Tag Archives: GRL N

Comprehension Questions – The Never Girls #3 A Dandelion Wish

A Dandelion Wish

by Kiki Thorpe

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

Mia and her friends have discovered a magical passageway to Never Land, but when her little sister, Gabby, goes to Never Land alone, the passageway closes up, with a fairy stuck on the Main Land side, too.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Why did Mia sulk in this chapter? She wanted to go to Pixie Hollow with her friends, but she had to babysit Gabby p.4
  2. Was it responsible of Mia to go to Pixie Hollow anyway? No, she should have stayed and watched her sister p.9

Chapter 2

  1. Was Mia being a good example and taking good care of her sister? Why or why not? No, because she was more worried about herself p.24
  2. Why was Mia worried at the end of this chapter? Gabby went through the fence and their father fixed it so Gabby couldn’t come home from Pixie Hollow p.30

Chapter 3

  1. Why was everyone so busy in Pixie Hollow? They were cleaning up the mess Bingo made p.32
  2. Do you think it will be easy for Iridessa to look after Gabby? Listen to your child’s answer p.41

Chapter 4

  1. Summarize this chapter. Rosetta fainted realizing she couldn’t go home; Mia called her friends over and they tried to find the right slat in the fence to Never Land, but they loosened the wrong one and Rosetta disappeared through it p.43

Chapter 5

  1. How did Gabby and Iridessa get lost in this chapter? Gabby ran ahead into some trees and Iridessa followed p.62

Chapter 6

  1. How did Rosetta serve Mia in this chapter? She fixed up her neighbor’s yard so Mia could go back through the fence p.76

Chapter 7

  1. How could Mia have prevented this whole mess? She should have just babysat Gabby and not gone to Never Land

Chapter 8

  1. Why wasn’t Gabby scared in this chapter? She had faith in fairy magic p.100

Chapter 9

  1. How did the dandelion wishes help Gabby? They helped her get back to Pixie Hollow and they created another passage to Never Land so she could go home p.102
  2. How did this situation change Mia’s heart toward her little sister? She realized she has messed up and just wanted her sister back p.108

Chapter 10

  1. What promise did the girls make to each other? They wouldn’t go to Never Land without the four of them together p. 116
  2. Why did Iridessa stay close to Gabby? She cared for her and was a good friend p.117
  3. Why was Tink going back to the mainland with the girls? To fix the lawn mower p.118

Comprehension Questions – The Never Girls #2 The Space Between

The Space Between

by Kiki Thorpe

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

Just as they were settling in at Pixie Hollow, Kate, Mia, Lainey, and Gabby have to go home, but even when they leave Never Land, its magic seems to follow them.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. If you could be a talent Clumsy what would it be? 
  2. What talent did Lainey have? Animal-talent p.9

Chapter 2

  1. Why were the girls sad in this chapter? It was time to go home p.17
  2. What gift did the queen give them? Fairy dust to fly back to Never Land p.22
  3. Where do you think the dust disappeared to? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 3

  1. What happened to Fawn in this chapter? She’d traveled through the tree to the Clumsy world; was chased by a cat; then ended back up in Pixie Hollow as she squeezed through a fence p.35

Chapter 4

  1. Why was Lainey disappointed to be back in her world? She had lost so much in Pixie Hollow and was worried she wouldn’t be anyone special p.50
  2. How do you think the dairy mouse came to Lainey’s world? Listen to your child’s answer p.56

Chapter 5

  1. What caused mischief in Pixie Hollow? The cat p.65
  2. What stopped the cat from feasting on the fairies in the kitchen? Peppercorns p.66

Chapter 6

  1. Name two strange things in this chapter. Mia can’t find her cat and a flamingo appeared in her backyard p.76

Chapter 7

  1. What was Fawn’s plan to get the cat back to the mainland? Lure it to where it came to into Never Land p.90

Chapter 8

  1. Where did Milkweed disappear to? Back to Never Land p.93
  2. What do you think the flamingo was trying to tell Lainey? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 9

  1. Did Lainey’s plan work? Why or why not? No; she saw Milkweed at the tree and didn’t want to cat to eat the mouse p.104
  2. Where did the flamingo lead Lainey? Back to Never Land p.108

Chapter 10

  1. Who did the cat belong to that was running through Never Land? Mia p.114
  2. Why did Lainey realize at the end of the story? She’s special, she has a fairy for a friend p.120

Comprehension Questions – The Never Girls #1 In a Blink

In a Blink

by Kiki Thorpe

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

In a blink of an eye, four best friends all get whisked off to Never Land, home to Tinker Bell and her fairy friends.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Where does this story gets its name? four friends were outside; one heard the ocean, one saw flamingos, one heard bells jingling and one saw a fairy; there was a great wind and at the end of the chapter, in a blink they weren’t in the backyard anymore p.11

Chapter 2

  1. Why did Prilla go see Tink? She accidentally brought the four girls to their land and needed help; everyone went to Tink with their problems p.15
  2. How would you feel if you were called to see the queen? Listen to your child’s answer p.23

Chapter 3

  1. Where did the girls blink to? Never Land p.30
  2. Why do the fairies keep calling the girls Clumsies? That’s what fairies call the humans from the mainland p.31

Chapter 4

  1. Define what a talent is. A natural aptitude or skill p.37
  2. Why do you think it bothered Kate that the other children who have come to Never Land go home and forget about it or stay forever? It wasn’t really a fair choice; she might have wondered who could forget about Never Land p.49

Chapter 5

  1. Describe where the girls slept that night in Never Land. A huge willow tree; hammocks with moss and silk sheets; lights that were fireflies; pillows stuffed with rose petals p.51
  2. Why didn’t the girls need to worry about time passing at home? They realized time passed differently in Never Land and hoped no time had passed at homep.59

Chapter 6

  1. What did the girls want to do for their last day in Never Land? Learn to fly p.71
  2. What do you think Kate’s plan is? Listen to your child’s answer p.72

Chapter 7

  1. What did Kate learn about flying? It was harder than it looks p.76
  2. Why didn’t Kate remember Prilla’s warning about Vidia? She stopped listening to Prilla because she was bored p.85

Chapter 8

  1. How did Vidia trick Kate? She taught her to fly, then took off with the pixie dust p.96

Chapter 9

  1. Why did Vidia need Kate to get the dust for her? The queen put a magic spell around the pumpkin so she couldn’t go near it p.99
  2. Who found Kate? Where? How? Gabby; tangled in the branches of a tree far from Pixie Hollow; she covered more distance than usual because of her belief in magic p.108

Chapter 10

  1. Did the girls make it home? No p.118
  2. How did the girls feel about being stuck in Never Land? They knew they’d get home someday but we’re glad for the extra time they could spend there p.118

Comprehension Questions – A Never Girls Adventure: Finding Tinker Bell #1 Beyond Never Land

Beyond Never Land

by Kiki Thorpe

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

When Tinker Bell sets out on a trip beyond Never Land and disappears, it’s up to the Never Girls—Kate, Mia, Lainey, and Gabby—to find their missing fairy friend. But Tink’s mission has taken her farther from Pixie Hollow than any fairy has ever gone before. Can the Never Girls, along with their fairy friends Silvermist, Fawn, Rosetta, and Iridessa, track Tink down before she’s lost forever?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Why was the wooden boat special? It was the girls’ great grandfather’s p.8

Chapter 2

  1. What’s Tink’s problem in this chapter? She’s tired of the same thing each day and feels like she’s missing something; she’d like to go on an adventure p.19

Chapter 3

  1. What’s excitement in this chapter? A snake was threatening to attack a fairy in the orchard; Kate threw an apple and distracted it; other fairies swooped in and saved the fairy; everyone else made noise and the snake left p.28

Chapter 4

  1. What did Tink do in this chapter? She found the girls’ boat and thought it was for her; she magically brought it into her workshop and fixed it up; she told her friends what she was doing; she copied the map so she could take it with her; her shadow drew things on the map she couldn’t see p.35

Chapter 5

  1. Why would Gabby rather have her father mad at her than be disappointed in her? She’d really let her dad down p.54
  2. Have you ever felt this way? Explain. Listen to your child’s answer.

Chapter 6

  1. Summarize this chapter. Gabby and the girls couldn’t find the boat; Tink had taken it sailing that morning; Tink sailed next to flying fish and lost sight of the island; a cloud came and rained on her; she turned around but couldn’t see land p.61

Chapter 7

  1. Why was it rude to take the map out of Tink’s workshop? Gabby shouldn’t have taken it without permission; she shouldn’t have snooped around Tink’s office without permission; you should always have permission to go into someone else’s space and ask permission to take their things p.80

Chapter 8

  1. Why is Gabby worried about her friend and the boat? Nothing that has ever gone to the island has ever come be back p.92

Chapter 9

  1. Why was Tink disheartened and nervous at the end of this chapter? She wasn’t in Never Land and she wasn’t alone p.101

Chapter 10

  1. How does this story end? The girls and fairies left to go find Tink; they saw a small black cloud p.104

Comprehension Questions – The Never Girls #13 Under the Lagoon

#13 Under the Lagoon

by Kiki Thorpe

Grades 2-3; Genre - Fantasy; GRL N; AR pts. 1.0

The fairies in Never Land think that mermaids are nothing but trouble. When Gabby befriends a mermaid, Kate, Mia, and Lainey warn her to stay away, but Gabby doesn't want to lose her new friend.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1 

  1. Explain what happened to Gabby in this chapter? She stayed back on the beach while the other girls went on the raft to visit Sunny; she made a sand castle but water kept splashing her; the water swallowed up her barrettes and her sand castle; she thought she saw someone hiding on the rocks in the water p.8
  2. Predict who you think that someone is. Listen to your child’s answer. 

Chapter 2

  1. What saved Gabby from drowning in the cauldron? A mermaid came in and with magic lowered the water level p.25
  2. What did Gabby make that day? A friend p.25
  3. What evidence shows you she made a friend? They enjoyed being together; they played games and talked; they were happy to find out they had many things in common p.27

Chapter 3

  1. Who saw Gabby playing with a mermaid and why did she think it strange? Rosetta; mermaids don’t like humans p.40
  2. Do you think it’s strange that Gabby and Yooni want to be friends? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer. 

Chapter 4

  1. Define the word grudge. to be unwilling to give or admit: give or allow reluctantly or resentfully p.45
  2. What happened when the fairies told and retold what Rosetta saw? The story got more elaborate with each telling and started to be misleading and not true and turned into gossiping p.46
  3. Explain a time when you have experienced something like this. Listen to your child’s answer. 

Chapter 5

  1. Why did the other girls assume Yooni was bad? The fairies assumed she was since she was a mermaid and had told them so p.54
  2. Why was Gabby sad in this chapter? The other girls had been mean and scared Yooni away p.59

Chapter 6

  1. Why did Rosetta agree to take the sea rose to the mermaids? Gabby missed Yooni and she felt guilty she had let the rumor get out of hand p.65
  2. What attitude did both the mermaids and fairies have toward each other? They thought they were better than the other p.71

Chapter 7

  1. Was Gabby making a good choice to go see Yooni or follow her to the mermaid party? Why, or why not? No; she has been sneaky and didn’t tell her sister p.74
  2. Why will Gabby’s sister be upset she went to the mermaid party? She can’t trust the mermaids; she’ll worry that Gabby’s in danger; Gabby should have told her where she was going p.80
  3. From what you’ve learned about mermaids in this story, predict what will happen at the party. Listen to your child’s answer. 

Chapter 8

  1. Why was Rosetta in angst this chapter? She realized she’s having a hard time always knowing what to do and when to talk about things p.88
  2. Have you ever felt this way? Listen to your child’s answer.
  3. Why are the fairies worried Gabby’s with the mermaids? They’re singing their most powerful song which can turn fairies into bats, and they don’t know what it’ll do to humans p.90

Chapter 9

  1. Summarize what happened in this chapter. The fairies and girls went to the mermaid lagoon to find Gabby; they got there and found they were in the eye of the storm; they saw Gabby and she saw them; she fell from the rock into the water p.101

Chapter 10

  1. Were the fairies right to believe that something bad can happen during the mermaids’ powerful music? Yes p.108
  2. What did Gabby learn in this chapter? That’s not all mermaids are bad, but she needs to listen to her sister and the other fairies p.108
  3. What did the mermaids and fairies learn in this chapter? That they can be nice to each other and be friends p.109

Comprehension Questions – A to Z Mysteries The Kidnapped King

The Kidnapped King

by Ron Roy

Grades 3-4; Genre - Mystery; GRL N; AR pts. 1.0

K is for Kidnapped! Someone has kidnapped the king and queen of Socotra. For safety's sake, their son is staying with Dink until they are safe. But then the prince is kidnapped, too! Can Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose unmask the royals' enemies before it's too late? Or is the royal family of Socotra gone forever?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Why was Dink scared he was in trouble? He was called to the principal’s office p.3
  2. Describe Sammi Bin Oz. From Costra, black hair, dark skin, eyes were the color of honey, quiet voice, made up rhymes to remember new words p.7
  3. Why was Dink excited to introduce Sammi to his friends? Sammi is funny and will be staying at his home for a few weeks p.7

Chapter 2

  1. What did Sammi want kept away from him and why? Josh’s dog; he’s allergic p.12
  2. Why did Sammi’s tutor want to see Sammi’s room? To make sure it was safe p.15
  3. What would be your reaction if you were asked the same question Sammi asked at the end of this chapter? Listen to your child’s answers p.17

Chapter 3

  1. Why was Sammi so upset in this chapter? His parents had been kidnapped p.20
  2. List two things that are different between Dink’s and Sammi’s way of living in this chapter. Dink dresses himself/Sammi has servants to dress him; Dink doesn’t need to worry about getting kidnapped or poisoned/Sammi’s family has enemies that want to hurt them p.20
  3. Why is it important for Dink to tell his mother about Sammi? So, she knows the truth about why he is there and the danger he possibly faces p.26

Chapter 4

  1. What gift will Sammi receive on his fifteenth birthday and why is it special? A Kaleidoscope; it’s been in his family for generations p.28
  2. What language is Sammi’s tutor teaching him? French p.31
  3. What did Joan do before she left for the evening? Check the locks on Sammi’s windows, door, and bathroom door p.33

Chapter 5

  1. Why does Dink think Sammi’s been kidnapped? Sammi’s not in his room or anywhere in the house and the back door has been forced open p.36
  2. How do we know that Joan was upset by the news? She almost fainted and needed help walking p.39
  3. What clue did Dink find? A yellow piece of glass from the kaleidoscope p.42

Chapter 6

  1. Why are the yellow glass pieces important? The pile of them is missing p.47
  2. Why does Officer Fallon think the kidnappers took Sammi away in a boat? A boat is missing and they found one of Sammi’s slipper tassels near the river p.49

Chapter 7

  1. Why do they kids think Sammi left a trail? They’re finding individual yellow pieces of glass p.52
  2. Dink asked a good question…why didn’t Sammi use red or blue to make the trail? Listen to your child’s answers p.58

Chapter 8

  1. What conclusion did Dink come to at the end of this chapter and how did he get there? Dink thinks Sammi wants the kids to know Joan is involved because she was trying to teach Dink how to say yellow in French which sounds just like Joan, which made Sammi choose the yellow shards of glass to leave a trail p.65

Chapter 9

  1. Why is Dink worried in this chapter? He can’t find his mom, she’s not where she said she would be. She has the yellow glass which could put her in danger p.71

Chapter 10

  1. What clue led the kids to want to search Joan’s hotel room? Pal found yellow glass on the soul of Mr. Linkletter’s soul stuck to some gum, so they assumed Sammi has been to the hotel p.73
  2. What did they find in Joan’s hotel room? Yellow glass p.76
  3. Where did they find Sammi? In the bottom of the cart, tied and gagged p.79

Chapter 11

  1. How did Joan act suspicious? She talked about the tassel found at the river when no one told her about it p.84
  2. What does “spill the beans” mean? Reveal secret information unintentionally or indiscreetly p.85
  3. Why was Sammi able to go home? Sammi’s parents were found p.85

Comprehension Questions – Junie B., First Grader Dumb Bunny

Junie B., First Grader: Dumb Bunny

by Barbara Park

Grades 1-5; Genre- Fiction; GRL N; AR pts. 1.0

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What name does Junie B. call May? dumb bunny
    p.1
  2. What does Mr. Scary want May to do when she
    wants to tattle tale? Count to 20, count to 20 again, go home for the day
    then come back and cover her mouth p.5
  3. Why did Mr. Scary take Lucille out of the
    room? To talk to her about calling everyone in the class dumb clucks p.13

Chapter 2

  1. What’s Lucille’s dad going to hide? A golden
    egg with the grand prize p.19
  2. What’s the grand prize from the egg hunt going
    to be? Swimming with Lucille in her indoor pool p.19
  3. Why is Sheldon playing with Lucille? To
    get on her good side so she tells him where the egg is hidden p.24
  4. What does May frequently compare herself to? Birds
    p.25

Chapter 3

  1. Why did Junie B. choose her lavender overalls to
    the party? She can fit a lot of eggs in her pockets, they’re pretty, and she
    can run and tackle people in them p.29
  2. How did Lucille’s nanna react when she realized
    who Junie B. was? She got nervous p.35
  3. Why did Junie B. think she was so funny to think
    up the possibility that May was carried away by a North American barn owl? Because
    May compared herself to one p.38

Chapter 4

  1. Why couldn’t Lucille tell Sheldon where the
    golden egg was hidden? Her dad hid it and didn’t tell her p.42
  2. What was Sheldon lucky charm? Some egg that
    spilled on his shirt p.43
  3. What did Junie B. and her friends do to
    annoy Lucille’s dad? Kept repeating what he said while shouting p.48

Chapter 5

  1. What did Lucille’s parents and nanna do to
    decide who would sit next to Junie B.? a coin toss p.54
  2. Why isn’t the Easter bunny going to be at the
    party? Lucille’s nanna paid him in advanced and he didn’t come back p.57
  3. Describe the jellybean game Junie B. played at
    the party? There was a jar of jellybeans with only one purple jellybean.
    Everyone got to pick a jellybean out without looking and whoever got the purple
    one got a prize p.62

Chapter 6

  1. What did Junie B. receive as her prize for
    getting the purple jellybean? A bunny suit p.69
  2. Why did she get a bunny suit? She was to be
    the party’s Easter bunny p.69
  3. What did Lucille tell Junie B. that helped her
    want to dress up in the bunny suit? That there was a seat for her to sit on
    in the garden and the photographer would take pictures of her with the other
    children p.72

Chapter 7

  1. What happened to Junie B. when she ran in the
    bunny suit? She tripped and fell p.76
  2. Define what scolding means? To be angry
    and get after someone p.83
  3. Tell me two of the rules for the egg hunt. No
    running, no pushing, pulling or grabbing; no trampling the flowers and plants;
    do not go anywhere that is roped off; no tripping p.83

Chapter 8

  1. What did Lucille’s nanna threaten the
    children with to make them follow the rules? She was going to call the
    police p.91
  2. How did Junie B. try to help Sheldon in this
    chapter? She told him to stop shouting when he sees an egg and covered his
    mouth to try to stop him p.96
  3. Why did Junie B. feel like a rotten egg at the
    end of the chapter? She couldn’t move very well in the bunny suit to get any
    eggs during the hunt p.99

Chapter 9

  1. Why did Sheldon decide to quit the egg hunt? Because
    May was taking every egg he had found p.100
  2. Why was Lucille upset at Sheldon for quitting
    the hunt? Because she wanted him to find the golden egg p.105
  3. How did Sheldon get the golden egg? Junie B.
    tripped and saw it, she shouted it out, then Sheldon, May, and Junie B. pounced
    on it.  Junie B. had her paw on it, but
    she got mad at May and moved her paw, so Sheldon’s hand was on it instead p.112

Chapter 10

  1. How does Junie B. feel after giving the egg
    to Sheldon? Happy because his face made her smile inside and sad because she
    wanted to swim in Lucille’s pool p.116
  2. Why doesn’t Junie B. want to call May a dumb
    bunny anymore? Because she realizes that bunnies aren’t dumb p.117
  3. What’s Junie B.’s new name for May? Bird girl p.118

Comprehension Questions – A to Z Mysteries The Runaway Racehorse

The Runaway Racehorse

by Ron Roy

Grades 3-5; Genre - Mystery; GRL N; AR pts: 1.0

And they're off! Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are excited to see Uncle Warren's new racehorse, Whirlaway, in action. But the night before the big race, the horse disappears! He shows up just in time to lose the race. Why is Whirlaway suddenly so slow? Can the kids figure it out- or is Whirlaway out of the winner's circle for good?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Where are Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose going?
    To Larchmont, New York to see a racehorse p.1
  2. How did they travel to get there? By
    train p.1
  3. What was missing when the kids went
    to see Whirlaway? Whirlaway p.11

Chapter 2

  1. Where does Forest think Whirlaway has
    disappeared to? Over to visit his mother p.13
  2. Why did Ruth Rose and Josh have so
    much fun in the back of the pickup? The road was bumpy p.15
  3. Was Whirlaway visiting his mom? No
    p.19

Chapter 3

  1. What did Whirlaway look like when he
    returned to the barn? Muddy p.26
  2. What did the kids find on Whirlaway
    when they were washing him? A mark like a stamp p.28

Chapter 4

  1. Why did Whirlaway refuse to go with
    Ruth Rose? He was spooked from being out in the storm and coming home to
    strangers p.31
  2. Who else was Whirlaway scared of? Sunny
    p.32
  3. What did Ruth Rose observe about Sunny
    after reading her book about horses? Sunny and she doesn’t have Whirlaway’s
    trust and scares him p.36

Chapter 5

  1. Where did the kids and adults travel
    to and why? Saratoga Springs; a horse race p.39
  2. Why does Sunny wear goggles during
    the race? The horses in front kick up mud, so it protects her eyes p.44
  3. How did Whirlaway react to Sunny when
    Ruth Rose wanted a picture? Scared; upset p.44

Chapter 6

  1. Where did the kids get to sit during
    the horse races? Forest’s private box p.45
  2. Who won the first horse race? Merry
    Mary p.49
  3. Why did Forest conclude that
    something was wrong with Whirlaway after the race? He had never run so badly
    before p.53

Chapter 7

  1. What did Sunny say about Whirlaway’s
    performance? She said he ran like a different horse p.55
  2. What can make a horse run slower? Their
    jockey p.56
  3. Who did Ruth Rose take a picture of? Josh,
    Dink and Dancer p.58

Chapter 8

  1. What did Josh find on his collar? A
    dark smudge p.62
  2. Why did Ruth Rose want to get her film
    developed so quickly? So she could see if the man in the cowboy hat was Mr.
    Bunks p.63
  3. If it is Mr. Bunks, what’s the
    problem? He said he wasn’t into racing horses anymore; he lied p.64

Chapter 9

  1. What was on Josh’s collar? Shoe polish
    p.69
  2. How did the shoe polish get there? From
    Dancer, the horse who nudged him from behind, it had shoe polish on its forehead
    covering up the white mark p.71
  3. How was Josh going to prove their
    horse wasn’t Whirlaway? Offer it a sugar cube, if the horse eats it, it’s
    not Whirlaway p.73

Chapter 10

  1. What was on Josh’s fingers after
    touching Dancer’s forehead? Shoe polish p.77
  2. Who’s responsible for trading the
    horses? Mr. Bunks p.78
  3. Why did it take Sunny so long to get
    home from the race? She stopped at the vet p.84

Comprehension Questions – A to Z Mysteries The Panda Puzzle

The Panda Puzzle

by Ron Roy

Grades 2-5; Genre - Mystery; GRL N; AR pts: 1.0

There's pandemonium in Green Lawn! The town is building a new park for a panda and her baby. But as soon as the pandas arrive, the baby is stolen! All the panda-nappers want in return is a million dollars...Can Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose collar the culprits before Green Lawn has to cough up the cash?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What did the kids come to the petting
    zoo to see? A mama panda and her baby p.1
  2. What strange behavior did Ping show
    while the crowd was outside her cage? She ran into the fence p.6
  3. What’s missing from the panda cave? The
    baby panda, Winnie p.8

Chapter 2

  1. What did the kidnappers want in
    exchange for Winnie? A million dollars p.11
  2. What did Pal find the in the bamboo
    forest? a fishing knife p.13
  3. Why would the kidnapper have a knife?
    To cut down bamboo stalks to feed Winnie p.14

Chapter 3

  1. Why do the kids watch Ruth Rose’s
    video at the petting zoo? It might give them ideas who stole the panda p.19
  2. Who does Ruth Rose think suspects are?
    Irene Napper, Flip Frances, or Tom Steele; the people standing by the
    microphone p.21

Chapter 4

  1. Why did the three kids want to
    interview each of the three people that stood by the microphone? To try and
    get some answers p.23
  2. What was Irene doing when the kids found
    her in the park? Feeding the ducks p.24
  3. Who has a key to Ping’s gate? Only
    Irene p.28

Chapter 5

  1. Why does Josh think Irene kidnapped Winnie?
    She has large hands p.31
  2. Why does Josh think Tom Steele did
    it? He has a cut on his hand that could have been from Winnie and has a
    fishing pole p.37 & 38
  3. What was another clue Ruth Rose saw
    on Tom’s desk? There were newspapers all cut up; the ransom note was put
    together from newspaper clippings p.38

Chapter 6

  1. Where did the kids find Flip? At the
    fitness center p.40
  2. What made Josh think the kidnapper
    was Flip? He was great at doing flips; he would have easily been able to get
    over the fence of the panda enclosure p.45
  3. What’s another clue Flip could have kidnapped
    Winnie? He fishes p.46

Chapter 7

  1. What piece was missing when the twins
    were completing a puzzle together? The baby grizzly bear’s face p.50
  2. What did Ruth Rose realize they should
    be looking for? Winnie, not the person who took her p.51
  3. Why did the kids think the fitness
    center would be a good hiding place for Winnie? It’s smelly and loud p.53

Chapter 8

  1. What did the kids find when they
    slipped into the unmarked door? A wooden staircase p.60
  2. What explained the sounds of thunder
    they heard? The bowling alley was on the other side of the wall p.62
  3. What did the kids find under the mat
    they were sitting on? A trap door p.64

Chapter 9

  1. Who was in the room under the trap
    door? Winnie p.66
  2. How did the kids get locked in that
    room? Someone shut the door and locked it p.66
  3. What did the kids find that may help
    them get out of the coal room? A coal chute that leads to the outside p.71

Chapter 10

  1. How did the kids break the wood that
    blocked the chute? Dink found a shovel p.72
  2. Why did the boys choose Ruth Rose to
    go get the police? she was the smallest to fit in the chute p.76
  3. How did the boys find Winnie? She crawled
    up into Josh’s lap p.78

Chapter 11

  1. What is Flip’s consequence for kidnapping
    Winnie? Community service p.83
  2. What did the kids suggest could be
    Flip’s community service? Free gymnastics lessons for kids; do exercises with
    the old people in the senior center p.83
  3. How did Officer Fallon treat the kids
    for solving the mystery? He bought them ice cream cones p.85

Comprehension Questions – Calendar Mysteries January Joker

January Joker

by Ron Roy

Grades 2-3; Genre - Fiction; GRL N; AR pts: 1.0

In the first book of the Calendar Mysteries — an early chapter book mystery series featuring the younger siblings of the A to Z Mysteries detectives — Green Lawn has a problem! When Bradley Pinto wakes up in the night to strange lights in his backyard, he wonders if there are aliens in town. When he sees three-toed tracks in the snow, he's sure of it. His twin, Brian, and friends Lucy and Nate aren't so certain. But then Lucy's cousin Dink, the twins' brother Josh, and Nate's sister Ruth Rose all disappear. Are there "really "aliens in Green Lawn? And where could they be taking Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What’s the setting of this story? In Brian and Bradley’s bedroom in the middle of the night p.1
  2. Who did the kids see outside by the barn? Two aliens p.4
  3. Why did the kids think Nate was playing a trick on them? Nate likes to do practical jokes on people; they
    knew it couldn’t be aliens p.6

Chapter 2

  1. Who was babysitting the four friends? Their older siblings and cousin; Dink, Ruth Rose & Josh p.9
  2. What did the kids have to do before they could ride Polly? Clean up breakfast p.10
  3. What did the kids see in the snow that was proof Bradley saw a spaceship? A big circle p.13

Chapter 3

  1. Why did Bradley think Josh, Ruth Rose and Dink had been taken by aliens? They couldn’t find them anywhere p.17
  2. What did the kids find on Josh’s printer? A newspaper article about aliens taking children and animals back to their planet; it described a circle and funny footprints p.19
  3. What does Bradley think happened to Polly? She was taken by the aliens p.20

Chapter 4

  1. What did Ruth Rose and Josh tell the kids when they talked to them on the phone? That aliens kidnapped them and they’re in a spaceship p.21
  2. Where do you think Pal was? Listen to your child’s answer p.24

Chapter 5

  1. Why did Lucy want to write down the clues they’ve found? To organize her thoughts and help figure out the mystery p.26
  2. What peered at the kids through the window? A green face with big teeth and a yellow face with big eyes staring at them p.28
  3. Where did the kids hide? Under the stairs in a closet p.30

Chapter 6

  1. What did the kids do to secure the house and make sure aliens wouldn’t come in? lock the doors and close the shades p.33
  2. What funny prints did Lucy find in the alien book? The same ones they saw outside p.34
  3. How was Lucy planning to capture the aliens? Make them lunch; give them food p.36

Chapter 7

  1. What food did Lucy use as bait? Grapes p.40
  2. Where were the kids hoping to catch the aliens? In the closet under the stairs p.40

Chapter 8

  1. Who was in the closet and why? Brian; he said the aliens put him there p.44
  2. Why did Bradley pinch Brian? To show him he wasn’t dreaming p.46
  3. Why did Bradley write a note to his friends instead of just talking to them? he thought the aliens were listening to them p.48

Chapter 9

  1. What makes Bradley think the aliens are hiding in the attic? They found Pal’s rubber toy on the bed and
    they think it must have dropped from the heat vent in the attic p.49
  2. Why haven’t the kids turned on the TV to see what was going on with the aliens? They’ve been busy; haven’t thought of it p.53

Chapter 10

  1. How did the kids get the note up to the attic? They stuck it to the mop stick and put it through the heat vent p.55
  2. What did the aliens do that made Lucy mad? They tore up her note and dropped the pieces back through the vent p.58

Chapter 11

  1. Why did Officer Fallon come to the house? Bradley called him p.60
  2. Why did the police tell the kids to keep the door to the attic locked? To keep whoever was hiding there wouldn’t escape; to keep the kids safe p.60
  3. Why was the twins’ mom upset? Policemen and firemen had come to the house p.65

Chapter 12

  1. What did the police find in the attic? Two stuffed aliens and Dink, Ruth Rose and Josh p.68
  2. Why did the older kids pull this prank on the first graders? Because Nate had played a practical joke on them and they wanted to get him back p.70
  3. Why did the older kids plan the joke for that day? They knew the parents would be out at breakfast together p.72

Chapter 13

  1. Who got to decide the punishment for the older kids? The younger kids p.73
  2. What punishment did the younger kids agree on? The older kids had to sit in Ellie’s diner dressed up as aliens, and they couldn’t talk p.74
  3. When Officer Fallon asked for an autograph what was Josh’s response? He wanted ice cream, so if Officer Fallon bought it for him, then he’d sign anything p.77