Tag Archives: Grades 1-4

Comprehension Questions – The Never Girls #6 The Woods Beyond

The Woods Beyond

by Kiki Thorpe

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

Lainey's bad day turns worse when Prilla the fairy calls her clumsy, but while walking in the woods of Never Land, Lainey discovers the hideout of the Lost Boys and makes some new friends.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Who is the main character is this story? Lainey p.1
  2. Describe her. Wears glasses; loves animals but isn’t allowed any of her own pets; leaves food out for the neighborhood dogs; takes swim lessons p.1

Chapter 2

  1. What’s similar about Prilla and Lainey’s day so far. They’re both having really bad days p.16
  2. How did Prilla hurt Lainey’s feelings? Yelled at her and called her a Clumsy p.30

Chapter 3

  1. Describe the home. In a tree, toad stool chairs; furniture made from tree roots; wash basin made from tortoise shell; hearth; spring water came in from a hole p.39
  2. Who lives in the home? The Lost Boys p.42

Chapter 4

  1. How did the boys respond to meeting Lainey? They had never seen a girl before; they were surprised p.47

Chapter 5

  1. What clue did Gabby find to help them know where Lainey is? Her deer harness is missing p.59

Chapter 6

  1. How did the boys and Lainey mislead each other in this chapter? She told them she could speak rhinoceros and they didn’t tell her they could fly with fairy dust p.67

Chapter 7

  1. Why did Lainey decide she wasn’t going back home? With the boys she was confident and felt good about herself p.84

Chapter 8

  1. Summarize this chapter. Lainey’s friends were looking for her in the woods; they were remembering the good things about Lainey and wished she was with them p.88

Chapter 9

  1. How did the friends find Lainey? They were traveling through the forest, Lainey and the boys thought the girls were pirates and jumped out to ambush them p.105

Chapter 10

  1. Why did Prilla visit the boy? To give him the best day ever p.116

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 – #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

Comprehension Questions – Magic Tree House #34 Late Lunch with Llamas

Late Lunch with Llamas

by Mary Pope Osborne

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

The magic tree house whisks Jack and Annie away to South America, where they must climb Machu Picchu to save a baby llama. 

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Where is Jack and Annie going in this book? Peru p.7
  2. What continent is Peru on? South America 

Chapter 2

  1. Why is the boy so upset in this chapter? His baby llama was stolen p.19

Chapter 3

  1. Why are Jack and Annie afraid to cross the bridge? It’s made of rope and hangs between two mountains p.25
  2. Why are Jack and Annie determined to cross the bridge? Their mission is to go across and save the llama p.27

Chapter 4

  1. Why did Jack and Annie feel sick while hiking up the mountain? They didn’t have water and they needed to slow down to let their bodies get used to the high altitude p.35

Chapter 5

  1. How did Jack and Annie know they were taken back hundreds of years into the past? Topa and his grandparents called Machu Picchu the Secret City p.40

Chapter 6

  1. Where did Jack and Annie find drinking water? In one of the many springs in the city p.47

Chapter 7

  1. How will the legend help Jack and Annie? The llama will speak and tell the Emperor what it wants p.61

Chapter 8

  1. Name one thing that was scary for Jack in this chapter? The Emperor wouldn’t believe them; the trail to the rope bridge was on a cliff; condors were flying overhead p.62

Chapter 9

  1. How did Jack keep Cria safe from the condors? He remembered the legend and asked the condors to tell the constellations to keep Cria safe p.74

Chapter 10

  1. What’s Annie’s explanation of “the secret of the brave”? People can’t be brave unless they’re afraid first p.85

Comprehension Questions – Magic Tree House #33 Narwhal on a Sunny Night

Narwhal on a Sunny Night

by Mary Pope Osborne

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

The magic tree house whisks Jack and Annie to Greenland, where their mission is to save a narwhal.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What do you know about Greenland from this first chapter? It’s cold, by the Arctic Circle, can’t have a lot of grass and trees, icebergs and reindeer p.5

Chapter 2

  1. Name one fact you found interesting in this chapter. The earth is warming causing the polar caps to melt; 56,000 people live there with most of them Inuits; there are three kinds of seals and 15 kinds of whales that live there p.12

Chapter 3

  1. Why were Jack and Annie worried about the orcas swimming toward the narwhals? Orcas will kill and eat narwhals p.22

Chapter 4

  1. How did Annie convince the boy not to kill the narwhal for its horn? She told him they’re special and mysteries of nature; they know secrets humans will never know and hear things in ways we’ll never hear; they talk in a language we’ll never understand p.28

Chapter 5

  1. Describe how the kids free the narwhal? Leveraged a spear into the ice to break it p.34

Chapter 6

  1. Describe what you know about Erikson and his family. They’re seafarers; came from Iceland 8 years ago p.40

Chapter 7

  1. Describe the village Erikson lives in. His dad is the chief; long wooden house; thatched huts; barns; dogs; families live there: shocked to see Jack and Annie p.48

Chapter 8

  1. Why are Jack and Annie wanting to sneak away from Leif’s house? His family is under the impression they have a ship and want to take the entire village to see it in the morning p.62

Chapter 9

  1. What gift did Jack and Annie give Leif? Their map of Greenland p.69

Chapter 10

  1. Why do you think “thanks” is the special word Jack and Annie saw glow? Listen to your child’s answer p.79

Chapter 11

  1. Who can you thank? Make sure to write them a note or tell them! P.84

Comprehension Questions – #2 Isadora Moon Goes Camping

Isadora Moon Goes Camping

by Harriet Muncaster

Grades 1-4; Genre - Fantasy; Lexile 520L; AR pts. 1.0

When Isadora Moon and her family go on a camping trip to the beach, they're just like everybody else. They roast marshmallows and build sand castles and sleep in a tent But in a magical family, anything can happen. And when Isadora goes on a nighttime adventure, she makes an unusual friend under the sea. . . .

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Predict what Isadora did during summer break. Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 2

  1. How does Isadora’s dad’s feel about camping? He didn’t want to; doesn’t like it p.11
  2. Where did her family go for their vacation? Camping at the beach p.22

Chapter 3

  1. How did Isadora figure out her dad was in the bathroom? There was a long line of people waiting to get in p.31

Chapter 4

  1. How was the special comb lost? Isadora put it on top of her sandcastle; the tide came in and washed it away p.46
  2. Why didn’t Isadora tell her dad what happened to it? She was too scared at first, but then he wouldn’t talk to her when she tried p.48

Chapter 5

  1. Who did Isadora meet on the beach? A mermaid p.60
  2. Should the mermaid princess give back the comb? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 6

  1. How did Isadora get the comb back? She asked the princess and agreed to stay for a tea party p.75

Chapter 7

  1. What did Isadora do to Princess Delphina’s stuffed mer-bear? Why? Brought it to life; she was lonely p.83
  2. What did Isadora’s dad learn? He shouldn’t have brought his comb to the beach; spending time with his family is more important than a comb p.91

Comprehension Questions – #1 Isadora Moon Goes to School

Isadora Moon Goes to School

by Harriet Muncaster

Grades 1-4; Genre - Fantasy; Lexile 520L; AR pts. 1.0

Isadora Moon loves sunshine — and nighttime. She loves her magic wand — and her black tutu. She loves spooky bats — and Pink Rabbit. Isadora is half-fairy, half-vampire, and she’s special because she is different! Now Isadora’s parents want her to start school, but she’s not sure where she belongs — fairy school or vampire school?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe Isadora. Half vampire, half fairy; has a vampire dad, fairy mom, and a little sister like her; her pink stuffed rabbit is alive; lives in the top tower of her large home p.2

Chapter 2

  1. What decision is Isadora trying to make in this chapter? What school to go to p.16

Chapter 3

  1. Why is Isadora embarrassed in this chapter? She was practicing her wand skills and instead of a carrot cake, a carrot appeared that grew to a great size and flew out the window p.32

Chapter 4

  1. What happened on Isadora’s first day at fairy school? She couldn’t use a wand; she couldn’t dance like the other fairies because she couldn’t wear her black tutu; she didn’t know she shouldn’t pick toadstools from a fairy ring and she got red spots from the toadstools p.43

Chapter 5

  1. Why isn’t Isadora prepared for vampire school? She wasn’t able to sleep all day and will be tired p.60

Chapter 6

  1. What did Isadora learn about herself in this chapter? That her wings flap and she doesn’t zoom and glide like other vampires p.68

Chapter 7

  1. How did Pink Rabbit get banned from vampire school? He opened the window and let all the bats out p.84

Chapter 8

  1. What did Isadora like about herself in this chapter? Her wild hair p.91

Chapter 9

  1. What made Isadora feel happy? She felt proud to be who she was; the human kids accepted her for who she was p.103

Chapter 10

  1. How did Isadora convince her parents to let her go to regular human school? Humans are all different, just like her; she really wanted to go p.114

Comprehension Questions – #3 Isadora Moon Goes to the Ballet

Isadora Moon Goes to the Ballet

by Harriet Muncaster

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

Isadora Moon goes on a school trip to her first ballet with her parents as chaperones and Pink Rabbit at her side.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What does Isadora want to be when she grows up? A ballerina p.6

Chapter 2

  1. Why doesn’t Isadora want her parents to go on the field trip? She’s embarrassed with who they are p.19

Chapter 3

  1. Why does Isadora’s dad dislike mornings? He’s a vampire who prefers the night p.30

Chapter 4

  1. What are two ways Isadora could have been embarrassed by her parents in this chapter? Her dad left the class to go do his hair and her mom made flowers and grass grow at the train station p.35

Chapter 5

  1. What exercise did Isadora’s dad get in this chapter? He flew p.47

Chapter 6

  1. Describe the auditorium. Glittering; velvet seats; large; massive stage with a curtain p.51
  2. Predict what’s going to happen next. Isadora will go look for Pink Rabbit p.53

Chapter 7

  1. Where did Isadora find Pink Rabbit? Where the actors and dancers go to get ready p.63

Chapter 8

  1. Why can’t the show go on? Tatiana Tutu tripped and hurt her leg p.71
  2. What do you think Isadora’s idea is? Listen to your child’s idea p.76

Chapter 9

  1. Summarize this chapter. Pink Rabbit danced as the white rabbit in the ballet p.79
  2. Were you correct in your prediction? Listen to your child’s answer 

Chapter 10

  1. What was in the gift? The tiara and tickets to Tatiana’s next ballet show p.101
  2. What’s the moral of this story? It’s important to be kind in big and small ways, you never know how much it means to someone p.104