About
In the first book of the Calendar Mysteries — an early chapter book mystery series featuring the younger siblings of the A to Z Mysteries detectives — Green Lawn has a problem! When Bradley Pinto wakes up in the night to strange lights in his backyard, he wonders if there are aliens in town. When he sees three-toed tracks in the snow, he's sure of it. His twin, Brian, and friends Lucy and Nate aren't so certain. But then Lucy's cousin Dink, the twins' brother Josh, and Nate's sister Ruth Rose all disappear. Are there "really "aliens in Green Lawn? And where could they be taking Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose?
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
What’s the setting of this story?
Page 1 — In Brian and Bradley’s bedroom in the middle of the night
1
Who did the kids see outside by the barn?
Page 4 — Two aliens
4
Why did the kids think Nate was playing a trick on them?
Page 6 — Nate likes to do practical jokes on people; they knew it couldn’t be aliens
6
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
Who was babysitting the four friends?
Page 9 — Their older siblings and cousin; Dink, Ruth Rose & Josh
9
What did the kids have to do before they could ride Polly?
Page 10 — Clean up breakfast
10
What did the kids see in the snow that was proof Bradley saw a spaceship?
Page 13 — A big circle
13
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
Why did Bradley think Josh, Ruth Rose and Dink had been taken by aliens?
Page 17 — They couldn’t find them anywhere
17
What did the kids find on Josh’s printer?
Page 19 — A newspaper article about aliens taking children and animals back to their planet; it described a circle and funny footprints
19
What does Bradley think happened to Polly?
Page 20 — She was taken by the aliens
20
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
What did Ruth Rose and Josh tell the kids when they talked to them on the phone?
Page 21 — That aliens kidnapped them and they’re in a spaceship
21
Where do you think Pal was?
Page 24 — Listen to your child’s answer
24
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
Why did Lucy want to write down the clues they’ve found?
Page 26 — To organize her thoughts and help figure out the mystery
26
What peered at the kids through the window?
Page 28 — A green face with big teeth and a yellow face with big eyes staring at them
28
Where did the kids hide?
Page 30 — Under the stairs in a closet
30
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
What did the kids do to secure the house and make sure aliens wouldn’t come in?
Page 33 — lock the doors and close the shades
33
What funny prints did Lucy find in the alien book?
Page 34 — The same ones they saw outside
34
How was Lucy planning to capture the aliens?
Page 36 — Make them lunch; give them food
36
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
What food did Lucy use as bait?
Page 40 — Grapes
40
Where were the kids hoping to catch the aliens?
Page 40 — In the closet under the stairs
40
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
Who was in the closet and why?
Page 44 — Brian; he said the aliens put him there
44
Why did Bradley pinch Brian?
Page 46 — To show him he wasn’t dreaming
46
Why did Bradley write a note to his friends instead of just talking to them?
Page 48 — he thought the aliens were listening to them
48
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
What makes Bradley think the aliens are hiding in the attic?
Page 49 — They found Pal’s rubber toy on the bed and they think it must have dropped from the heat vent in the attic
49
Why haven’t the kids turned on the TV to see what was going on with the aliens?
Page 53 — They’ve been busy; haven’t thought of it
53
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
How did the kids get the note up to the attic?
Page 55 — They stuck it to the mop stick and put it through the heat vent
55
What did the aliens do that made Lucy mad?
Page 58 — They tore up her note and dropped the pieces back through the vent
58
Chapter 11
Comprehension questions
Why did Officer Fallon come to the house?
Page 60 — Bradley called him
60
Why did the police tell the kids to keep the door to the attic locked?
Page 60 — To keep whoever was hiding there wouldn’t escape; to keep the kids safe
60
Why was the twins’ mom upset?
Page 65 — Policemen and firemen had come to the house
65
Chapter 12
Comprehension questions
What did the police find in the attic?
Page 68 — Two stuffed aliens and Dink, Ruth Rose and Josh
68
Why did the older kids pull this prank on the first graders?
Page 70 — Because Nate had played a practical joke on them and they wanted to get him back
70
Why did the older kids plan the joke for that day?
Page 72 — They knew the parents would be out at breakfast together
72
Chapter 13
Comprehension questions
Who got to decide the punishment for the older kids?
Page 73 — The younger kids
73
What punishment did the younger kids agree on?
Page 74 — The older kids had to sit in Ellie’s diner dressed up as aliens, and they couldn’t talk
74
When Officer Fallon asked for an autograph what was Josh’s response?
Page 77 — He wanted ice cream, so if Officer Fallon bought it for him, then he’d sign anything
77
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.
