Junie B., First Grader: Turkeys We Have Loved and Eaten

(and Other Thankful Stuff)

by Barbara Park

Grades Pre-K-2; Genre - Fiction; GRL N; AR pts. 2.0

To celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, Mr. Scary's first-grade class prepares a Thankful List for the school contest, but Junie B. finds it hard to be grateful for squash or Tattletale May.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

1. Why was Mr. Scary’s class going to write what they were thankful for on the blackboard? There was a school thankful contest for Thanksgivingp.5
2. What’s the price for winning? Pumpkin pie p.6
3. How did the class feel about it? They didn’t like pumpkin pie p.7

Chapter 2

1. What items comprised the thankful list is this chapter? Food and toilet paper p.18

Chapter 3

1. Why do you think Roger was nervous to go first? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 4

1. What did Mr. Scary want the class to realize in this chapter? They shouldn’t dive for money; it’s important to be thankful for what we have and not focus on what we don’t have; we can be happy if we don’t have a lot of money p.39

Chapter 5

1. Name three things you’re thankful for. Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 6

1. Why was Mr. Scary smiling at the beginning of this chapter? Junie B. and May brought the same stuffed elephant from home; they have something in common p.57
2. Why did Mr. Scary get angry at the end of the chapter? The two girls were running around with their elephants p.63

Chapter 7

1. Do you think Mr. Scary cares if his class wins the contest? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 8

1. Summarize this chapter. Sheldon showed pictures of the turkeys they’ve eaten and shared family traditions p.76

Chapter 9

1. Who won the prize for the Thankful Contest? Junie B.’s class p.96
2. How did Lennie help everyone feel better in this chapter? He told them they could spit the pumpkin pie out of their mouths into the sink at the back of the room p.97

Chapter 10

1. What did Junie B. mean when she said the sink was going to get a real workout? The kids would all be spitting pumpkin pie and stewed onions into the sink p.105
2. Why were the children so excited in this chapter? Their families were coming to the school with food to share in a Thanksgiving feast p.106

Chapter 11

1. Did the sink get used that day? Why, or why not? No, the children weren’t required to eat the different foods and when they tried the pumpkin pie, they thought it was delicious p.114

Chapter 12

1. How does this book end? May and Junie B. realized they liked being different from each other and that they could be friends; everyone yelled “Happy Turkey Day” to each other p.130