Category Archives: Author

Comprehension Questions – The Never Girls #5 Wedding Wings

Wedding Wings

by Kiki Thorpe

Grades 1-4; Genre - Fantasy; GRL N; AR pts. 2.0

The Never Girls are going to a wedding, and Gabby is the flower girl. When the fairies hear about it, they wish they could go, too. One little fairy hiding in Gabby's basket couldn't cause too much trouble, right?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What did Gabby want to tell her friends in Never Land? She’s the flower girl at a wedding p.3
  2. What rule did Gabby forget? She needs to wait for all her friends to go to Never Land p.10
  3. Should Gabby tell her friends she went to Never Land without them? Why, or why not? Yes, she needs to be honest so they can trust her p.12
  4. Have you been to a wedding? Explain. Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 2

  1. Was Gabby honest in this chapter? Explain? She didn’t tell her friends she went to Never Land; she didn’t tell her sister a fairy was coming to the wedding p.22
  2. Is it a good idea for Bess to come to the wedding? Explain. Predict what you think will happen. Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 3

  1. What trouble did Gabby find in this chapter? She tried on the veil when she wasn’t supposed to touch it; she used fairy dust on it to put it back on the hanger, but it instead flew out the window p.40

Chapter 4

  1. Summarize Bess’s adventure at the wedding. She went to explore and was interested in a place setting, saw two people that looked like fairies and realized she was standing on the cake, she made footprints in the frosting then fell off; she found the chocolate fountain and fell in; people saw her and thought she was a big brown bug p.44
  2. Why was she in danger? Humans don’t like bugs and may want to squish her p.54

Chapter 5

  1. Describe Gabby’s solution to getting the veil back. She used fairy dust to try and catch it p.63
  2. Was it wise? Explain. Listen to your child’s answer 

Chapter 6

  1. What similar choice did Gabby and Bess make? To not tell the entire truth p.71
  2. Who captured Bess? Daniel, the ring bearer p.68

Chapter 7

  1. Why do Mia and her friends need to climb a tree? To help Gabby get unstuck p.84

Chapter 8

  1. How did Gabby feel when she told her friends everything? Relieved p.90
  2. Have you ever felt this way? Explain. 
  3. What solution did Gabby think of so no one would see her in the air? Fly behind Daniel’s kite p.91

Chapter 9

  1. What was different about the veil? The fairies had cleaned it, repaired it, put drew drops on it; it looked more beautiful and had fairy dust still on it p.100
  2. Why did Gabby wear her wings to the wedding? Julia asked her too; wearing her wings and pretending to be a fairy is part of who Gabby is p.105

Chapter 10

  1. Why is Gabby comfortable showing Daniel her fairy friends? He could see them; she’d borrowed his kite; he’d seen Gabby flying p.111
  2. Were you correct in your earlier prediction? Listen to your child’s answer

Comprehension Questions – The Never Girls #4 From the Mist

From the Mist

by Kiki Thorpe

Grades 1-4; Genre - Fantasy; GRL N; AR pts. 1.0

Kate gets her wish when mysterious mist horses arrive in Pixie Hollow and one takes her on a journey through the magical island.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Out of the four girls, who is the main character of this story? How do you know? Kate; the story is told from her perspective p.1
  2. What was strange about Never Land? A mist covered the land p.9
  3. Why did it worry the queen? It’s uncommon p.12

Chapter 2

  1. Was it wise for the queen to ground the fairies? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer p.17
  2. What did the mist bring? Mist horses p.24

Chapter 3

  1. Describe the mist horses. Large, manes and tails disappear into the mist, ghostly gray eyes, cause trouble p.25
  2. What brave action did Kate take in this chapter? She touched and rode a horse p.33
  3. Predict what will happen to Kate as she tries to take the horse back to the herd. Listen to your child’s answer p.40

Chapter 4

  1. Why is Kate in danger? Mist horses enchant the rider to never want to stop riding p.45

Chapter 5

  1. Do you think the legend is true? What evidence in this chapter shows Kate was enchanted? Kate didn’t want to give up her horse and continued making excuses to ride her; she named her Cloud and felt like she was her horse p.51

Chapter 6

  1. Why did Silvermist feel unsure of herself in this chapter? She felt like her decisions were not helping find Kate p.73

Chapter 7

  1. Choose a word to describe Kate in this chapter. Explain. Prideful, selfish, etc.

Chapter 8

  1. What danger is Kate in? If they don’t find her, Cloud will spirit her away up into the clouds forever p.89
  2. What clues did the friends find to help them know they were on the path to finding Kate? An eaten apple; the fog was thick p.94

Chapter 9

  1. Summarize this chapter. They girls move a log with fairy dust to span a river to get across; Lainey almost falls in the river; they find Kate on her horse standing on the edge of a cliff; the horse stepped off the edge p.99

Chapter 10

  1. What’s the conclusion to this story? Cloud landed near Kate’s friends and Kate let Cloud go to run wild with her herd p.111
  2. What lesson did Kate hopefully learn in this story? Listen to your child’s answer; tell her friends where she was going

Comprehension Questions – The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden

by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Grades 5-8; Genre - Fiction; GRL U; AR pts. 13.0

After the sudden death of her parents in India, Mary Lennox is sent 'home' to England, and the Yorkshire estate of a distant relative. Sad and lonely, her only interest lies in a secret garden, abandoned after a tragic accident. With the help of Dickon, a local country boy, and Colin, her guardian's invalid son, Mary's spirit is reawakened as they bring the garden back to life.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe the main character and how she became alone. Mary Lennox; disagreeable looking, spoiled, sickly, thin, yellow hair and face, born in India; was raised by a servant because her mother didn’t want her since she was a girl; her parents, Ayah and other servants died of cholera; she was alone and was going to live with her uncle p.7

Chapter 2

  1. Describe Mrs. Medlock. Mary’s uncle’s housekeeper; short and stout; stern and would take no nonsense from children p.16
  2. Describe her uncle’s house. has a hundred rooms with doors that are mostly locked; gloomy; on the edge of a moor p.17

Chapter 3

  1. Define a moor. Miles of wild land without trees; used for animals to graze on p.21
  2. Summarize this chapter. Mary and Mrs. Medlock travel in the carriage for the last leg of their journey to her uncle’s house p.19

Chapter 4

  1. Describe Martha. Pleasant, good attitude, talkative, hard worker, has 11 siblings, strong p.24
  2. What does the following phrase mean, “give you some stomach for your meat”? Help her be hungry so she’ll eat p.29
  3. What did Mary learn about herself in this chapter? She’s lonely; she’s not pretty and has a nasty temper p.35

Chapter 5

  1. Summarize why Mary’s uncle hates the garden. He and his wife used to tend the garden and spend time together in it; one day she sat on a branch which broke and she died p.40
  2. List two good things that have happened to Mary since arriving at Misselthwaite Manor? She understood the robin; she’s run in the wind until her blood ran warm, she was hungry for the first time in her life; she felt sorry for someone p.41

Chapter 6

  1. How did Mary amuse herself in the chapter? Wandered the house and explored p.45
  2. Why did Mrs. Medlock get angry with her? Mary heard crying and left her rooms p.48

Chapter 7

  1. How did Mary acquire the old key? The robin landed in a hole that had been dug by a dog p.53

Chapter 8

  1. What did Mary say for the first time in her life and why? Thank you; Martha’s mother had purchased her a skipping rope p.56
  2. How did Mary find the secret garden door? She was skipping rope and the robin landed on a vine that blew in the breeze and uncovered it p.59

Chapter 9

  1. Summarize this chapter. Mary goes into the Secret Garden and explores; she finds bulbs growing and digs around them to give them room to grow; she wrote to Dickon and sent him some shillings to purchase garden tools and seeds; Mary heard the crying sound again p.62

Chapter 10

  1. Describe Dickon. 12 years old; Martha’s brother; purchased seeds and tools for Mary and brought them to her; he has a way with animals; he’s kind; round blue eyes; wears clothes with patches; is trustworthy p.76

Chapter 11

  1. Summarize what Dickon and Mary did in this chapter. Explore the Secret Garden and look for plants that were alive p.82

Chapter 12

  1. Describe Mr. Craven. Mary’s uncle; kind and handsome; worried and distracted; miserable; tall with crooked shoulders; black hair with white streaks 91

Chapter 13

  1. Describe Colin. Mr. Craven’s son; sickly; said he’s going to die young; 10 years old; black hair; big eyes; delicate face the color of ivory; doesn’t like people talking about him p.97
  2. How did Colin feel about the Secret Garden and how did Mary stop him from telling others about it? He was curious and wouldn’t stop asking about it; Mary described it, pretending she hadn’t been there and said it was important to keep a secret p.102

Chapter 14

  1. Why does everyone want Colon to remember he’s sick? So he doesn’t get better p.115

Chapter 15

  1. How are Colin and Mary similar? Colin’s father doesn’t want him and Mary’s mother didn’t want her; they both have lived without love in their lives; they are spoiled, both have been given everything they want, p.124

Chapter 16

  1. Why was it good for Mary to stand up to Colin? He’s never had anyone stand up to him p.130

Chapter 17

  1. How did Mary stop Colin’s tantrum? She didn’t have sympathy and wasn’t scared of him; she told him to stop and that he didn’t have a lump on his back and that he wouldn’t die p.134

Chapter 18

  1. Choose a word that describes how Mary feels about Colin. Explain. Compassionate; trusting; love; friendship. Listen to your child’s answer p.139

Chapter 19

  1. Summarize Colin’s reaction to meeting Dickon and his animal friends. He was speechless and in awe p.151

Chapter 20

  1. Why did Colin feel stronger and healthier? He has something to look forward to, a reason to live; he was distracted from his illness p.158
  2. Why did he feel like he will live forever? He felt good and had hope p.160

Chapter 21

  1. Why were the children so joyous to see spring? Mary and Colin had never seen it blossom before p.161
  2. Why didn’t Mary and Dickon want to talk about the old tree with the broken branch? They thought it would be too sad for Collin to know that his mother died from the broken branch p.163
  3. Why did Ben Weatherstaff cry when he saw Colin stand? He was so happy p.169

Chapter 22

  1. Summarize this chapter. Ben Weatherstaff came into the garden and asked Colin what he could do for him; Collin told him to keep the garden a secret; Ben had been the one coming in to the garden; Colin planted a rose as a king in his new place p.170
  2. Why was this chapter so special? Colin is learning he is strong and will be healthy; Colin has people who love and support him p.174

Chapter 23

  1. Why does Colon talk of Magic? What is it to him? The Magic in the garden is what’s going to make him stronger like the sun and the flowers p.176

Chapter 24

  1. Explain Colin and Mary’s predicament and how it’s solved. They were eating so much food it was going to ruin Colin’s secret that he was getting strong; Colin wanted to show his father that he’s strong and walking; Dickon’s mother made buns for them and told Dickon to take a bucket of fresh milk for them; Dickon baked potatoes and carrots in a little oven he concocted in the woods near the manor; they didn’t need to request more food from the cook in the manor p.188

Chapter 25

  1. How did the children entertain themselves on rainy days? Exploring the house and using the empty rooms to do their exercises and run about p.198
  2. Why is Colin going to keep the curtain pulled back? So he can see his mother laughing and being happy for him p.201

Chapter 26

  1. List two names used to describe God in this chapter. Magic; the Big Good Thing; the Good Thing; the Joy Maker p.207
  2. How did Susan Sowerby respond when Colin said he wanted her for a mother. She gave him a hug and said his mother is in the garden p.208

Chapter 27

  1. Summarize the conclusion of this story. Mr. Craven started to awake out of his despair and went home; he went to the Secret Garden; Colin ran into him and told him everything; Mr. Craven was joyous to see his son p.209

Comprehension Questions – Tuck Everlasting

Tuck Everlasting

by Natalie Babbitt

Grades 4-8; Genre - Fantasy; GRL W; AR pts. 4.0

Winnie Foster is faced with difficult decisions after she is kidnapped by the Tuck family, who have discovered a spring that gives eternal life. Text contains mild violence.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe the setting of this story. A cottage and forest owned by the Fosters; takes place in August p.5

Chapter 2

  1. What did you learn in this chapter? Mae and Tuck’s sons are coming home after 10 years and their appearances haven’t changed in 87 years, they needed to be careful and not let anyone see them p.9

Chapter 3

  1. Describe what you know about Winnie. Her name is Winifred; she’s an only child; wants to run away because her family’s demanding p.14

Chapter 4

  1. Predict what the man in the yellow suit wants with the family. Listen to your child’s answer
  2. What’s the music coming from? The music box p.20

Chapter 5

  1. Do you think Jesse was serious when he said he was 104 years old? Listen to your child’s answer p.28
  2. Why do you think Jesse didn’t want Winnie to drink from the spring? Listen to your child’s answer p.29

Chapter 6

  1. Describe what you know about the Tuck Family. Mother and father, two sons, Jesse and Miles; Miles is the oldest; Jesse is 17 years old; nice family p.31

Chapter 7

  1. Summarize the Tuck’s story and why they kidnapped Winnie. 100 years ago, they were wandering to find land and came upon the spring, they and their horse drank from it; nothing could hurt them and they never grew older; the cat who never drank the water died 10 years before; they knew no one else could ever find the spring p.37

Chapter 8

  1. Why did the Tuck’s want to take Winnie home with them? To make sure she understood how serious their secret was p.43
  2. Why do you think the man in the yellow suit was happy after overhearing the Tuck’s story? He was looking for the spring p.45

Chapter 9

  1. How did Tuck respond to Winnie and why? He was happy she knew about their secret and that she was at their home; he was happy to see and interact with a child p.48

Chapter 10

  1. What did Winnie think about the Tuck’s home? Messy but comfortable p.52
  2. Describe how the Tuck’s live their lives? The parents live in the home all the time and make things to sell, going to the different towns around them so they don’t bring attention to themselves; the boys stay away finding jobs to work for a while, but don’t stay in any one place too long; they come home when they want and every ten years p.53

Chapter 11

  1. Why was Tuck adamant to take Winnie for a ride in the row boat? So he could convince her to keep their secret p.58

Chapter 12

  1. What did Tuck compare their lives to in this chapter? A boat that is stuck and can never flow in the current of life; a rock on the side of the road p.63

Chapter 13

  1. Summarize this chapter. The man in the yellow suit has stolen the Tuck’s horse and tied it to the Foster’s fence; he knocked on the door and told them he knew where Winnie was p.66

Chapter 14

  1. What proposal did Jesse give to Winnie? She should drink the spring water when she turns 17 years old, they would get married, and travel the world and do what they want p.71

Chapter 15

  1. What deal did the man in the yellow suit offer the Fosters? He’d show the constable where Winnie is and in return they’d sell him the woods p.74

Chapter 16

  1. Predict what the man in the yellow suit’s plan is. Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 17

  1. What resolve did Winnie come to in this chapter? She would keep the Tuck’s secret p.86

Chapter 18

  1. Why did Winnie feel like the Tuck’s belonged to her? They were kind and treated her like family; she’d grown fond of them p.91

Chapter 19

  1. What did the man in the yellow suit intend to do with the woods? Sell the spring water p.97

Chapter 20

  1. Why don’t the Tuck’s want the man in the yellow suit to die? If he does, Mae will be hung p.104

Chapter 21

  1. What’s the conflict Winnie faces in this chapter? How is it resolved? Mae hung at the gallows if the man in the yellow suit dies; the contract is void if he dies p.108
  2. Predict what Winnie plans to do. Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 22

  1. How did Winnie’s family treat her differently? They respected what she wanted to do instead of bossing her around and controlling her p.111
  2. How will Winnie make a difference? When Mae crawls out of the windows of the jail, Winnie will climb in and wrap herself in a blanket to look like Mae; this will give the Tuck’s time to escape p.114

Chapter 23

  1. Why did the day seem to last so long? Winnie was anxious for midnight to roll around so she could free Mae p.116

Chapter 24

  1. Describe Mae’s break out. Jesse met Winnie and they ran to the back of the jail and met Miles and Tuck; Miles poured oil over the nails so they wouldn’t squeak; lightning flashed and thunder crashed which covered up the noise; the constable only checked in on Mae once and they all ducked; with a clap of thunder Miles pulled out the bars; Mae squeezed through and after hugs and kisses, Winnie slid into the jail through the window p.121

Chapter 25

  1. What helped Winnie’s family understand and support her for what she had done? She told them she loved the Tuck’s and they were her friends p.130
  2. Why did Winnie use Jesse’s water on the toad? She wanted to keep it safe and if the spring was truly a magic spring she could drink straight from it p.132

Epilogue 

  1. What did Tuck find? How? Winnie didn’t drink the water and died two years previous; he saw her gravestone in the cemetery p.137

Comprehension Questions – The Chocolate Touch

The Chocolate Touch

by Patrick Skene Catling

Grades 1-6; Genre - Fantasy; GRL N; AR pts. 2.0

If he could, John Midas would eat nothing but chocolate all the time, and he'd never share it with anyone. Then one day, John finds a strange coin on the sidewalk and uses it to buy a box of chocolate at a mysterious new candy store.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe John. A boy who loves candy more han any other food and loves chocolate more than any candy p.13
  2. How did John’s candy habits affect his mother? Because he ate so much candy, he doesn’t eat the food she makes; she worries about his health p.20

Chapter 2

  1. What did John do to show he was excited to eat his chocolate? Got ready for bed quickly, drank his tonic without complaint, went to bed early p.31

Chapter 3

  1. Describe what happened to John in this chapter. Why? Whatever he put into his mouth turned into chocolate; the chocolate he ate was magic p.36

Chapter 4

  1. How did John make Susan sad? He bit into her silver dollar and the part he bit turned chocolate p.54

Chapter 5

  1. Why did John think the magic was getting stronger? The entire pencil John held turned to chocolate after just one bite; entire objects are turning to chocolate p.60

Chapter 6

  1. Why is Susan ignoring John? She’s mad at him for eating her silver dollar p.67

Chapter 7

  1. Why is John craving healthy food? He’s tired of only tasting chocolate p.76

Chapter 8

  1. Summarize this chapter. John had a solo in the orchestra, but when he played his trumpet it turned to chocolate p.87

Chapter 9

  1. What made John change his mind and go to the party? Mrs. Buttercup came to pick him up p.94

chapter 10

  1. What did John find when he looked for the candy store? It wasn’t there p.103

Chapter 11

  1. Who gave John the chocolate touch? Why? the store owner; to help him be selfless instead of selfish p.118

Chapter 12

  1. Did John learn his lesson? Why or why not? Yes; he cared more for others than himself at the end of the story p.122

Comprehension Questions – Sarah, Plain and Tall Series #3 Caleb’s Story

Caleb's Story

by Patricia MacLachlan

Grades 2-6; Genre - Fiction; GRL R; AR pts. 2.0

The stranger lurking on the Witting family's prairie farm turns out to be their long-lost grandfather, whose presence, plus prodding from Caleb, forces Jacob to deal with his past.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Who’s telling the story? How do you know? Caleb; the journal entry at the beginning is his p.3
  2. Where’s Anna going? To work in town, she’s a nurse p.7

Chapter 2

  1. Predict who the old man is? Listen to your child’s answer
  2. Should Sarah have let him into the house? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 3

  1. Why did John want to play hide and seek with Cassie? To distract her so she wouldn’t stare at the man p.25

Chapter 4

  1. Who is the man and why is Jacob shocked to see him? Jacob’s father; he was told he was dead p.35

Chapter 5

  1. Why is Jacob upset to see his father? He left their family when he was young and never came back p.44

Chapter 6

  1. Why was grandfather upset with Sarah? She found out about his pills and said they would take him to the doctor in town p.57

Chapter 7

  1. Why did Sarah warn Anna to be careful? She didn’t want her to get sick with the influenza that was spreading p.68
  2. Why didn’t Grandfather ever want to read? He didn’t know how p.72

Chapter 8

  1. What was the result of Cassie’s comment at dinner? Jacob and his father pushed each other around and Jacob got hurt p.81

Chapter 9

  1. What does it mean to set a bone? To line it up the broken bone so it can heal straight p.83

Chapter 10

  1. Why is it important for Jacob to forgive his father? So, he won’t be angry anymore p.99

Chapter 11

  1. How did Sarah get stuck in the snow? There was a bad snow storm and she tried to follow the rope, but it broke p.106

Chapter 12

  1. How could Jacob forgive his father? By sharing his own feelings as well as listening and understanding his father’s; by letting go of his pride p.112

Comprehension Questions – Sarah, Plain and Tall Series #2 Skylark

Skylark

by Patricia MacLachlan

This book mentions skinny dipping.

Grades 2-6; Genre - Fiction; GRL R; AR pts. 1.0

Maine was beautiful, but Anna missed home, and Papa. And as the weeks went by, she began to wonder what would happen if the rains never came. Would she and Caleb and Sarah and Papa ever be a family again?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe what is happening at the beginning of this book. Papa, Sarah, Anna and Caleb are getting a family picture taken; the land is in a drought; Caleb is worried Sarah’s going to leave; Papa said no matter how bad it gets they won’t ever leave p.3

Chapter 2

  1. Explain in your own words what Sarah meant on page 13. Some people can express more when they write than when they speak
  2. Do you write in a journal? What do you like to write about? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 3

  1. What is Sarah thinking when she sadly and thoughtfully said, “I am surrounded by motherhood”? She wants to have a baby p.16

Chapter 4

  1. Why didn’t Sarah want to read her aunt’s letter out loud? It talks of rain and green grass; Anna’s family is still in a drought and she didn’t want to make Papa feel stressed p.25

Chapter 5

  1. Why did Maggie get upset with Sarah in the store? Sarah doesn’t understand how hard it is to pack up and leave due to the drought p.31

Chapter 6

  1. What did Caleb see in the field and were they able to take care of it? A fire; yes they put it out p.35

Chapter 7

  1. What do you think Sarah day dreamed about if it’s not Maine? Having a baby p.41
  2. How does Sarah really feel about living there? She hates it p.44

Chapter 8

  1. Describe Sarah’s birthday party. The neighbors all came; there was music and dancing; lemonade and food; Anna gave Sarah a book she had written p.51

Chapter 9

  1. Why was it decided Sarah would take the children to Maine? Another fire burned down the barn and they have to travel further for water; it was getting too dangerous p.60

Chapter 10

  1. Summarize this chapter. It tells of the journey to Maine and how Sarah’s aunts showered them with love when they arrived p.62

Chapter 11

  1. Predict what you think will happen. Is Maine going to be their new home? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 12

  1. Which two birds was Sarah compared to in this chapter? Why? Skylark for singing and prairie lark that hasn’t come to earth p.80

Chapter 13

  1. Why do you think Anna wasn’t able to answer Caleb when he asked if they would see Papa again? She didn’t know if or when they would p.88

Chapter 14

  1. What good news did Papa and Sarah share in this chapter? Sarah was having a baby in the spring p.93

Chapter 15

  1. What was significant about Sarah writing her name in the dirt? It meant she was ready to come to earth and call the prairie her home p.96

Comprehension Questions – James and the Giant Peach

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Grades 4-5; Genre - Fantasy; GRL S; AR pts. 4.0

James Henry Trotter loses his parents and is forced to live with his evil aunts. Luckily, he is given magic crystals, which he accidentally spills on his aunts' decrepit peach tree. One of the peaches begins to grow, and grow, and grow. Finally, James climbs into the peach and it rolls away from his aunts' yard and his miserably lonely life. With the giant peach, he begins a new life, making friends along the way with hilarious characters like the Grasshopper and the Earthworm.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe James’s situation. He lived near the ocean with his parents until he was 4 years old; his parents were killed by a rhinoceros in London one day and he went to live with his two horrible aunts who wouldn’t allow him to leave the garden where they lived; a peach tree was in the garden, but it never bore fruit p.1

Chapter 2

  • Describe the main character’s aunts. Selfish, lazy, thought they were beautiful, mean to James; Aunt Sponge was fat and short with piggy shaped eyes and sunken mouth; Aunt Spiker was tall and lean, would spit when she talked p.5

Chapter 3

  1. Who approached James and what did he give him? An old man; magic crystals p.10

Chapter 4

  1. What instructions did the man give James and what did he promise him? Put them in a large jug of water with ten hairs from his head and drink; wonderful things will happen to him p.12

Chapter 5

  1. Where did the crystals disappear to? Why? James tripped and the crystals all disappeared into the ground near the peach tree p.13

Chapter 6

  1. What was peculiar about the peach tree? A peach was growing on it p.16

Chapter 7

  1. What did Aunt Spiker want to do with the peach? Make money by charging people to see it p.24

Chapter 8

  1. What did the aunts have James do that day? Stay in his room locked up and clean up the garbage after everyone left p.26

Chapter 9

  1. What did James feel in the moonlight? Something more peculiar was going to happen to him p.28

Chapter 10

  1. Summarize this chapter. James found a hole in the peach and climbed into it, crawling down a tunnel to the middle of the peach, through a doorway into the peach pit p.30

Chapter 11

  1. Why was James terrified in this chapter? He thought the human sized insects were going to eat him p.34

Chapter 12

  1. How did the insects get to be so large and human like? The magic crystals p.38

Chapter 13

  1. Describe how James felt about his new friends? He liked them, they were kind and helpful p.43

Chapter 14

  1. Where were the creatures and James going? They didn’t know, they just wanted to go somewhere to get away from James’s aunts and the hill they were on p.45

Chapter 15

  1. What happened to James’s aunts? The peach rolled over them and they were smashed p.48

Chapter 16

  1. What book, also written by Roald Dahl, was referenced in this chapter? Charlie and the Chocolate Factory p.50

Chapter 17

  1. Describe the journey James and the creatures had to the ocean? They were tossed around, hitting into each other until they landed on the water p.53

Chapter 18

  1. What good news did James have for the creatures in this chapter? They wouldn’t starve because they had the peach to eat p.60

Chapter 19

  1. What attacked the peach and why were the creatures worried? Sharks; with each bite from the sharks, the peach will be eaten away p.66

Chapter 20

  1. What was James’s plan to save them from the sharks? Take string from the spider and silk worm and tie it from the peach stem to seagulls to lift the peach out of the water p.70

Chapter 21

  1. Why did James become the captain of the peach ship? He took charge p.75

Chapter 22

  1. What word would you use to describe James in this chapter? Listen to your child’s answer; determined, hard worker, clever, smart p.75

Chapter 23

  1. Why do you think the peach wasn’t damaged by the sharks? Listen to your child’s answer; magic, the sharks couldn’t get their teeth into it p.83

Chapter 24

  1. List one thing James learned in this chapter? How grasshoppers play music; where their ears are; where crickets and katydids ears are p.87

Chapter 25

  1. Summarize what James learned in this chapter? How each of his insect friends help the world p.89

Chapter 26

  1. How did James help the centipede in this chapter? He saved him; the centipede fell over the edge of the peach into the water and James asked silk work to spin rope and went in after him p.95

Chapter 27

  1. What caused hail stones to hit the peach? The Cloud-Men because Centipede called them names p.104

Chapter 28

  1. What danger were the friends in this chapter? The Cloud-Men saw them and threw whatever they could at them p.112

Chapter 29

  1. Why is Centipede upset in this chapter? The Cloud-Men hit him with paint and he was stuck p.113

Chapter 30

  1. What freed Centipede? The Blood-Men dumped water on them and it washed the paint off p.118

Chapter 31

  1. What did the author say the weather is a result of? The Cloud-Men working their sinister magic upon the world below p.120

Chapter 32

  1. What’s James’s plan to get the peach down to the earth? Cut a few of the strings holding the peach p.122

Chapter 33

  1. What did the people in America think the peach was? A bomb p.123

Chapter 34

  1. Why did the friends think they were going to die? An airplane came through the air and sliced through every string holding the peach p.126

Chapter 35

  1. Summarize this chapter. People in the city thought they were going to die along with those in the peach p.127

Chapter 36

  1. What saved the peach? It fell onto the Empire State Building p.128

Chapter 37

  1. What helped the fire fighters and police officers not be afraid of the creatures in the peach? James spoke up for them p.134

Chapter 38

  1. Why was James so happy in this chapter? 10,000 Children asked if they could try the peach; he’d never seen so many children in his life p.141

Chapter 39

  1. Summarize the conclusion of this story. It describes what happens to each of the creatures and James; James was so happy to have so many children who wanted to meet him and hear his story p.145

Comprehension Questions – #4 Isadora Moon Has a Birthday

Isadora Moon Has a Birthday

by Harriet Muncaster

Grades 1-4; Genre - Fantasy; GRL N; AR pts. 1.0

Half-fairy, half-vampire Isadora Moon wants a normal human birthday party, but will her parents be able to meet her request?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Why does Isadora like human birthday parties? There’s fun games and activities, party favors, cake and ice cream p.9

Chapter 2

  1. Why did Isadora get in trouble at school? Her dad had sent her birthday invitations via bat wings and they flew into the classroom interrupting the lesson p.18

Chapter 3

  1. Why is Isadora irritated her cousin Wilbur came to the party? He can do magic tricks, but she wanted a human magician who would do pretend magic p.28

Chapter 4

  1. Summarize this chapter. Isadora changed into her costume for her party and guests arrived in their costumes p.33

Chapter 5

  1. What made Isadora nervous in this chapter? Wilbur turned her friend into a box of frogs and she was worried he couldn’t turn him back again p.47

Chapter 6

  1. What went wrong in this chapter? Wilbur gave the cloud more bounce and as the children bounced on it, the pegs snapped and the clouds went back into the sky with Isadora’s friends p.62

Chapter 7

  1. What’s Samantha’s plan to get back down? Isadora make wings on the costumes real so the children can fly themselves and each other down p.75

Chapter 8

  1. How did the children react when Isadora’s mom admitted they should have made the party more like human parties? Isadora’s friends said they liked it just the way it was; that they liked her family just the way they were p.85

Chapter 9

  1. What part of the cake did the children want to eat? The vampire and fairy layer p.90

Chapter 10

  1. Why was it important for Wilbur to apologize to Isadora? He should have listened to her p.96
  2. What gift did Isadora’s parents give her? A wand p.100

Comprehension Questions – Magic Tree House #35 Camp Time in California

Camp Time in California

by Mary Pope Osborne

Grades 1-4; Genre - Historical Fiction with Fantastical Elements; GRL M; AR pts. 1.0

When the magic tree house whisks Jack and Annie back in time, they land in the tallest tree in Yosemite, California where they join nature conservationist, John Muir, and US President Teddy Roosevelt on a historic trip through the woods.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Where’s the setting for this story? Yosemite, a National park in California p.7

Chapter 2

  1. How did Jack and Annie learn their pencils were magic? They had to start using them p.17

Chapter 3

  1. Did Jack and Annie follow Jack’s instructions when they ran into the bear? Explain. No, they ran away from it and Jack read people shouldn’t run from bears p.25

Chapter 4

  1. Summarize this chapter. Jack and Annie meet some travelers in the forest and were invited to join them for the night p.29
  2. Is it smart for Jack and Annie to join them? Why, or why not? Yes, it’ll keep them safe p.35

Chapter 5

  1. Do you know who Teddy is? Listen to your child’s answer
  2. How did Teddy help Jack? Helped him feel like he could ride the mule p.41

Chapter 6

  1. What helped Jack enjoy his experience? Forgetting about himself p.52

Chapter 7

  1. Why was Annie upset and what helped her feel better? Finding out the oldest tree in the world was cut down; Jack took her up to the cliffs edge and looked at the stars p.59

Chapter 8

  1. Who is Teddy? Theodore Roosevelt, the President of the United States p.69
  2. Why did he go on an adventure in the Yosemite wilderness? To see the value in making it a National Park p.71

Chapter 9

  1. Explain John’s attitude of being in the wilderness. He loves it more than being inside p.78

Chapter 10

  1. What did Jack and Annie learn about drawing? Helped them understand what they drew p.90