Mr. Popper's Penguins

by Richard and Florence Atwater

Grades 3-5; Genre - Fiction; GRL Q; AR pts: 3.0

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

1. Why was Mr. Popper so absent-minded? He was day-dreaming of far-away places p.5
2. What far-away place did Mr. Popper want to see most of all? The north and south poles p.7
3. Why is Mrs. Popper worried that Mr. Popper doesn’t work in the winter? They won’t have as much money p.8

Chapter 2

1. How does Mrs. Popper feel about the South Pole? That its dull and cold p.10
2. Why does Mr. Popper want a penguin for a pet? They’re intelligent p.12
3. Why is Mr. Popper mentioned over the radio? He sent a letter to Admiral Drake about the penguins p.14

Chapter 3

1. What surprise did Admiral Drake send Mr. Popper? A penguin p.18
2. Why did Mr. Popper fill up the bathtub? He thought the penguin was thirsty p.19
3. Why did Mr. Popper call the penguin Captain Cook? The penguin made noises that sounded like Cook p.21

Chapter 4

1. Why was the Popper family upset with Captain Cook? He ate their goldfish p.28
2. Where did Captain Cook go to sleep? In the refrigerator p.29
3. How did Mrs. Popper feel about Captain Cook? That he would make an all right pet p.30

Chapter 5

1. What did the serviceman do to the ice box? Put holes in it and put a handle on the inside p.32
2. How much money did Mr. Popper give to the serviceman? $10 p.33
3. How did the serviceman react when Mr. Popper asked him to do these things? He thought Mr. Popper was crazy p.33

Chapter 6

1. What did the policeman want when he came to the back door? The serviceman reported the penguin p.39
2. Why did Mr. Popper get frustrated when he called the city building? They were confused on what he was calling about and didn’t know what a penguin was p.42

Chapter 7

1. Why did Captain Cook gather odds and ends and put them in the fridge? He was putting together a nest p.48
2. Why did Mr. Popper look like a penguin in this chapter? He shaved, slicked back his hair and put on his evening tailcoat p.49
3. Why did Mr. Popper ask his wife for clothesline? He wanted it to take Captain Cook on a stroll p.49

Chapter 8

1. How did the men with the camera know that Mr. Popper owned a penguin? They heard it from the police officer p.54
2. What were the men doing with the camera? They were writing an article for the newspaper p.54

Chapter 9

1. Why did the barber yell, “Good night!” when Captain Cook jumped onto the mirror ledge? He was surprised; this was an expression of surprise at the time this book was written p.57
2. Why did Captain Cook want the shaving cream on the man’s face at the barber? It looked like snow p.58
3. Why did Captain Cook want to climb the stairs? So, he could toboggan down them p.60

Chapter 10

1. Why did Mrs. Popper call the doctor in this chapter? Captain Cook was ill and had a 104 degree temperature p.63
2. What did the curator think was wrong with Captain Cook? He thought the penguin was lonely p.67
3. What was the curator’s cure to help Captain Cook? He’s sending him Greta, the aquarium’s penguin who is also ill p.67

Chapter 11

1. What does Mrs. Popper compare the two penguins to at the beginning of the chapter? Two peas p.68
2. How could they tell the birds apart? Mr. Popper painted their names on their backs p.69
3. How did Mr. Popper make a bigger, more comfortable home for the penguins? He left the windows open in his home and snow came into the house p.71

Chapter 12

1. How did the Popper’s take care of the penguins for the rest of the winter? Mr. Popper had the furnace moved upstairs and an ice making machine installed In the cellar p.74
2. How many eggs did Greta lay in all? 10 p.75
3. Who did Mr. Popper name the penguin chicks after? Explorers and their assistants p.77

Chapter 13

1. Why was Mrs. Popper considering eating the penguins? They were almost out of money p.82
2. What idea did Mr. Popper come up with to earn money? Train the penguins to perform p.83
3. How many songs did Mrs. Popper remember and what did she play the piano for? Three songs for three different acts the penguins would perform p.84

Chapter 14

1. What made the passengers on the bus complain? Mr. Popper opened all of the windows to keep the penguins cool p.89
2. What was Mr. Greenbaum’s reaction to meeting Mr. Popper and his penguins? He wanted to see the act p.91

Chapter 15

1. Where did the penguins get to perform their act for Mr. Greenbaum?  On the stage in front of an audience p.93
2. How do you know the audience enjoyed the penguins’ act? They stood up and cheered p.99  
3. What did the theater owner offer Mr. Popper? A ten-week contract with $5,000 a week p.99

Chapter 16

1. Why was a traffic officer involved when the Popper’s and penguins were on the way to the train station? The two taxis driving them were racing and got in an accident p.102
2. Why was Mrs. Popper worried about the children missing school? she didn’t want them to get behind p.104
3. How did the penguins disrupt the rest of the acts during their first performance? They would go on stage and make the audience laugh and distract the performer p.106

Chapter 17

1. How would other performers feel when they heard the penguins were performing in the same show? They didn’t like it p.108
2. Why weren’t the Poppers rich when receiving $5,000 a week? They ate at expensive restaurants and slept in expensive hotels p.112
3. Predict if Mr. Popper will sign another contract with Mr. Greenbaum.  Listen to your child’s answer p.114

Chapter 18

1. What did the Popper’s find at the theater? A seal performing act p.117
2. Why were the Popper’s worried to have the penguins join the seals? They thought the seals would eat the penguins p.118
3. What mistake did Mr. Popper make during this chapter? He told the taxi driver the wrong theater p.122

Chapter 19

1. Who bailed Mr. Popper and the penguins out of jail? Admiral Drake p.127
2. What did Admiral Drake offer Mr. Popper? To take the penguins to the North Pole and name the new penguin race after him p.129
3. What did Mr. Greenbaum offer him? A deal with a movie producer that will put the penguins in films p.130

Chapter 20

1. Why did Mr. Popper decide to give the birds to Admiral Drake? Because they had done so much for him that he needed to do what was best for them p.133
2. What surprised Mr. Popper in this chapter? That he was invited to go with the expedition p.138
3. Explain what you liked about this book.  Listen to your child’s response