A Nest for Celeste
About
Celeste, a mouse longing for a real home, becomes a source of inspiration to teenaged Joseph, assistant to the artist and naturalist John James Audubon, at a nearby Louisiana plantation in 1821.
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
Describe Celeste.
Page 11 — She’s a mouse; lives in a house below the floorboards; she weaves baskets
11
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
How did the rats treat Celeste?
Page 18 — They’re mean and bully her; they boss her around and eat her food and take what they want from her home
18
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
Describe the family in the house.
Page 24 — Wealthy, live on a plantation; mother, father, and daughter; daughter is named Eliza and is old enough to be courted and is going to learn to dance; the family has hired a dance instructor who has brought along his assistant
24
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
Summarize this chapter.
Page 30 — The rats came to the main floor impatient as they waited for Celeste; the rats went ahead to find the crumbs under the table and didn’t see the cat; the cat caught and killed one of the rats named Trixie
30
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
What is preventing Celeste from going to her home?
Page 55 — The cat; it knows where she lives now
55
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
Why hadn’t Celeste realized the beautiful place she lived?
She always stayed on the ground and near the dining room; now she has ventured on the stair railing and to the upper floor of the housep.58
Where did Celeste sleep that night?
Page 64 — In the boot of the assistant
64
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
Why did Celeste think the snoring was strange?
Page 75 — It wasn’t there the night before; the guest was back from his hunting trip
75
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
How did Joseph respond when he found Celeste in his boot?
Page 80 — He was happy and kind; he put her in a tiny cage for company
80
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
Why is Celeste confused with Joseph’s behavior toward her?
Page 87 — She thinks he’s going to eat or hurt her, but he is kind and sees her as a friend
87
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
Why did Celeste miss having a home?
Page 101 — She couldn’t run, escape, and hide
101
Chapter 11
Comprehension questions
Is Joseph a good friend to Celeste? Why or why not?
Page 108 — Yes, he’s gentle with her, feeds her, puts her in his pocket and includes her
108
Chapter 12
Comprehension questions
Summarize this chapter.
Page 118 — Joseph took Celeste outside to sketch; hunters came and killed a large number of birds with guns
118
Why was Joseph upset by this?
Page 119 — the hunters killed so many birds it didn’t feel like hunting, it felt like a slaughter
119
Chapter 13
Comprehension questions
How did Celeste’s life differ now than from the beginning of this story?
Page 124 — She had someone who cared about her; she left the house and went on adventures; she didn’t need to worry about food; she saw things that made her sad
124
Chapter 14
Comprehension questions
Why is Mr. Audubon shooting birds?
Page 131 — He uses them as a model
131
What terrified Celeste in this chapter?
Page 138 — Joseph got shot in the head and she thought he was dead
138
Chapter 15
Comprehension questions
Do you agree with Audubon’s or Joseph’s philosophy? Why, or why not?
Page 144 — Listen to your child’s answer
144
Chapter 16
Comprehension questions
Share Celeste‘s history.
Page 159 — She lived in a field with her family; she left the nest and a tractor came and killed her family and ruined her home; a groundhog helped her
159
Chapter 17
Comprehension questions
Why was there so much chaos when Celeste went outside?
Page 170 — A storm was coming
170
Chapter 18
Comprehension questions
Why was the storm so scary for Celeste?
Page 178 — She was so small; raindrops were as large as her ears; the wind blew her into what felt like a raging river
178
Chapter 19
Comprehension questions
How did Celeste feel in this chapter?
Page 186 — Exhausted; sore and stiff; tired
186
Chapter 20
Comprehension questions
Describe Lafayette.
Page 191 — He’s an osprey; kind; helpful; talkative; wants to help Celeste
191
Chapter 21
Comprehension questions
What’s a gondola?
A small, long, narrow boat with a high prow and stern, propelled with a single oar, especially in Venice. A hanging platform or car for transporting people or cargo.
Which definition matches what Celeste is making?
Page 200 — A hanging car for transporting people
200
Chapter 22
Comprehension questions
How did Lafayette react when he saw the gondola?
Page 206 — He was impressed and thought it was clever
206
Chapter 23
Comprehension questions
Describe Celeste’s experience flying with Lafayette.
Page 213 — It was a wonderful adventure; she loved it; she soared high above the trees and saw gators and rivers
213
Chapter 24
Comprehension questions
What was Celeste’s plan for the thrush in this chapter?
Page 224 — She has asked him to stand on the dogwood and sing for Joseph; she knew Joseph would be in inspired by the bird’s song
224
Chapter 25
Comprehension questions
What’s the definition of instinct?
an innate, typically fixed pattern of behavior in animals in response to certain stimuli
What was Cornelius’s instinct telling him?
Page 238 — To fly south
238
Chapter 26
Comprehension questions
Describe Celeste’s predicament in this chapter?
Page 241 — The cat found her, so she ran and escaped
241
Chapter 27
Comprehension questions
What’s Celeste’s plan to help Lafayette?
Page 263 — To pose and look more alive
263
Chapter 28
Comprehension questions
Describe the outcome of Celeste’s plan?
Page 272 — Audubon was happy; he never got frustrated
272
Chapter 29
Comprehension questions
In what two ways did Celeste help Lafayette?
Page 275 — She saved his life and she freed him from the leather cord
275
Chapter 30
Comprehension questions
What did Celeste find and who do you think it belonged to?
Page 282 — A dollhouse; Eliza
282
Chapter 31
Comprehension questions
What emotions did Celeste feel in this chapter? Why?
Page 291 — Happy to have a new home; sad because she was alone
291
Chapter 32
Comprehension questions
How do you think Celeste felt to see Trixie in her new home?
Page 299 — Sad; Trixie wasn’t a good friend
299
Chapter 33
Comprehension questions
Why didn’t Celeste feel like she could ask Lafayette to give Trixie a ride in the gondola?
Page 305 — She didn’t know if he’d want to take her
305
Chapter 34
Comprehension questions
How has Trixie stolen Celeste’s home?
Page 309 — she’s eaten her food and makes herself at home
309
Chapter 35
Comprehension questions
Whose fault is it that Trixie isn’t coming back?
Page 314 — Her own; she shouldn’t have yanked the cord so hard as to break it
314
Chapter 36
Comprehension questions
Do you think Celeste should have gone back to her little house while Joseph was gone to dinner?
Page 322 — Listen to your child’s answer; she was followed by the cat and couldn’t get back to Joseph
322
Predict what you think will happen.
Listen to your child’s answer
Chapter 37
Comprehension questions
What helped Celeste’s nest feel like a home?
Page 336 — Friends
336
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