Tag Archives: GRL N

Comprehension Questions – Ready, Freddy! Halloween Fraidy-Cat

Halloween Fraidy-Cat

By Abby Klein

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

Join Freddy and his friends for another 1st grade adventure! The eighth in the popular series by an elementary school teacher who's seen it all.

Since Freddy is in the first grade, he should be old enough to go to a Halloween party without his parents. When a ghostly howl terrifies Freddy and all of his friends at the party, can Freddy find the courage to save the day?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

What did Chloe invite everyone in the class to? A Halloween party p.9 

What does Freddy like to dress up as for Halloween? Different kinds of sharks p.14

How does Freddy feel about scary stuff? He doesn’t like it; he’s worried he’ll get nightmares for months if he sees something scary p.19

Chapter 2

What does it mean to be a “fraidy-cat”? someone who is easily scared p.22

Where does Freddy’s shark costume come from every year? His mom makes it p.29

How did Freddy behave so his family would support him going to the party? Pretended to not be scared p.30

Chapter 3

What did Suzie want to be for Halloween? Frankenstein’s bride p.34

What was on the wall that scared Freddy? Scary masks p.36

What did Freddy decide to be after going to the costume store? A shark p.40

Chapter 4

What type of figurative language is “scare the pants off you” and what does it really mean? Idiom; you frightened me very badly p.43

What game did Max love? Bobbing for apples p.46

Why did Max threaten Freddy? Freddy made a comment about Max’s mouth being big, so Max told Freddy he’d be sorry for saying that and to wait until the party p.48

Chapter 5

What always helped Freddy feel better? Rubbing his lucky shark tooth p.50

How was Suzie a good sister in this chapter? She helped Freddy find his lucky shark tooth p.52

How did Freddy whisper to himself when looking at himself in the mirror with the costume on? That he was a big, tough shark p.57

Chapter 6

What characteristic did Freddy have as he went to the party even though he was scared? Courage p.59

Who did he hold hands with and why? Jesse because she wasn’t scared of anything p.61

Describe the Halloween party. Dracula and Frankenstein were there; Dracula let the children into a room with skeletons and ghosts floating around; another room full of coffins with zombies coming out and screaming; a room full of jars the children had to put their hands in that felt that eyeballs, brains and worms; a room with bats flying around; games p.62

Chapter 7

What game did Max challenge Freddy at? Bobbing for apples p.70

What helped Freddy not be afraid during the contest? Max calling him a fraidy-cat; pretending he was a shark p.75

Who won the contest? Freddy p.76

Chapter 8

What noise did the children hear coming from the basement? An eerie noise p.80

Who went downstairs to check it out? Max and Freddy p.81

Summarize what happened when Max and Freddy went downstairs? Max was so scared he couldn’t move and Freddy went to go check out what the noise was and found a kitten p.84

What was Freddy’s response to Max being a fraidy-cat? Freddy was very kind and didn’t tell any of the other kids and in fact told them that Max and he saved the cat together p.86

Comprehension Questions – My Father’s Dragon

My Father’s Dragon

By Ruth Stiles Gannett

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

When Elmer Elevator hears about the plight of an overworked and under-appreciated flying baby dragon, he packs his knapsack with supplies and stows away on a ship headed for Wild Island. Nothing will stop Elmer from rescuing the dragon!

Vocabulary

Writing Prompts

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What point of view is this story being told in? third person p.9
  2. Who is narrating and who is this story about? A son telling a story about his father, Elmer Elevator p.9
  3. How did Elmer’s mother feel about feeding the stray cat and why? She didn’t like it because if she fed it more stray cats would come around p.11
  4. Describe the alley cat. Old, female, can talk, traveler, good companionship for Elmer, kind p.9

Chapter 2

  1. What example of figurative language describes the cat speaking like a human? Alliteration p.15
  2. Why did the animals on the island want to catch the dragon? So they could use him as transportation instead of walking all the way around to the other side of the island p.17
  3. How did the animals treat the baby dragon if he complains? Beat him and twist his wing p.17

Chapter 3

  1. How did the author’s father get off the ship without getting caught? Hid inside a grain bag and used a rubber band to tie it on the inside p.22
  2. Why wasn’t the author’s father bothered when the fisherman shook with fear talking about Wild Island? He knew the dragon wasn’t scary p.24
  3. Why was it important for the author’s father to travel to the island at night? He was hopping over rocks and the animals on the island would have seen him in the day and he didn’t want them to see him p.25

Chapter 4

  1. How did the animals know something strange was on the island? Saw tangerine peels laying around, the “rock” had moved from its place p.32
  2. How was the main character able to stay hidden? Traveled at night and held onto his peels p.32

Chapter 5

  1. Why couldn’t the main character continue to follow the river and instead ventured further into the jungle? The river was so muddy he got stuck in the ooze and decided to travel in the jungle next to the river using his compass, but the river had a bend he didn’t know about that took him away from it p.35
  2. How many tigers crept up on Elmer? 7 p.37
  3. What knowledge did the cat give to the main character that helped him stop the tigers from eating him? The tigers love chewing gum p.38

Chapter 6

  1. Who was the main character careful to hide from at the beginning of this chapter? Two wild boars p.44
  2. Explain why the rhinoceros was weeping as well as how Elmer helped him. His tusk used to be white, but with age has turned yellow-gray and Elmer brushed his tusk with a toothbrush and toothpaste p.48

Chapter 7

  1. Why was the lion so upset? He had blackberry twigs stuck in his mane and was worried for his mom see him such a mess that she would stop his allowance p.52
  2. What did Elder do to help the lion? Give him a comb, brush and ribbons and showed him how to make his mane pretty p.54

Chapter 8

  1. What animal threatened to twist the main character’s arms like he does the dragon’s wings? A gorilla p.60
  2. What did Elmer give the monkeys to help them get the fleas off the gorilla and how did that help? Magnifying glasses so they could see the tiny fleas p.62
  3. Explain how the main character was freed from the gorilla. More monkeys came out of the trees and surrounded the gorilla as they were wanting to try the magnifying glasses p.64

Chapter 9

  1. Why didn’t the main character pull on the rope to have the dragon fly over to him? Elmer was worried about the gorilla twisting the dragon’s wings and stopping him from freeing him p.65
  2. Why was Elmer not interested in swimming in the river with the crocodiles? He knew he’d be eaten p.66
  3. What did Elmer do to get to the other side of the river? Used lollipops to make the crocodiles line up so he could walk across them. He put the first lollipop in the sand on the beach, then walked across the crocodile and used a robber band to tie a lollipop onto his tail for the next crocodile and so on p.68

Chapter 10

  1. Explain how the crocodiles helped Elmer have the time he needed to free the dragon? The first crocodile finished his sucker and began floating down the river with all the other crocodiles following as they wanted to finish their suckers. The animals had been crossing the river and were stuck on the crocodiles p.76
  2. Who called to the main character and the dragon from the island as they were heading to Tangerine island? The mouse p.76

Comprehension Questions – Magic Tree House #29 A Big Day for Baseball

A Big Day for Baseball

by Mary Pope Osborne

Comprehension Questions; Vocabulary; Writing Prompts

Grades 3-5; Genre – Historical Fiction with Fantastical Elements; GRL N; AR pts: 1.0

Chapter 1

Why didn’t Jack and Annie want to go to baseball tryouts? They felt they were terrible at baseball p.4

Where were jack and Annie traveling too this time? Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York p.7

Why were Jack and Annie excited to go there and play baseball? They would have magical gray baseball caps to help them be good at baseball p.8

Chapter 2

What’s a bat boy? Someone who helps a baseball team during a game p.11

Who helped Jack and Annie get to Ebbets Field? Some twins named Olive and Otis p.16

Why was there a huge crowd outside the baseball stadium? There was a baseball game that afternoon p.19

Chapter 3

How do the twins usually watch baseball games since they can’t pay to get into the stadium? Lay on the sidewalk and peek under the gate p.22

Give two differences from a baseball game at Frog Creek in 2017 from what Jack and Annie saw in Ebbets Field in 1947? What people wore to the game and half of the stadium was filled with white people the other half had black people p.24

Who do you think was the baseball player Jack and Annie saw signing autographs? Jackie Robinson p.24

Chapter 4

 Why didn’t the Braves team ignore Jack and Annie? Bat boys never bother the players or get in their way p.28

Name three tasks Jack and Annie needed to do as they acted as bat boys? Hung uniforms in lockers; wiped off equipment and lined up the shoes on the benches; pushed the trunk of bats out to the dugout; unloaded bats and placed them on shelves; took the first aid kit, catcher’s gear, and chewing gum to the dugout; filled jugs with water; took towels and baseball to the dugout p.30

What’s the national anthem? A song we sing in the United States to show respect and appreciation for our country; The Star-Spangled Banner p.32

Chapter 5

What were Jack’s and Annie’s responsibilities while the Braves were up to bat? Jack’s: Retrieve foul balls, gave new baseballs to the umpire always making sure he had three, had to count the baseballs; Annie’s: picked up bats that the players dropped and put them on the rack p.36

Why were the people in the stands heckling the black player? Because he was a different skin color p.41

What happened to Jack’s cap? It blew off in the wind and some kid jumped who had from the stands and grabbed it p.42

Chapter 6

What did Jack and Annie do to confuse the security guard and manager? They took turns wearing the hat to try to prove they were bat boys p.47

Why was Jack worried about people seeing him as they walked out of the stadium? He was embarrassed and humiliated p.48

Give a descriptive word to describe the manager and security guard. Intolerant; angry; impatient p.48

Chapter 7

Who helped Jack and Annie after they got kicked out of the stadium? Olive and Otis p.51

How did the Dodger’s team get their name? Fans need to dodge streetcars to get to the ballpark p.53

Where did Otis and Olive take Jack and Annie to hear the game? To their grannies’ house p.55

Chapter 8

Why were the grannies so fervent on Jackie hitting the ball? They were also people of color and wanted Jackie to be successful p.57

Why was this baseball game so important? Jackie Robinson was the first black player allowed to play with white players in major league baseball and he made history that game p.60

Why were the grannies so surprised to see Jack and Annie in their home? Jack and Annie were the first white people ever to come into their home p.61

Chapter 9

What was significant about the twin’s great-great-granny? She was 101 years old and born a slave p.64

What’s the advice Great-Great-Granny Beck gave to Jack and Annie? Always keep your eyes on the good and always keep your self-respect p.66

Why was it strange for Jack and Annie to be the first white people to go into the grannies’ home? During the history of the United States there had been a lot of racism against black people, but Jackie Robinson helped begin to change it p.69

Chapter 10

What made Jack decide he wanted to try out for baseball? After reading about Jackie Robinson, he realized he didn’t care so much what people thought of him p.75

What was the real reason Morgan sent Jack and Annie to Brooklyn? To help them learn to be brave and keep going p.75

Comprehension Questions- Magic Tree House Merlin Missions #24 Soccer on Sunday

Soccer on Sunday

by Mary Pope Osborne

Grades 2-4; Genre - Historical Fiction with Fantastical Elements; GRL N; AR pts: 2.0

Jack and Annie find themselves in the streets of Mexico where they must find the final secret of greatness for Merlin. There they meet a young soccer player who dreams of one day playing just like his hero, the great Brazilian soccer player, Pele.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. How did Annie know the Magic Tree House was back? She saw a streak of light in the night p.4
  2. What time of day do Jack and Annie go to the tree house? Early morning; dawn p.5
  3. Where was the World Cup going to be? Mexico p.9

Chapter 2

  1. Describe Mexico City.  Hot; many cars honking and tires screeching; busy street; trees; tall buildings; a big city p.12
  2. How did Jack feel about being in Mexico and going to The World Cup? Excited p.15
  3. What’s the metro? Public transportation; like a subway p.18

Chapter 3

  1. When Jack and Annie were lost what did they do? Asked people for help p.25
  2. Why did it take so long for Jack and Annie to get on the train? There were a lot of people and the doors didn’t stay open very long p.27
  3. Why were Jack and Annie unsure which stop to get off the metro? Jack lost the paper with the directions p.29

Chapter 4

  1. Who helped Jack and Annie which stop to get off the train? A Mexican boy; Roberto p.33
  2. Why was Roberto going to the soccer game alone? His parents couldn’t afford it; they gave him the ticket for his birthday; he has 8 brothers and sisters p.35
  3. How did Roberto get to the stadium so quickly if he’d never been there before? He’d practiced it in his mind many times; his father told him what to do p.39

Chapter 5

  1. Where were Jack and Annie’s seats for the game? On the second row, right on the aisle p.44
  2. Where was Roberto’s seat? Up at the top of the stadium p.45
  3. In what way were Annie and Jack generous? They gave Roberto one of their tickets and decided to trade seats at halftime p.47

Chapter 6

  1. Why wasn’t Jack able to trade seats with Annie as they had planned? It took a long time to get down to the right section, but he couldn’t find them in time before half time was over and an official told him to go back to his seat p.55
  2. How was Jack feeling about not being able to find Annie at the end of the game? worried p.56
  3. Why do you think it was hard for Jack to sit so high in the stadium and come down and see Annie and Roberto have a wonderful time? Because he couldn’t see the game p.61

Chapter 7

  1. When the soccer team got on the bus, what was Annie’s solution for finding them? Go to the city and look for them p.65
  2. What did the kids playing soccer in the mud say that made Roberto sad? That they didn’t want him to play soccer with them p.70
  3. What was Annie’s solution to help them all play soccer better? Merlin’s magic mist p.72

Chapter 8

  1. Who made all of the goals on Miguel’s team? Roberto p.80
  2. After the game was over, and somebody asked what the score was, what did the referee say? Who cares? That was amazing! P.82
  3. Why did Jack and Annie think it was a good idea to leave the neighborhood while the magic was still working? They wouldn’t be so light footed and amazing as just their regular selves; it was better for them to run away from the kids chasing them while they still had the magic p.83

Chapter 9

  1. What made the ring explode with light? Roberto’s comment, “enthusiasm is everything” p.89
  2. What did Jack and Annie teach Roberto when he got sad about not being able to play soccer? To have humility, showing hard work, have meaning and purpose in your life & enthusiasm (the four things they’ve learned on Merlin Missions p.92
  3. Why did Jack and Annie think Roberto was such a great kid? He was polite, he was helpful, he was a good friend p.96

Chapter 10

  1. Why were so many people gathered when Jack and Annie got to Camelot? They were all grateful for Jack and Annie p.102
  2. Name three of the people gathered in Camelot? Merlin; Morgan; King Arthur; Teddy; Kathleen p.105
  3. Why did Jack and Annie want to invite their friends over? To play soccer p.111


Comprehension Questions- Magic Tree House Merlin Missions #16 A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time

A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time

By Mary Pope Osborne

Grades 2-4; Genre - Historical Fiction with Fantastical Elements; GRL N; AR pts: 2.0

Jack and Annie visit Charles Dickens and help him understand the importance of his writing.

Continue reading →

Comprehension Questions- Sharing Snowy

Sharing Snowy

By Marilyn Helmer

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

It’s Ali’s birthday and she wants a cat more than anything, but can’t have one.  A lost cat finds its way to Ali’s clubhouse and she takes it in.  After a few days of caring for the cat, Ali sees a LOST CAT poster and knows she must give it back to its rightful owner. Continue reading →

Comprehension Questions- Magic Tree House Merlin Missions #17 A Crazy Day with Cobras

A Crazy Day with Cobras

By Mary Pope Osborne

Grades 3-5; Genre - Historical Fiction with Fantastical Elements; GRL N; AR pts: 2.0

Jack and Annie go to India to find a jewel called the emerald rose.  They give the Great Mogul their stories filled with their tree house adventures and beautiful pictures. Continue reading →

Comprehension Questions- Magic Tree House Merlin Missions #14 A Good Night for Ghosts

A Good Night for Ghosts

By Mary Pope Osborne

Grades 3-5; Genre - Historical Fiction with Fantastical Elements; GRL N; AR pts: 2.0

Jack and Annie travel to New Orleans to help Louis Armstrong see the importance of sharing his musical gifts with the world. Continue reading →

Comprehension Questions- Magic Tree House Merlin Missions #12 Eve of the Emperor Penguin

 Eve of the Emperor Penguin

By Mary Pope Osborne

Grades 2-4; Genre - Fiction with Fantastical Elements; GRL N; AR pts: 2.0

Jack and Annie visit Antarctica looking for the fourth secret of happiness to help Merlin feel better.  They get to meet some magical penguins and one even volunteers to go back to Merlin with Jack and Annie. Continue reading →

Comprehension Questions – Magic Tree House Merlin Missions #9 Dragon of the Red Dawn

Dragon of the Red Dawn

By Mary Pope Osborne

Grades 3-5; Genre - Historical Fiction with Fantastical Elements; GRL N; AR pts: 2.0

Jack and Annie visit old Japan to find a secret of happiness for Merlin.  They meet a master poet and help save the village from a fire. Continue reading →