About
A new adventure takes Jack and Annie to Monterey Bay to find a job aboard a boat and fulfill a risky underwater mission. Before going home, they must decide what to do about an injured sea otter.
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
How do you know that Jack is reluctant to go on this mission?
Page 9 — He’s asking questions and tells Annie to wait so she doesn’t read the rhyme
9
Why is Jack reluctant to go to California?
Page 11 — He doesn’t know how to scuba dive and parts of the rhyme don’t make sense to him
11
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
Describe Bob.
Page 20 — Grouchy and rude; old with white hair
20
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
As Jack stared at his gear, he felt overwhelmed. What advice would you give him to help him know what to do?
Page 29 — Listen to your child’s answer
29
Have you ever felt overwhelmed about doing something? Explain.
Listen to our child’s answer
How did you get through it?
Listen to your child’s answer
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
Describe how Jack felt under the water.
Page 37 — Like he was in paradise; it was peaceful and relaxing; beautiful
37
Have you ever experienced something like this before? Explain.
Listen to your child’s answer
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
Summarize this chapter.
Page 38 — Jack and Annie filled their bags with sea urchins, but on their way back to the boat, the strong current drove them into a kelp forest. Jack stayed calm and freed them both; they had to drop their bags to get out of the forest, but they made it
38
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
Do you agree with Jack and Annie to help the otter? Why, or why not?
Page 49 — Listen to your child’s answer
49
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
What type of figurative speech is the phrase, “this is a living nightmare!”
Page 59 — It is a metaphor, but also could be an idiom
59
Why did Bob feel that way?
He felt out of control, and he was worried he would lose his fishing license
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
Where did Bob take them when he drove past the dock?
Page 67 — To the aquarium
67
How do you know?
Page 67 — The people that met them wore uniforms that said “Monterey Bay Aquarium
67
Why do you think Bob had a change of heart?
Page 62 — He saw the mom and baby together and realized they are living creatures that needed help. It softened his heart
62
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
Do you think Bob was serious or joking when he told Jack and Annie, they were the worst urchin divers he has ever seen? Explain.
Page 73 — Listen to your child’s answer
73
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
How had Bob changed?
Page 82 — He was impacted by the otters and softened
82
Why do you think the author used all capital letters when Bob spoke?
Page 82 — Listen to your child’s answer. Example: He has a loud voice; everything he says is spoken with intensity.
82
What did you like about this story?
Listen to your child’s answer
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.
