins for the rest of the winter?
Page 74 — Mr. Popper had the furnace moved upstairs and an ice making machine installed In the cellar
74
How many eggs did Greta lay in all?
Page 75 — 10
75
Who did Mr. Popper name the penguin chicks after?
Page 77 — Explorers and their assistants
77
Chapter 13
Comprehension questions
Why was Mrs. Popper considering eating the penguins?
Page 82 — They were almost out of money
82
What idea did Mr. Popper come up with to earn money?
Page 83 — Train the penguins to perform
83
How many songs did Mrs. Popper remember and what did she play the piano for?
Page 84 — Three songs for three different acts the penguins would perform
84
Chapter 14
Comprehension questions
What made the passengers on the bus complain?
Page 89 — Mr. Popper opened all of the windows to keep the penguins cool
89
What was Mr. Greenbaum’s reaction to meeting Mr. Popper and his penguins?
Page 91 — He wanted to see the act
91
Chapter 15
Comprehension questions
Where did the penguins get to perform their act for Mr. Greenbaum?
Page 93 — On the stage in front of an audience
93
How do you know the audience enjoyed the penguins’ act?
Page 99 — They stood up and cheered
99
What did the theater owner offer Mr. Popper?
Page 99 — A ten-week contract with $5,000 a week
99
Chapter 16
Comprehension questions
Why was a traffic officer involved when the Popper’s and penguins were on the way to the train station?
Page 102 — The two taxis driving them were racing and got in an accident
102
Why was Mrs. Popper worried about the children missing school?
Page 104 — she didn’t want them to get behind
104
How did the penguins disrupt the rest of the acts during their first performance?
Page 106 — They would go on stage and make the audience laugh and distract the performer
106
Chapter 17
Comprehension questions
How would other performers feel when they heard the penguins were performing in the same show?
Page 108 — They didn’t like it
108
Why weren’t the Poppers rich when receiving $5,000 a week?
Page 112 — They ate at expensive restaurants and slept in expensive hotels
112
Predict if Mr. Popper will sign another contract with Mr. Greenbaum.
Page 114 — Listen to your child’s answer
114
Chapter 18
Comprehension questions
What did the Popper’s find at the theater?
Page 117 — A seal performing act
117
Why were the Popper’s worried to have the penguins join the seals?
Page 118 — They thought the seals would eat the penguins
118
What mistake did Mr. Popper make during this chapter?
Page 122 — He told the taxi driver the wrong theater
122
Chapter 19
Comprehension questions
Who bailed Mr. Popper and the penguins out of jail?
Page 127 — Admiral Drake
127
What did Admiral Drake offer Mr. Popper?
Page 129 — To take the penguins to the North Pole and name the new penguin race after him
129
What did Mr. Greenbaum offer him?
Page 130 — A deal with a movie producer that will put the penguins in films
130
Chapter 20
Comprehension questions
Why did Mr. Popper decide to give the birds to Admiral Drake?
Page 133 — Because they had done so much for him that he needed to do what was best for them
133
What surprised Mr. Popper in this chapter?
Page 138 — That he was invited to go with the expedition
138
Explain what you liked about this book.
Listen to your child’s response
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