Category Archives: Writing Prompts

Comprehension Questions – Magic Tree House Super Edition #1 Danger in the Darkest Hour

Danger in the Darkest Hour

By Mary Pope Osborne

Grades 2-5; Genre – Historical Fiction with Fantastical Elements; GRL T; AR 3.0

The Magic Tree House has taken Jack and Annie back in time to England in 1944. England is fighting for its life in World War II. Before long, Jack and Annie find themselves parachuting into Normandy, France, behind enemy lines. The date is June 5. Will the brave brother and sister team be able to make a difference during one of the darkest times in history? They don't know, but they have to try!

Vocabulary

Writing Prompts

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. How did Jack feel when Annie interrupted his reading? He was frustrated; impatient; mad p.5
  2. What was so interesting about the pigeon Annie found? It had a canister to carry messages; it was a carrier pigeon p.7
  3. Who sent the message for Jack and Annie? Teddy p.10

Chapter 2

  1. Describe the setting of the area Annie and Jack traveled to. Hazy; ducks on the pond; sheep grazing in the field; broken down buildings, stone pillars and crumbling archways; Glastonbury, England; 1944 p.14
  2. Why is Teddy concerned about Kathleen? She went on a mission, but hasn’t returned and sent a carrier pigeon with a message in a secret code, but Teddy can’t figure it out p.21
  3. Explain why the times Jack and Annie traveled to were dark. Teddy is limited in his magic; Kathleen is missing; the war is going on and many people are affected p.22
  4. How were Jack and Annie going to travel to Normandy? By jumping out of a plane with parachutes p.26

Chapter 3

  1. Who would Jack and Annie need to find to help send a message to Teddy? Someone from the French Resistance p.30
  2. Demonstrate the ways Jack and Annie can make the Victory sign. Holding up two fingers that make a V; drawing it on a piece of paper; scratching it in the dirt; or any other way you can think of p.30
  3. Tell me three of the supplies Teddy gave Jack and Annie for their mission? Old fashioned pack; Flashlight; clothes; boots; parachutes; goggles; helmet; identity cards with French names p.31

Chapter 4

  1. What was Annie’s attitude when she found out they didn’t have the magic wand? Positive; determined; looking on the bright side; but then she got scared and Jack had to encourage her p.44
  2. Why did Jack and Annie hide in the barn? They heard dogs and men searching for them p.50
  3. Why did the German shepherd barking at them calm down? Annie used her “making friends with animals” skills p.51

Chapter 5

  1. Who are Gaston and Suzette? A married couple a part of the French Resistance p.53
  2. Describe where Jack and Annie stayed the night. Gaston and Suzette’s home in the cellar that had hundreds of wine bottles and smelled dank and musty p.58
  3. What happened to Gaston and Suzette’s twin boys? They were couriers and got caught by the Nazi’s when they were putting up a message of hope p.60

Chapter 6

  1. Why was is so important that Gaston and Suzette had a wireless? That was how Jack and Annie were supposed to communicate with Teddy once they found Kathleen p.65
  2. What were the code phrases the French Resistance used and what did they mean? Code Purple: destroy communication lines so the Nazi’s don’t find out what’s happening; Code Green: Resistance Fighters need to blow bridges and train tracks to keep enemy troops from traveling to that area p.66
  3. Why did Gaston want the children to leave France? An invasion was happening the next day p.70
  4. What did Suzette and Gaston give to the children to help them on their journey? A compass; hats; bikes and advice p.74

Chapter 7

  1. What did Jack do that made people chase them? Made the V signal to a horse and buggy that passed them p.80
  2. How did Jack and Annie escape? A milk man told them to get into his truck and he took them to Caen p.83
  3. Describe the busy town square Jack and Annie were in. Women with children buying food, cloth and lace; cobblestone streets; quaint buildings; church covered with ivy; small train depot; sidewalk café p.84

Chapter 8

  1. Who did Annie mean when she said, “I hate them.”? The Nazi’s p.90
  2. Why did she so strongly dislike the Nazi’s? they were cruel p.90
  3. Why were the Nazi officers going to arrest Jack? They found Resistance papers in the pack p.92
  4. When Jack held up the flyers in the bistro, who did the waitress go get and why? Her mom; she wanted to know how Jack and Annie knew the twins p.100

Chapter 9

  1. What good news did Sylvie give the children? That Tom and Theo escaped from jail and are safe to the south of France p.102
  2. What did Kathleen mean when she wrote knights and small, round cows? They were types of apples p.106
  3. Who do you think was singing the song, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star?  Listen to your child’s ideas p.110

Chapter 10

  1. Who did Jack and Annie find in the cave? Kathleen and refugee children p.112
  2. Explain how Kathleen has taken care of the children day and night? In the day the stay in the cave and at night they sneak into the chateau’s attic and sleep while Kathleen goes and looks for food p.114
  3. Why do you think the Nazis arrested Sophie and Sarah’s parents for being scientists and Jewish?  The Nazis were sending the Jews to concentration camps. This is a good opportunity to have a discussion with your child about the Holocaust if they’re ready for it. P.115
  4. Describe Annie’s plan to get them all to the drop zone? Sneak the kids out at night, get in a delivery truck, Jack will drive it to the drop zone and Teddy will pick them up in a bigger plane p.119

Chapter 11

  1. Describe how Jack began to feel as he talked with Kathleen and felt her hope? Began to have courage and feel like he could drive the truck p.125
  2. Why did Kathleen write a note for the baker? Because they were taking his truck without asking permission and told him where he could find it p.126
  3. On the last page of this chapter, it commented on Jack’s throat getting tight. What does that mean? He was feeling emotional/ like crying because he really wanted to help the kids find freedom p.132

Chapter 12

  1. Why was Jack so nervous they were going to get caught by the Nazis? They had to go through a checkpoint p.134
  2. How did they make it through the checkpoint safely? Kathleen tricked Jack into thinking she had cast an invisibility spell p.140
  3. How did Jack feel about being tricked? He was confused at whether to be angry at Kathleen or amazed at himself, but just laughed in the end p.141
  4. Why did Kathleen sing songs with the young children? To help them be happy and calm p.143

Chapter 13

  1. What was in the field next to the church as the searchlights scanned the sky overhead? A large plane with Teddy inside p.147
  2. How did Teddy feel when he realized he forgot to send the wand with Jack and Annie? Terrible; guilty p.149
  3. How did the children respond to being in the plane? Excited p.151
  4. Why was Jack confused about the plane? It was silent taking off; you could open the window; it got passed the searchlights; he didn’t know if spy planes were made during WWII p.152

Chapter 14

  1. Now that the children were all safe, what was going to happen to them? Relatives and friends would be located and would come get them p.160
  2. Who was the pilot and what kind of plane did he have? It was Merlin and he had a magical plane p.163
  3. Tell me two things Jack and Annie learned and saw on this mission? How it feels to live in terror all of the time; how it feels to speak or move about freely; seen cruel people hunt down the innocent p.164
  4. How did Jack and Annie feel as they got back to Frog Creek? Safe p.167

Comprehension Questions – Charlotte’s Web

Charlotte’s Web

By E.B. White

Grades 3-7; Genre – Fiction; GRL R; AR pts: 5.0

Wilbur is the runt of a litter born to a pig on the farm of Fern Arable's father. When it is announced that her father is going to kill the pig, Fern rushes forth to save it, asking of her father: "If I had been very small at birth, would you have killed me?" Her father spares the pig, but only if Fern agrees to care for it. Falling in love immediately with the little pig, Fern takes care of him until he is moved to her Uncle’s farm. Wilbur becomes friends with the other animals at the farm including a spider named Charlotte who saves Wilbur’s life.

Vocabulary Words

Writing Prompts

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe the setting of this story. Farm; kitchen and on the way to the pigpen; morning, breakfast time; grass was wet and the earth smelled of springtime p.1
  2. Why did Fern’s father decide to keep the pig and not kill it? Fern said she would take care of it and that it was an injustice to kill a pig just because it was small p.3
  3. What did Fern name her pig? Wilbur p.7

Chapter 2

  1. How did Wilbur stay warm at night? Dug a tunnel in the straw p.9
  2. Why did Mr. Arable need to sell Wilbur? He ate too much food; he didn’t want to provide for him any longer p.12
  3. Why did Fern’s Uncle decide to buy the pig? It was only $6 p.12

Chapter 3

  1. Describe Wilbur’s new home. The lower part of a barn, below the cows, in the manure pile p.14
  2. Is the goose a good or bad influence and why? Bad; She told Wilbur to free himself and to dig in the orchard and garden; told him how to escape when people were coming p.17
  3. How did Lurvy and Uncle Homer catch Wilbur? Go behind him and drove him toward the barn; got a bucket of slop to lure into his pen p.19
  4. Why didn’t Wilbur care that he was being led back to his pen? He was nervous; he wanted the food; he wanted to be in his pen again and not being chased around p.22

Chapter 4

  1. Why is Wilbur sad in this chapter? It’s raining and he can’t do his plan; he’s doesn’t have any friends and he’s lonely p.27
  2. Describe Templeton. He’s a rat; he’s dug tunnels everywhere so he can get to where he wants to without being seen; he sleeps in the day and is out at night; gluttonous; 30
  3. Give me three descriptive words of how Wilbur was feeling in this chapter. Lonely; despair; sad; rejected p.31
  4. Who do you think spoke to Wilbur about being his friend? Charlotte p.31

Chapter 5

  1. Why did Wilbur have a difficult time sleeping? He was anxious for morning so he could meet his new friend p.33
  2. Describe Charlotte. Friendly; nearsighted; a spider; has eight legs; pretty; tells the truth p.37
  3. What did Charlotte say that finally convinced Wilbur that catching bugs and drinking their blood was ok? If she didn’t, bugs would otherwise multiply and take over the world p.40
  4. What did goose know about Wilbur that he did not? Mr. Zuckerman and Lurvy were going to kill him at Christmastime p.40

Chapter 6

  1. Give three reasons why the book felt the happiest and fairest days on the farm are in early summer. Blossoms and lilacs with bees; temperature is warm; school ends; cutting of the hay and put in the loft of the barn; birds, nests and eggs; plenty of things for a child to chew (dandelion stem); goose eggs hatch p.42
  2. Why did the geese worry about Templeton? He would kill a gosling if he could get away with it p.46
  3. What did Charlotte say would happen if the egg broke? It would be such a strong smell that no one could handle living in the barn, it’s a stink bomb p.47

Chapter 7

  1. Who told Wilbur that the farmer would most likely kill him when the weather got cold? The old sheep p.49
  2. What was Wilbur’s reaction? Got upset, cried and ran around in a panic p.50

Chapter 8

  1. Why was Mrs. Arable concerned about Fern? Fern told her about the animals speaking p.54

Chapter 9

  1. What did Charlotte try to teach Wilbur to do? Spin a web p.56
  2. Why couldn’t Wilbur spin a web? He lacked a set of spinnerets and know how p.58
  3. How did Charlotte help Wilbur feel better when he was worried about dying? She said she had a plan to help him p.63
  4. What was the advice Charlotte told Wilbur? Build himself up; get plenty of sleep; stop worrying; no hurrying; chew food thoroughly and eat every bit of it, except leave enough for Templeton; gain weight and stay well; keep fit; don’t lose nerve p.64

Chapter 10

  1. What was Charlotte’s plan going to do to Zuckerman? Trick or fool him p.67
  2. What did Avery want to do with Charlotte? Catch her p.72
  3. Why wasn’t Avery able to catch her? He was climbing to swing a stick to knock her in a box and lost his balance. He fell and landed on the rotten egg and it exploded making it stink terribly, so he ran away p.73
  4. What made the terrible smell go away? Lurvy covered the rotten egg with dirt p.75

Chapter 11

  1. Describe Mr. Zuckerman’s reaction when they saw Charlotte’s web? In awe; bewildered; said a miracle has happened on the farm; said the pig was a special pig p.79
  2. Where did Mr. Zuckerman go with his suit on and why? To see the minister to explain there had been a miracle at the farm p.82
  3. Why was everyone coming to see the pig? They heard about it and wanted to see the “sign” that had appeared in the web p.83
  4. What was Avery’s punishment for trying to hit the spider with a stick? Sent to bed with no supper p.84
  5. What did the minister say the “sign” or miracle was? Human beings needed to be on the watch for wonders p.85

Chapter 12

  1. How do we know Charlotte’s plan to save Wilbur worked? Everyone thought Wilbur was unusual, so they won’t kill him now p.87
  2. How did the animals want Templeton to help out Charlotte? Bring magazine clippings from the dump so she can get ideas and know how to spell words p.89
  3. What made Templeton agree with bringing back magazine clippings? Realizing that if Wilbur dies, he won’t get any more food p.90

Chapter 13

  1. After seeing the word “terrific” written in the web, what plans did Zuckerman make for Wilbur? No more manure; only clean hay; Lurvy was to build a crate so Zuckerman could take him to the fair p.96
  2. What was the dump that Templeton went to? Zuckerman’s throw away pile at the end of a path, below the apple orchard p.97
  3. Give me two examples in this chapter that describe how Charlotte feels about Wilbur. Worked far into the night for him p. 92; Charlotte looked affectionately at him p.101; she told him a story even though she was tired p.102; she sang him a song p.104; listen to other examples stated

Chapter 14

  1. Why did Fern’s mother visit Dr. Dorian? She was concerned about Fern and her interest in the farm animals p.107
  2. What did Dr. Dorian tell Mrs. Arable? To not worry about Fern and that she seemed to be fine p.111

Chapter 15

  1. Why was Charlotte worried when she heard the crickets singing that summer was almost over? she didn’t have much time left and she couldn’t help him anymore p.114 &117
  2. What was Wilbur’s attitude even with the attention he was getting? Humble; modest; kind p.115
  3. Why did Charlotte need to stay at the farm and not go to the fair? it was time for her to lay eggs p.116

Chapter 16

  1. How did the sheep convince Templeton he should go to the fair? told him of all the food scraps that would be left around p.123
  2. What made Wilbur faint as everyone admired him? The farmer spoke of the ham and bacon that would come from killing him p.126
  3. How did the farmer know that Wilbur was ok? Wilbur fought back as they tried to get him into the crate p.28

Chapter 17

  1. Using 3 of the senses describe what the family saw as they arrived at the fair. Hear the music; see the Ferris wheel; smell the of the race track; smell hamburgers frying; hear bleating in pens; see balloons aloft p.130
  2. Avery and Fern wanted to go have fun at the fair. How much money did their father give to each of them? $0.70 p.131
  3. Describe Uncle. A spring big; much larger and dirtier than Wilbur; noisy; cracks weak jokes; unattractive personality p.134

Chapter 18

  1. What word did Templeton bring Charlotte at the fair and why was it a good word? Humble; he’s not proud and he’s near the ground p.140
  2. Why was the fair a paradise for Templeton? He could find all sorts of food to eat p.140
  3. What do you think Charlotte is making? Listen to your child’s ideas; an egg sac p.143

Chapter 19

  1. Why isn’t Charlotte going to see her children? She doesn’t think she’ll be around p.146
  2. Why is everyone so excited after bathing Wilbur in buttermilk? There was an announcement for Mr. Zuckerman to bring his pig to the judges’ booth to receive a special award p.151
  3. Why is Charlotte feeling content and peaceful? She thinks she has saved Wilbur’s life p.153

Chapter 20

  1. Where did Fern want to go during the award ceremony? On the Ferris wheel with Henry p.156
  2. Why is the writing in the web such a phenomenon? Spiders aren’t supposed to write p.158
  3. What did the rat do to Wilbur save him after he fainted? Bit his tail p.159
  4. Why did Avery enjoy getting splashed with water? He loved the crowd cheering at him as he acted like a clown p.162

Chapter 21

  1. Why can’t Charlotte go back to the barn? She’s going to be dead in a day or two; she doesn’t have enough spinnerets to lower her to the ground; she doesn’t have strength to get into the crate p.165
  2. What’s the deal Wilbur made with Templeton to make him get Charlotte’s egg sac? Wilbur would let him eat first when Lurvy fed him p.168
  3. How did the egg sac feel in Templeton’s mouth? Sticky; worse than caramel candy p.170

 Chapter 22

  1. Why did Wilbur look forward to winter ending? Charlotte’s eggs would hatch p.176
  2. Describe to me the signs of spring. A new lamb; frogs croaking; snow melting; a sparrow singing; goose sitting on eggs p.176
  3. Why were Charlotte’s children leaving Wilbur? They needed to go into the world to make webs for themselves p.180
  4. How many spiders decided to stay with Wilbur? 3 p.182

Comprehension Questions – My Side of the Mountain

My Side of the Mountain

By Jean Craighead George

Grades 4-7; Genre – Fiction; GRL U; AR pts: 6.0

Fifteen-year-old Sam Gribley has decided to run away from his crowded apartment home, but unlike most kids who rarely get beyond their block, Sam goes from New York City all the way to the ruined farm of Great-grandfather Gribley in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. Sam learns to live off the land, and in the course of a year, discovers just how much he values freedom, independence, and adventure when faced with the challenges of blizzards, loneliness and fear.

Vocabulary
Writing Prompts

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe Sam’s home. It’s in a tree he dug and burned out that’s six feet in diameter; his bed is on the right made of ash slats and deerskin; fireplace on the left made of clay and stones; chimney p.3
  2. How did Sam know that a blizzard was coming? The animals were silent and in hiding; his hawk was nervous; it was darker than usual during the daytime p.7
  3. Tell me about Sam’s family. He has a mom and dad, four sisters and four brothers p.8
  4. Tell me the story of Great Grandpa Gribley and how it effects Sam?  He owned the land in the Catskill Mountains and built a home and plowed the land; the farm failed and he went to be a sailor; Sam found the land with the tree that had Gribley carved into it and lives 300 feet from it; he wanted to live on his great grandfather’s land p.9

Chapter 2

  1. What did the truck driver say to Sam as he dropped him off in the forest? He was surprised and told him how he ran away as a child as well; Said he’d be back in the morning if Sam wanted a ride home p.10
  2. Describe Sam’s first night in the woods? He was able to catch fish, but couldn’t start a fire to cook them; he made a shelter, but was so cold with the winds and he couldn’t sleep because of a whippoorwill calling p.17
  3. How would you have felt in this situation? Listen to your child’s answers p.17

Chapter 3

  1. How did Miss Turner respond to Sam when he told her he wanted to live on his great grandfather’s farm? She believed him and supported him; told him to come back if he needed any books to learn about plants, trees and animals p.22
  2. How did Sam find his great grandfather’s property? From Miss Turner’s hand drawn maps p.22
  3. How did having a fire during the night compare to not having a fire? It made the woods friendly and warm; filled the woods with brightness when the first night was dark and frightful p.24

Chapter 4

  1. What did Sam find as he explored his great grandpa’s farm? Hickory trees; a small stream; the foundation of the house; apple trees; walnut trees; a marsh; giant trees p.26

Chapter 5

  1. Why was Sam so careful and deliberate on where his home was? He didn't want it to be seen by people as they came through the mountains p.29
  2. Why did Sam feel like he didn’t plan his time very well in those first few days of his adventure? He had started a home, but didn’t have any food; he would work himself so hard he hardly had energy to find any food; he’d get hungrier p.29
  3. How did Sam put out the fire as he burned out his tree house? he’d smother it with dirt p.35

Chapter 6

  1. What was the story the old woman told Sam? The mountain was haunted; little men play ninepin in the gorge at twilight p.38
  2. Give me three characteristics the old woman has. Explain why you chose those. She was determined; strong; fierce; forceful; bossy; talked a lot; listen to your child's answer p.38
  3. How did Sam get away from the old woman? He walked her to her home and then headed to the library in town p.40

Chapter 7

  1. What did Sam do while he waited to see a peregrine falcon? Ate apples, went fishing and cooked his fish p.42
  2. How did Sam escape the mother falcon as he stole her chick? He used his shoe to protect himself from her dive, jumped to a ledge below, sat down and slid to the next ledge; she saw her other chicks and left him alone p.44

Chapter 8

  1. Who was the man at Sam’s camp and why was he there? A fire warden come to check the area since they saw smoke from Sam’s fire; they were worried about forest fires p.48

Chapter 9

  1. Who is The Baron and how did Sam meet him? A weasel and Sam caught him in a trap p.51
  2. Why did Sam want to catch a deer? To make a door for his home; make tethers for Frightful and a blanket for Sam p.52
  3. How was Sam careful so the warden wouldn’t come back? Put pine needles in bare areas; cleaned up front yard; used dry firewood so it wouldn’t smoke much p.52

Chapter 10

  1. How did Sam get his door? Someone shot a deer but left it; he got to the meadow and dragged it to the woods and covered it to look like a bush; then he cleaned his camp and hid in his tree p.56
  2. How did Sam know the poacher had left his camp and probably wouldn’t return? He heard a gunshot far down the mountain p.57
  3. How long did it take Sam to get the deer ready for smoking and the hide ready for tanning? Many, many days p.57

Chapter 11

  1. What did Sam do to get the deer hide ready to be a door? Soaked it in water and wood chips in a stump for 5 days; chewed, rubbed and jumped on it to make it soft; he had to cut it down to fit the door opening p.59
  2. How did Sam train Frightful to fly to his hand? He’d hold food in his hand and whistle p.62
  3. Why did hikers come to the area during the summer? To hike through the meadow to the gorge p.64
  4. When the two hikers were just about to have lunch on The Baron’s boulder, they left. What made them leave? The Baron running all over and around them p.64
  5. Why didn’t Sam want Frightful to eat what she catches? Because she’ll go wild p.68

Chapter 12

  1. How did Sam always know something was wrong in the forest? Frightful would be alerted p.72
  2. Describe Bando. A college English teacher who got lost in the forest; friendly smile; kind; blue eyes; likes birds; knows how to swing an ax and build a raft p.80
  3. Why does Bando call Sam Thoreau? Thoreau’s an old poet and writer p.77
  4. Name five things Bando and Sam did together? Made jam; made the raft; smoked fish; gathering white oak acorns and groundnuts; harvesting the blueberry crop; went fishing; made willow whistles p.81

Chapter 13

  1. What did Sam decide to use to keep warm for the winter? A clay fireplace p.89
  2. What was Sam looking for as he dug around the old Gribley farmhouse? Anything metal to help him with his fireplace p.90
  3. What did Sam find to help with his fireplace? A flat, narrow, long rock p.92

Chapter 14

  1. What did Sam do to celebrate Halloween? He had a party by leaving out nuts, crayfish, smoked rabbit and apples for the woodland animals p.96
  2. What was the result of the party? Raccoons came in Sam’s tree house and tossed them all over his bed and floor; Sam got sprayed by a skunk; animals found Sam’s camp and food p.99
  3. How did Sam get rid of the animals? Made the fire big; yelled; growled and snarled, hissed and snorted p.100

Chapter 15

  1. What is this chapter about? Deer hunting season and how Sam gets three deer p.104
  2. How does Sam get three deer? Hunters shot the deer, but couldn’t find them after they dropped dead p.104
  3. Describe how Sam made his deerskin hide jacket? Cut a rectangle with a hole for his head and sewed on straight sleeves p.105
  4. What does Sam compare this jacket to? A Russian military blouse and a carpenter’s apron p.106

Chapter 16

  1. When Sam went into town, what made people stare at him? His clothing p.108
  2. Who is Mr. Jacket? A young man Sam met in the drugstore p.108
  3. What important thing did Sam forget to do to prepare for the winter season? Why did it matter? Stack up a big woodpile; to prevent having to go out into the cold and snow to gather and chop wood p.112

Chapter 17

  1. Why did Sam place “x’s” outside his tree house? It was where he wanted to pile the firewood so he could reach it when the snow was deep and then tunnel to other firewood piles p.112
  2. How did Sam and Frightful spend their winter days and evenings? Eat breakfast; Go to the gorge; ice fishing; digging up plants to eat; go to the field and Frightful would fly while Sam would kick the grasses and sometimes a rabbit or pheasant would come up and Frightful would dive to get it; experiment with food; watch Frightful; write notes; go to bed p.113
  3. Sam thought he would tunnel to get to his firewood, but what did he end up doing instead? Walking on the snow and digging for wood p.115

Chapter 18

  1. Who does Sam compare the birds of the forest to? People who lived at his apartment house on Third Avenue home p.117
  2. Who was Sam’s first visitor during the Christmas holiday? Bando p.119
  3. Bando brought up newspaper articles. What did they report? A young man living in the Catskill Mountains p.120
  4. Who also came to visit Sam? His dad p.124

Chapter 19

  1. During the winter months what helped Sam know what to expect in the weather? The birds and animals p.134
  2. Why did Sam oversleep after the rain had frozen into ice? His home was in a block of ice and he couldn’t hear any morning sounds p.139
  3. Find an example of a simile on page 139. ice on a limb like shattering crystal; sky like Indian soup
  4. What was the consequence of the ice storm in the forest? broken trees and limbs lay everywhere; birds and animals died of starvation p.141

Chapter 20

  1. Why couldn’t Sam let Frightful go? He needed her still; she would have been killed by another female since she didn’t have a territory; he had trained her to have instincts made for man; she was a captive bird, not a wild bird p.149
  2. What information did Sam tell Matt Spell? He saw the wild boy wearing a bearskin coat who ran away and lives in a cave. The boy has long matted hair and wears a coon-tail hat. The boy wears newspapers for shoes and does a lot of fishing. He lives off of fish, roots, berries, rabbit and nuts.p.154
  3. What was the deal Matt made with Sam? Matt would come stay with Sam during spring break and would print what Sam told him to p.156

Chapter 21

  1. What does creating the guesthouse mean to Sam? That he was not a runaway anymore; he wouldn’t be alone anymore and hiding in the wilderness p.166
  2. How did Sam know his time on the mountain was coming to an end? Matt said photographers may be on the mountain; more and more newspaper articles were out about him; now that people knew about him, they would move him back to the city p.168

Chapter 22

  1. Who came to visit Sam? The entire family p.174
  2. Why did Sam’s family come to the mountain? They missed him; wanted to see what he was doing; his mom still wanted to take care of him and be his mom p.176
  3. What did Sam’s dad begin to build? A house p.176
  4. Summarize your favorite part of this story. Listen to your child's answer

Comprehension Questions – Tales from the Odyssey Book #1 The One-Eyed Giant

The One-Eyed Giant

By Mary Pope Osborne

Grades 3-5; Genre – Mythology; GRL P; AR pts: 1.0

After a long war to rescue Helen from the city of Troy, Odysseus is anxious to return to his home of Ithaca. However, many obstacles block his route home, including the mysterious lotus-eaters and the monstrous one-eyed Polyphemus.

Vocabulary

Writing Prompts

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Who is the main character of the story and describe him in your own words?  The king of an island; married to Penelope and has a son named Telemachus; lived simply; enjoys taking care of his orchards and fields as well as working with his hands as a craftsman and carpenter p.11
  2. What did Odysseus do to help his country, Greece, when Helen was old enough to wed? made all of the princes and kings promise to defend Helen’s marriage whomever she decided to marry. He feared jealousy would bring their nation to ruin p.15
  3. When the messenger saw that Odysseus was acting mad, what did he do to prove that he wasn’t? Put Telemachus on the ground in front of the plow, to see if Odysseus would be sane enough to not run over his baby p.16

Chapter 2

  1. Describe Athena. Goddess of wisdom and war; daughter of Zeus; wore a shining helmet and carried a spear and shield; flashing gray eyes; gaze was fierce and kind p.20
  2. What was Athena’s plan to get into the city? Build a large wooden horse; hide a few men inside; The rest of the Greek army act like they are retreating in defeat; when the guards bring the horse into the city, the Greek army will return and Odysseus will open the gates for the Greek army p.21
  3. Who helped convince the Trojans they should take the horse into the city? A Greek prisoner who professed to be a traitor p.24

Chapter 3

  1. What did the sailors say caused the great storm at the beginning of this chapter? Some Greek warriors invaded Athena’s temple and were violent and weren’t respectful; they had offended the goddess who had helped them gain victory p.30
  2. Why did Odysseus not want to eat the flowers the islanders offered him? They made his men be in a trance p.34
  3. Why didn’t the three men want to get onboard the ship and return home with Odysseus? They wanted to stay on the island and eat lotus flowers p.36

Chapter 4

  1. What does it mean to be lawless? To not follow or have laws p.40
  2. Why did Odysseus take a goatskin of their sweetest wine onboard when he explored to see who lived on the other shore? He wanted to give it as a gift to anyone who welcomes into his home p.42
  3. Who did they find out lived in the cave? A monster p.44

Chapter 5

  1. What was the name of the monster? Polyphemus p.46
  2. Why did Polyphemus get angry at Odysseus when he mentioned Zeus? He is a son of Poseidon p.49
  3. Why didn’t Odysseus slay Polyphemus? They needed Polyphemus alive to roll the rock away from the opening of the cave or they would be trapped forever in the cave p.51

Chapter 6

  1. What did Polyphemus do in the morning after that first night? Took two more Greeks and had them for breakfast, then opened the cave, took his goats, and closed the cave again with the Greeks inside p.55
  2. What did Odysseus tell Polyphemus when the monster asked for his name? No One p.61
  3. What was the plan to escape Polyphemus’ cave? Odysseus gave Polyphemus wine and the giant lost his balance and fell, going to sleep. Odysseus and his men jabbed the sharpened stake into his eye and with Polyphemus’ cried the other giants came to help him, but they went away because Polyphemus said, “No One blinded me. No One tried to kill me.” Polyphemus rolled the stone away but sat in the opening to catch any that tried to escape p.62

Chapter 7

  1. What was the consequence of Odysseus jeering at Polyphemus as they made their way out to sea? Polyphemus through a huge boulder at them and caused a tidal wave to push them back to the beach; then he asked his father Poseidon to curse Odysseus p.72
  2. What was the curse? That Odysseus would never reach his home alive; that he would lose his way, his ships, his men; that he would only find sorrow and trouble on his journey p.75

Chapter 8

  1. Describe Aeolus. The wind god; has 6 sons and 6 daughters; friendly to Odysseus and enjoyed hearing his tales p.79
  2. What did Aeolus do to honor Odysseus? He bundled the world’s winds into a sack so none could hinder Odysseus on the way home; he left out the west wind to carry the ships to Ithaca p.82
  3. Why didn’t Aeolus help Odysseus put the winds in a bag again so they could get home? He had been cursed by the Cyclops and the gods were punishing him p.88

Comprehension Questions – A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time

By Madeleine L’Engle

Grades 4-8; Genre – Science Fiction; GRL W; AR pts: 7.0

Meg Murray, her little brother Charles Wallace, and their mother are having a midnight snack on a dark and stormy night when an unearthly stranger appears at their door. He claims to have been blown off course and goes on to tell them that there is such a thing as a "tesseract," which, if you didn't know, is a wrinkle in time. Meg's father had been experimenting with time-travel when he suddenly disappeared. Will Meg, Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin outwit the forces of evil as they search through space for their father?

Vocabulary Words

Writing Prompts

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe Meg. A girl who had twin younger brothers; a younger brother named Charles Wallace who had an uncanny sense of knowing when she was sad and couldn’t sleep; she struggled in school; her father had left and she didn’t know where to; her bedroom’s in the attic; has a wild imagination p.1
  2. Tell me about Charles Wallace. Really smart; doesn’t behave normally in front of other people; He spoke in full sentences when he began to talk; understands Meg and her mom;  doesn’t wiggle like other 5 year old boys p.5
  3. Why did Mrs. Whatsit come to visit them? To tell Mrs. Murray there was such a thing as a tesseract p.12

Chapter 2

  1. What do you think the feeling was that compelled Calvin to go over to the haunted house? listen to your child’s answers; intuitive; 6th sense p.20
  2. Why did Mrs. Who steal Mrs. Buncombe’s sheets? In case they needed ghosts for the charade of the haunted house p.21
  3. What do you think Mrs. Who is talking about when she said Meg’s father needed their help? They are going to need to go and help him from the trouble he is in p.22

Chapter 3

  1. Why did Calvin feel alone and why doesn’t he feel alone anymore? He doesn’t feel like his family cares about him and now that he’s met Meg and her family, he feels accepted and loved. P.27
  2. Describe Meg and Calvin’s relationship? They’re good friends; they may like each other romantically p.30
  3. What’s the story behind Meg’s missing father? He’s a physicist and began to travel doing a job that was classified. He wrote his wife every day, but then the letters stopped and they haven’t heard anything from him in a year. The government says he’s on a dangerous mission, but that he can’t communicate for a while and they’ll give any news as soon as they have it p.31

Chapter 4

  1. Now that you know a little more about the three old women describe each of them. Mrs. Whatsit- is always bundled up to her head and has a hard time keeping it all straight wearing a man’s coat and multicolored scarves and shawls, she’s friendly and jovial, she is plump; Mrs. Who wear white robes and glasses, uses quotes in different languages to speak, she has a hard time coming up with words on her own, also jovial; Mrs. Which is what you think a witch would look like, black robe; black peaked hat; beady eyes; beaked nose; long gray hair; has a broomstick; she talks differently and has a hard time materializing into a solid form p.36
  2. Describe the creature that Mrs. Whatsit transformed into. A beautiful marble white creature with rainbow wings; legs of a horse; upper body of a man p.39
  3. How did the shadow make Meg feel? Dark and dreadful; it chilled her with fear that was beyond shuddering, crying or screaming, beyond the possibility of comfort; p.44

Chapter 5

  1. Find a rope, string, or an object of your choice and demonstrate how Mrs. Who explained how they “tesser” or “wrinkle” through space.  Your child should find an object that can fold and explain that if a small insect were to travel from one end to the other it would take along time, but if the ends were brought together, it would be a shorter and much faster. p.47
  2. Explain to me the different dimensions explained in the book. 1st dimension- a line; 2nd dimension- a flat square (like what you would draw on a paper); 3rd dimension-a full square that wouldn’t be flat and where you could see the bottom, sides and top; 4th dimension- you’d square the square which equals time; 5th dimension- you’d square the fourth dimension which makes a tesseract p.48
  3. Why was The Medium hesitant to show the children the planet earth in the crystal ball? The Dark Shadow was hovering over earth and it is the Powers of Darkness; it’s evil p.54

Chapter 6

  1. How can the Darkness be overcome? Light; a star gave up its life in battle with the Thing p.57
  2. Describe what the children saw as they entered the town on Camazotz? The town was laid out in harsh angular patterns; the outside of the houses were exactly alike; in front of all the houses children were playing, skipping and bouncing in rhythm at the same exact moment; everything was in rhythm, all identical. P.65
  3. Why did the children think the people on this planet could be robots? Because they move jerkily; they have done everything in unison; the men and women going into the building looked straight ahead, paying no attention to the children p.70

Chapter 7

  1. After the children went into the building, how did they get past the empty fourth wall? A man turned them in so he wouldn’t get in trouble p.74
  2. How was the man on platform talking to the children? Through their minds; telepathy p.75
  3. When the man was reciting multiplication problems, why did the children shout out rhyme’s and a speech? So they wouldn’t be hypnotized p.77

Chapter 8

  1. When Charles Wallace was under the influence of the man with the red eyes, what did he tell Meg? To relax, that Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which were wrong; that their troubles are over and that this planet is a wonderful place and is in perfect order; the man with the red eyes is their friend p.86
  2. What are the benefits of living on Camazotz? There is no sickness or deformity; everyone is happy because they are all alike; there are no individuals p.88
  3. Who is IT? The boss of Camazotz; he is who makes everyone of one mind p.89
  4. Why is IT evil? It wants to take away individuality and the freedom to choose p.90

Chapter 9

  1. What happened to Charles Wallace when Calvin recited the Tempest words to him. He started to come out of the trance, but he seemed to get smacked with an invisible hand and was knocked to the ground by it; he sat on the floor whimpering p.93
  2. How did Meg get through the invisible barrier that led to her father? She put on Mrs. Who’s glasses p.94
  3. What were Meg’s faults that she realized were supposed to help save her? Her anger, impatience, stubbornness p.100

Chapter 10

  1. Describe how Meg felt after they had tessered away from IT. Icy cold; couldn’t move; like stone /marble p.107
  2. Why was Meg so angry and accusing to her father and Calvin? The Darkness had a hold of her p.109
  3. Describe the beasts on this world that wanted to Meg away. Very tall; no eyes, just soft indentations; four arms with tentacles for fingers; had heads and faces, but had indentations where the features would be and instead of eyes and ears there were tentacles p.110

Chapter 11

  1. Why did Meg resolve to give in to the beasts and realize they were good? Because of the way they made her feel p.114
  2. How was Meg feeling toward Calvin and her father during breakfast? That she couldn’t trust them; they wouldn’t help her save Charles Wallace p.119
  3. Why couldn’t the beasts on this planet understand what the humans tried to explain to them? The beasts understood things in a different way.  They didn’t have eyes to see or ears to hear, yet they understood things more deeply p.120

Chapter 12

  1. Why did Meg decide to go save Charles Wallace by herself? Only she knew him well enough to help him; she was the only one who could save him p.124
  2. What gifts did Mrs. Whatsit and Who give to Meg this time? Love; a verse from the Bible p.128
  3. Why didn’t Mrs. Which give Meg a gift? Meg needed to find the gift for herself p.128
  4. How did Meg defeat IT and save Charles Wallace? By loving Charles Wallace p.132

Comprehension Questions – Chronicles of Narnia #2 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

By C.S. Lewis

Grades 5-7; Genre – Fantasy; GRL T; AR pts: 6.0

Air-raids over London during WWII compel four siblings – Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy – to be sent away from the city to the house of a kindly but remote Professor “who lived in the heart of the country.” There is much to discover in the country, but the children will soon discover that the Professor’s large house, staffed by three servants, holds even more mystery, including a room which holds nothing but a large wardrobe, which Lucy opens one rainy day, never dreaming that the wardrobe is a passageway into a place called Narnia.

Vocabulary Words

Writing Prompts

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Why did the children get sent to this big house in the country? It was during WWII and all of the children were sent away from the city to the country for protection p. 3
  2. How did Lucy find the dark snowy world with the lamp post? She went into the wardrobe and kept feeling for the grain of the wood that should have been the back of it and instead she found herself touching branches and cold air with snow falling on her p.8
  3. Describe a Faun to me. A strange person, a little taller than Lucy, from the waist up a man, but his legs were shaped like a goat’s with goat hoofs for feet, he had a tail, pleasant face with pointed beard, curly hair and two horns one on each side of his forehead p.9

Chapter 2

  1. What did it mean when the Faun asked Lucy if she was a Daughter of Eve? If she was a human; Did she come from earth where Adam and Eve were the first parents p.11
  2. What did Mr. Tumnus need to do for the White Witch? If he saw a Daughter of Eve or Son of Adam he needed to hold onto them and give them to her p.19
  3. What happened to Lucy? Mr. Tumnus decided he couldn’t turn her over to the White Witch, so helped her get back to the lamp post and she found her way to the wardrobe p.22

Chapter 3

  1. Why was Lucy so unhappy about her brothers and sister thinking she was making up her story about Narnia? She was an honest person and she didn’t like people to think she was lying p. 26
  2. What happened to Edmund in this chapter? He saw Lucy go into the wardrobe, followed her, and found himself in Narnia. He couldn’t find Lucy, but heard sleigh bells and met a woman on the sleigh who called herself the queen p.28

Chapter 4

  1. Who is the woman on the sledge? The White Witch p.34
  2. What did the queen do to help Edmund feel comfortable? Wrap him in her mantle, gave him a warm drink, gave him Turkish Delight p.42
  3. What do you think made Edmund sick? The Turkish Delight; knowing he was on the side of the White Witch; having to tell his siblings the truth about Narnia p. 43

Chapter 5

  1. Describe to me the part of the story when Peter and Susan go talk to the Professor about Lucy. He listened and then asked, “how do you know your sister’s story isn’t true?”; he gave them a few reasons to help them understand Lucy: she’s lying, she’s mad or she’s telling the truth; he told them all to mind their own business p.51
  2. What made all the children climb into the wardrobe? Mrs. Macready was giving a tour of the house to some visitors and they were supposed to stay out of the way; that was the only place they could hide until the tourists were out of the Wardrobe Room p.53

Chapter 6

  1. When the children got to Mr. Tumnus’ house what did they find? The door torn off the hinges and broken into bits; dishes broken; like it hadn’t been lived in for days; a note saying he had been taken by the queen for treason p.57
  2. What was Edmund’s concern as the children followed the robin? If the robin was helping them or leading them into a trap p.61

Chapter 7

  1. How did the children know the beaver was a friend? he gave them the same white handkerchief to them that Lucy had given to Mr. Tumnus p.67
  2. Who do you think is Aslan? Listen to your child’s answer p.67
  3. Tell me about Edmund. He is grumpy; feels picked on by Peter; is mean and selfish p.70
  4. How do you think the children felt about being in the home of the Beavers’? happy, full, content, safe p.75

Chapter 8

  1. Who is Aslan? The King; the Lord of the whole wood; he’ll take care of the White Witch; the great Lion p.78
  2. Why is it so important for the children to go to the Stone Table and meet Aslan? To begin doing things; to help Mr. Tumnus; to help get rid of the White Witch p.80
  3. Why would Edmund betray them all? He is under the White Witch’s spell; he wants Turkish Delight and to be a King p.85

Chapter 9

  1. Tell me about Edmund’s journey to the White Witch’s castle. It was snowing, cold and the sky grew dark; it was slippery, rocky and he tripped over tree stumps; the snow stopped falling and it got windy, but the moon came out so Edmund could see. He finally made it and didn’t want to go in, but knew he couldn’t’ go back at this point p.88
  2. Why do you think the White Witch turned the creatures in her courtyard to stone?  Listen to your child’s answer; they had displeased her p.96
  3. What did Edmund tell the queen when he was brought to her? His siblings were at the Beaver’s home; Aslan has returned p.99

Chapter 10 

  1. Why was it important for them all to see Father Christmas? What did it mean? That Aslan is on the move; the witch’s magic is weakening p.107
  2. What were the presents Father Christmas shared with the children? Peter a sword and shield; Susan a horn and bow with arrows; Lucy a cordial and dagger p.108
  3. Why didn’t Father Christmas want Susan or Lucy to be a part of the battle? Battles are ugly when women fight p.109

Chapter 11

  1. Why weren’t the wolves able to find the children or the Beavers’ during the night? The scent was cold and snow had covered up their tracks p.113
  2. What happened to the merry party eating a feast when the witch and Edmund rode up in the sledge? The Witch turned them to stone for being traitors p.116
  3. What was happening to the world around them as Edmund, the dwarf and the witch were walking to the Stone Table? It was turning to spring; birds were chirping; flowers were blooming; grass was growing p.120

Chapter 12

  1. Describe to me what the Stone Table looked like. Large slab of gray stone that was supported by four upright stones; it was cut all over with strange lines and figures that might have been letters to an unknown language.125
  2. What made Susan blow her horn? They were being attacked and needed Aslan and Peter to come back p.130
  3. Why were the wolves attacking them? The witch had ordered them to kill the children p.131

Chapter 13

  1. How did the Witch and dwarf escape from Aslans’ rescue party? They turned into a stump and boulder p.138
  2. When the Witch came and spoke with Aslan and the others, what did she demand? That she has a right to have Edmund since he had been a traitor p.142
  3. What do you think Aslan and the Witch spoke about when he asked everyone to back up so he could speak to her alone? Listen to your child p.143

Chapter 14

  1. Why weren’t Susan and Lucy able to sleep at the first of the chapter? They had a horrible feeling p.147
  2. Who was all gathered at the Stone Table that night? Crowd of people; ogres; wolves; bull-headed men and other creatures; the White Witch p.150
  3. Tell me what happened to Aslan at the Stone Table? The White Witch had him tied up and had his mane shaved off; the creatures spit on him, kicked him, hit him, jeered at him; the White Witch killed him p.154

Chapter 15

  1. What did the mice do to help free Aslan from the cords? They chewed them loose p.159
  2. What brought Aslan back to life? A deeper magic than the Witch’s magic; He knew that the spell she cast to kill him meant the Stone Table would crack and death would work backward since he had willingly given up his life p.163
  3. Did you imagine yourself riding on a lion with silent padded feet, going faster than a horse, flying in the wind? What do you think it would be like? Listen to your child’s answers p.165

Chapter 16

  1. How did Aslan bring the statues back to life? He breathed on them p.167
  2. Who was Lucy most excited to see come back to life? Mr. Tumnus p.171
  3. When Aslan reached the battle, who did he attack first? The White Witch p.177

Chapter 17

  1. How did Edmund smash the Witch’s wand? He defeated 3 ogres to get to her and used his sword to smash her wand p.178
  2. What did Lucy’s cordial do for Edmund and others that were wounded from the battle with the Witch’s army? Heal them p.179
  3. Why did Susan feel that she nor Lucy should tell Edmund what Aslan did for him? It would make him feel terrible p.180
  4. How did the children come upon the old lamp post? They were chasing a white stag p.185

Comprehension Questions- The Tiger Rising

The Tiger Rising

by Kate DiCamillo

Grades 5-7; Genre - Fiction; GRL T; AR pts: 3.0

Walking through the misty Florida woods one morning, twelve-year-old Rob Horton is stunned to encounter a tiger — a real-life, very large tiger — pacing back and forth in a cage. What's more, on the same extraordinary day, he meets Sistine Bailey, a girl who shows her feelings as readily as Rob hides his. As they learn to trust each other, and ultimately, to be friends, Rob and Sistine prove that some things — like memories, and heartaches, and tigers — can't be locked up forever.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. How did Rob's dad rip his clothes?  slapping Rob to make him stop crying  p.3
  2. Name two of Rob's "not-thoughts".  his mom's death, rash, the Threemonger brothers) p.3

Chapter 2

  1. Describe Billy and Norton.  boys who ride the bus with Rob; they were bullies to Rob; had bad breath;  p.5
  2. What does Mr. Nelson, the bus driver, do as Billy and Norton bully Rob?  nothing; whistles a tuneless song ignoring the situation p.6
  3. What gives Rob the strength to not-cry when the boys bully him on the bus? He had the extra power of the tiger with him  p.6

Chapter 3

  1. What did Rob think of Sistine?  she's strange p.8
  2. Where did the name "Sistine" come from? a chapel  p.9
  3. Describe Sistine.  wore pink lacy dress; gravelly, deep, clipped, sharp voice; sharp nose and chin; black black eyes; didn't seem bothered by the boys; confident  p.9

Chapter 4

  1. Why does Rob want to whittle the tiger? his mother taught him how to whittle and it makes stuff come alive  p.12
  2. What is Sistine's attitude toward Robert? hate's him p.12

Chapter 5

  1. Why is Mr. Phelmer, the principal, worried about Rob's legs?  parents of the other students think his rash might be contagious  p. 15
  2. Why is Rob's heart singing when the principal tells him he should stay home for a few days for the medicine to work?  he doesn't have to go to school; he can see the tiger; he can begin to whittle the tiger into wood  p.17

Chapter 6

  1. Why didn't Rob yell at Sistine to run when kids were throwing objects at her?  he knew if he did he would get bullied as well  p.19
  2. Why did Rob feel a thrill when the children were chasing him after he stopped them from ganging up on Sistine? he was saving Sistine p.21

Chapter 7

  1. What type of figurative language is this an example of? "He opened his mouth and the words fell out, one on top of the other, like gold coins."  simile  p.23
  2. Why did Sistine put her hand on Rob's leg, then rub her hand up and down her own legs?  so she would get the rash and not have to go to school  p.24

Chapter 8

  1. Will anyone catch Rob's sickness?  no p.26
  2. What will Rob do when he is out of school? work with his dad p.27
  3. How did Rob's dad feel about him missing school?  he was ok with it; thought a break from the bullies would do him good; thought it would be good to have Rob help him around the motel  p.27

Chapter 9

  1. Why does Rob not like sunshine? it reminds him of his mom's funeral p.33

Chapter 10

  1. What did Willie May say to Rob that would help him be cured of his rashes?  let the sadness from his mom's death rise up to his heart, not go down to his legs  p.37
  2. What certificate does Rob's principal not have? sense certificate  p.37

Chapter 11

  1. When Sistine had brought Rob his homework the first time, why were her clothes dirty and her knuckles bloody?  she'd been fighting at school  p.40
  2. When Rob told Sistine about the tiger, how did he know he told the right person? The only question she asked was, "where?"  p.41

Chapter 12

  1. Who was the sculptor that painted the Sistine Chapel?  Michelangelo  p.43
  2. How did Rob feel when Sistine called him an artist?  joyful and embarrassed p.43

Chapter 13

  1. How does Sistine get Rob to tell her about his mother? starts to leave and walks away from him p.48

Chapter 14

  1. Why is Sistine upset about the tiger being caged in Florida? it was not running free  p.50-51
  2. Why didn't Rob want to do what Sistine wanted to do and let the tiger free?  It wasn't his tiger to let go p.51
  3. What emotion did Rob feel when he grabbed Sistine's hand and ran away from the car approaching them and the tiger?  happiness  p.52
  4. Why had Rob started to feel happiness again?  he had a friend  p.52

Chapter 15

  1. Why was Rob scolding himself for leaving open his "suitcase"?  now his words, feelings and emotions were out   p.55

Chapter 16

  1. How did Sistine's parents meet?  they were both looking up at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and ran into each other.  p.57
  2. Why doesn't Sistine listen to, or respect her mother? she feels like she's a liar  p.60

Chapter 17

  1. What is Willie May's opinion on caged animals?  she wants to let them go p.64
  2. Tell me about the parakeet Willie May got for her birthday.  called him Cricket because he sang all the time; could feel his heart beating in her hand when she held him; let him go since she couldn't stand him being locked up; her dad beat her  p.62

Chapter 18

  1. What special job does Beauchamp want to give Rob?  taking care of the tiger  p.67
  2. What do you think the bloody meat in Beachamp's jeep is for?  to feed the tiger p.68

Chapter 19

  1. How did Beauchamp come into possession of the tiger? a fellow owed him some money and paid him with a tiger  p.70
  2. Why did Beauchamp give the entire set of keys to the tiger cage to Rob? Beauchamp trusted him not to open the door  p.71
  3. What does Rob have that will set the tiger free?  the keys p.73

Chapter 20

  1. When Sistine presses Rob into letting the tiger go, why does he resist? the tiger won't be safe  p.76
  2. Why does Sistine break down crying when Rob won't let the tiger go?  she wants to go live with her dad; she hates it in Florida; she wants to let the tiger go  p.77
  3. How does Rob comfort Sistine when she breaks down crying? put his hand on her neck like his mother used to do to him; told her to cry and that he had a good hold on her p.77

Chapter 21

  1. What does Willie May compare Sistine's anger to?  lightning that was snapping out of her  p.81
  2. What was the advice that Willie May gave to Sistine? no one was going to rescue her; she had to rescue herself  p.82

Chapter 22

  1. When Rob's dad found the rotten meat under his bed, what's a word that would describe how his dad felt? inadequate; frustrated; angry p.83
  2. Why did Rob's father stare at the gun and crack his knuckles after finding the meat?  he was thinking about using it on Beauchamp p.84
  3. What did Rob carve? Willie May's bird, Cricket  p.85

Chapter 23

  1. When Rob put the wooden carving into Willie May's hand, what was her response?  she didn't want to open her eyes for fear she would frighten the wooden bird away; she knew what it was with her eyes closed; soothed her heart  p.88
  2. Why doesn't Willie May have to dream of Cricket anymore?  now she had Rob's carving of her Cricket  p.88

Chapter 24

  1. Why does Rob like Sistine so much?  her voice changes when she sees something beautiful  p.92
  2. When Rob and Sistine first told Willie May about the tiger, what was her reaction?  surprised; shocked; wanted to see the tiger  p.93

Chapter 25

  1. What does Sistine always say when she gets sad, frustrated or doesn't get her way?  she can't wait until her father comes to get her and that he'll set the tiger free; puts the blame on other people by calling them liars  p.95
  2. After Willie May told Rob that she would like to see the tiger "rise on up out of his cage", Rob realized what he had to do.  What do you predict he'll do?  p.97

Chapter 26

  1. When Beauchamp drives up in his jeep toward Sistine and Rob, what does Sistine do that surprises Rob?  smile and sweetly say "Sissy" to Beauchamp  p.100
  2. What is the truth that Rob and Sistine learn about Beauchamp and the tiger?  Beauchamp is scared of the tiger  p.101

Chapter 27

  1. When Rob unlocks the tiger cage, why do they rock it?  so the tiger will leave  p.103
  2. What did the author compare the tiger running away from Rob and Sistine to? he looked like the sun, rising, setting again and again

Chapter 28

  1. What happens to the tiger after the kids let him go?  Rob's dad shoots it p.106
  2. What was a positive outcome to Rob's dad shooting the tiger?  Rob was able to finally tell his father how he feels about his mother being gone and they could talk and cry together  p.106
  3. Why do you think it was important to touch the tiger after Rob's dad had shot it?  helps you mourn, say good-bye and accept what has happened  p.109

Chapter 29

  1. What attended both Rob's mother's and the tiger's funeral?  the sun  p.111
  2. On the way back to the motel after the funeral, Rob felt lighter, as if he had put something heavy down and walked away from it.  Why?  he and his dad had talked; he was able to cry; he felt good about his decision to let the tiger go  p.112

Chapter 30

  1. Why does Rob feel all right about going to school now? Sistine is there p.114
  2. What will Rob carve for Sistine? a tiger  p.116

Comprehension Questions – Peter Pan

Peter Pan

J.M. Barrie (Penguin Classics)

Grades 4-6; Genre - Fantasy; GRL X; AR pts: not listed

A classic and original story of "the boy who would not grow up".

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. When describing Wendy’s mother, it talks about a kiss that Wendy will never get. What does the author mean by this?  It’s a foreshadow of the interchange that Wendy and Peter will have about a thimble and a kiss. Pg. 5
  2. What was Mr. Darling’s career? Traded stocks and shares  pg 6
  3. How did Mrs. Darling “tidy up her children’s minds?” Listen to them while they slept and tried to talk to them  8 & 10
  4. Why was Mrs. Darling so concerned about the leaves in the nursery? She didn’t know how they got there, they weren’t from England pg. 11
  5. Who was the first person to see Peter Pan in the Darling family? Darling  pg. 12

Chapter 2

  1. What does “mea culpa, mea culpa” mean? It’s my fault, it’s my fault p. 15, 228 (explanatory notes)
  2. What is a word you would use to describe Mr. Darling’s behavior after Wendy fetched his medicine, when he said he would take his medicine to show Michael how “to be a man”? Childish, immature, cowardly  19
  3. Why was Mrs. Darling nervous to have Nana outside while they were away at their party? She barking her DANGER bark and was worried about the boy p. 21
  4. Why were Mr. and Mrs. Darling upset and recalling the memories of “the Friday night”? their children were gone and they didn’t know if they’d see them again. P.21

Chapter 3

  1. Why did Peter come into the nursery the night the Darlings left for the party? Did retrieve his shadow p. 23
  2. After Wendy sewed on Peter’s shadow why did she go hide under her covers? Peter took the credit for Wendy’s cleverness of sewing on his shadow  26
  3. Why did Peter give Wendy an acorn, when he “kissed” her after her offer to kiss him? He thought a kiss was giving something small away to someone because Wendy gave him a thimble instead of a kiss p.26
  4. How did the Lost Boys come to be? As babies, they fell out of their perambulators (baby carriages) p. 29
  5. Why did Peter want Wendy, John and Michael to go to Neverland with him? So Wendy could tell stories to the Lost Boys and himself p. 30

Chapter 4

  1. When the children were flying with Peter to Neverland, how did he feed them? Take food away from birds that had food suitable for humans in their mouths  37
  2. Why did Wendy urge her brothers to be nice to Peter as they flew to Neverland? She didn’t want Peter to leave them, she didn’t know the way home, they couldn’t pick up food as well, they bumped into things and Peter helped them out  38
  3. On page 40, how is the sun a good example of personification? The sun was wanting them to reach Neverland before leaving them for the night; protecting; guiding with it’s rays; being a friend p.40
  4. When they were on their tip toes in the air and looking down into Neverland, why were they familiar with the things they were seeing? They had pretended all of those things p.40
  5. When Peter Pan spoke of Captain Hook, why were the children so afraid? Hook was Blackbeard’s first officer and he was the only man Long John Silver (Barbecue) in Treasure Island was scared of  43 & 228

Chapter 5

  1. What happens to Neverland when Peter is away? It goes to sleep, things are quiet p.47
  2. What are the four main groups that inhabit Neverland? Pirates, redskins, beasts, Lost Boys p. 47
  3. Name three of the Lost Boys and one characteristic of each. Tootles-kind, melancholy, humblest of them all; Nibs-happy debonair; Slightly-whistles and most conceited; Curly-he’s a pickle and always in trouble; Twins-apologetic, vague and hard to describe since Peter didn’t know what twins were  48
  4. Describe Mr. Smee. Genial, stabbed without offence, nonconformist p.49
  5. Who is the leader of the redskins or Piccaninny tribe? Princess Tiger Lilly p.50,52
  6. How does Hook know when the crocodile he fears is near? It swallowed a clock and it makes a ticking sound  54
  7. How did the pirates discover the home of the Lost Boys? They sat on the hidden chimney and felt heat p.54
  8. How did the Lost Boys defeat the pack of wolves running toward them? Looked between their legs and flatulated  55

Chapter 6

  1. What saved Wendy when Tootles his her with the arrow? The button on the chain she put around her neck p.59
  2. Why did Slightly leave and pretend to come back as a doctor when Peter told him to fetch a doctor? Peter believed make believe was true and if they broke down in their make believe he would rap them on their knuckles p. 61
  3. When Peter wanted to build Wendy a house and she was lying on the ground with her eyes closed, how do you know she wasn’t still injured? She answered Peter in song, the kind of house she would like  62
  4. How did Wendy feel about being the Lost Boys mother? Delighted  How do you know? She was shining when they asked p.65

Chapter 7

  1. Describe 3 things about the tree house Wendy and her brothers stayed in with Peter and the Lost Boys. It had one large room; the colorful mushrooms used as stools; the Never tree grew every morning in the middle of the floor: they’d put a door on top to make a table and sawed it off after tea time to make room to play; bed tilted by the wall in the day and let down at 6:30: all of the boys slept in it except Michael and was tight they had to give a signal to turn over; enormous fireplace; had a private apartment for Tinker Bell  P.68
  2. What did Wendy do to make sure her brothers wouldn’t forget their mother and father back home when they were living in Neverland?  Give them tests/examinations about them  p. 70

Chapter 8

  1. Why did the mermaids treat Peter differently than Wendy and the boys?  They liked him p.73
  2. After Hook swam aboard in the Mermaid’s Lagoon, why was he melancholy?  He found out Peter and the boys have a mother (Wendy) p.77
  3. When Hook was trying to guess who the voice was, what game did he play with it to figure it out?  20 questions p.80
  4. Why did Hook withdraw in the fight with Peter on the rock?  The crocodile was after him p.82
  5. What made Peter become resolute in surviving his wounds and not drowning on the rock? He realized that dying would be an adventure in itself and he was ready to face that adventure  p.84

Chapter 9

  1. Who tried to save Peter when he was wounded and trapped on the rock? The Never bird p.86
  2. When they couldn’t understand each other’s language, how did Peter and the Never bird treat each other?  With insults, calling names, bad manners  p.84
  3. After Peter was in the nest, why was the Never bird watching him closely? To see what Peter would do with her eggs p.86
  4. What did Peter do with the Never bird’s eggs? Put them in Starkey’s hat and used it for a boat to float upon the water p.87

Chapter 10

  1. Why did the redskins call Peter the Great White Father?  He saved Tiger Lilly from the pirates p.88
  2. How did Tiger Lilly, Wendy and Tinkerbell feel about Peter? They loved him p.94
  3. Give me two examples in which the author prepares the reader for the terrible events that are coming up in the story?  The author called the evening the Night of Nights; Wendy snapping, but wouldn’t have if she knew what was to happen before the night was out; none of them knew, perhaps it best not to know; their ignorance gave them one more glad hour; it was to be their last hour on the island; Peter stayed and sat on the stool and listened to the story;  p.89;93
  4. Why does this author give us hints that something terrible is going to happen in the story?  To help us anticipate it; to build our excitement for the story  p.89;93

Chapter 11

  1. What was Wendy’s story about in this chapter?  Wendy, Peter and John going to Neverland p.96
  2. What made Peter upset about his own mother? He thought she would always leave the window open for him, but when he finally went home, it was barred and another little boy was sleeping in his bed p.98
  3. How did the Lost Boys react when Wendy, John and Michael said they wanted to go home?  Advanced upon her threateningly, wanted to keep her prisoner p.99
  4. How did Tinkerbell feel about Wendy going back home?  Happy, but she didn’t want to take her p. 99

Chapter 12

  1. What time of day did Hook attack the redskins?  Just before dawn; when the sky was grey p.104
  2. What strategy did Captain Hook use to win the battle?  He used the element of surprise  p.105
  3. Who did Hook want to destroy? Peter Pan  p.105
  4. Why did Hook have such a hatred for Peter?  Peter’s cockiness  p.106

Chapter 13

  1. What was Slightly’s secret Hook discovered that betrayed Peter? No boy so big could use a tree wherein an average man could fit, so there was a hide out in a tree under the ground  p.109
  2. What made Hook decide to stay and capture Peter, his enemy? Peter’s impertinent appearance as he slept; Peter’s personification of cockiness p.111
  3. Who drank the poison Hook put in Peter’s medicine cup? Tink p.113
  4. Why did Tink drink the poison? To save Peter; she loved him  p.113

Chapter 14

  1. Hook was haunted by the action of “good form” from his school days. What was it? behaving properly p.117&231
  2. Where on Hook’s ship were the children kept prisoner? In the hold   p.119
  3. When Wendy was brought on deck from the hold and Hook spoke “as if he spoke in syrup”, how would his voice have sounded? Heavy, smooth, sweet  p.120
  4. What stopped Hook immediately, when he was ready to make Wendy watch the boys walk the plank?  The tick-tock of the crocodile  p. 122
  5. Who was really making the ticking sound?  Peter  p.122

Chapter 15

  1. Why was Slightly counting during this chapter?  He was counting the number of people that died after Peter came aboard the ship and went through the process of saving the children p.126
  2. Who is the “doodle-doo” on the ship killing people?  Peter  p.127
  3. Who did Hook send in to fight the doodle-doo?  The children p.127
  4. How did Peter at last defeat Hook?  Pushed him off the ship to the crocodile p.132

Chapter 16

  1. What was the setting of the beginning of this chapter?  The children were aboard the pirate ship, wearing pirate clothes, acting like sailors  p.134
  2. Where was the ship sailing? to the mainland; take the children home p.134
  3. Why did Peter and Tink fly into the room while Mrs. Darling was playing the piano and Mr. Darling was falling asleep in the kennel?  To bar the window to prevent Wendy from returning home  p.139
  4. How did the children finally convince Mrs. Darling they were really back home again and not a  dream? They ran into her arms   p.141

Chapter 17

  1. Why did Mr. Darling treat the Lost Boys unfavorably when they wanted to come live with the Darlings? He felt they only asked for Mrs. Darling’s consent and not his  p.143
  2. How often did Mrs. Darling allow Wendy to go to Neverland? For a week every year and do his spring cleaning  p.145
  3. What happened to Peter’s spring cleaning when Wendy grew up?  Her daughter Jane would go and Jane’s daughter Margaret would go, etc.  p.153

Comprehension Questions- Magic Tree House #3 Mummies in the Morning

Mummies in the Morning

by Mary Pope Osborne

Grades 2-5; Genre - Historical Fiction with Fantastical Elements; GRL M; AR pts: 1.0

Jack and Annie find themselves in the desert near a great pyramid.  They run into a ghost names Hutepi who has waited a thousand years to make her journey to the Next Life.  Continue reading →

Comprehension Questions – Magic Tree House #1 Dinosaurs Before Dark

Dinosaurs Before Dark

by Mary Pope Osborne

Grades 2-5; Genre - Historical Fiction with Fantastical Elements; GRL M; AR pts: 1.0

Jack and Annie find a magic tree house that takes them to the place and time of the dinosaurs.  They encounter different kinds of dinosaurs including a Tyrannosaurus rex and find a gold medallion with the letter M engraved on it. Continue reading →