Tag Archives: mystery

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 New Year’s Eve Thieves

New Year's Eve Thieves

by Ron Roy

Grades 1-4; Genre - Fiction; GRL M; AR pts: 1.0

Bradley, Brian, Nate, and Lucy are looking forward to a New Year's Eve party. But someone is leaving clues that there might be more to this celebration than confetti and noisemakers. The year ends with a surprise in this exciting conclusion to the Calendar Mysteries series.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Why did the kids want to buy Socks a toy? So he could have something of his own to play with p.2
  2. What happened to Mrs. Wong’s house while she was on vacation? It was burglarized p.4
  3. Why is Lucy sad? It’s her birthday the next day on January 1st and her parents are going to miss it p.9

Chapter 2

  1. What were the man and woman wearing that was suspicious? A ski mask and red bandana and cowboy hat p.12
  2. What did the man and woman do while inside Ellie’s diner? Get hot tea to go p.19
  3. Why do you think the man and woman took pictures of the shops as they walked by? Listen to your child’s answers p.20

Chapter 3

  1. What did the kids think was on the note the woman dropped? A burglar code p.24
  2. Why can’t the kids tell the police about the strange couple? Because they aren’t doing anything illegal or
    wrong p.28
  3. What did the thieves do while inside the elderly-housing building? Changed their disguises so they looked like elderly people p.29

Chapter 4

  1. What information did Mr. Linkletter give the kids about the couple? They’re from Florida and come up to Green Lawn every Christmas to visit his sister p.35
  2. What did the strange couple do in the elderly housing building? Giggled like children, asked for the back door, then left p.39
  3. Why did the kids think the couple was headed to their New Year’s Eve party? The code gave directions to their homes and the receptionist overheard the couple talking p.43

Chapter 5

  1. What was going on inside Brian and Bradley’s house? everyone was setting up for the party p.48
  2. How did the kids’ parents react when they found out the kids were following thieves around town? Upset p.50
  3. Who disappeared while the kids were playing Scrabble? The parents, older kids and Pal; everyone p.52

Chapter 6

  1. What did the kids see in the barn? A light moving around p.55
  2. What did the kids find outside the barn door? The ski mask the woman was wearing earlier p.58
  3. What do you think is in the tall present? Listen to your child’s answers p.63

Chapter 7

  1. Who surprised Lucy for her birthday? Her parents p.66
  2. Why did Lucy’s mom take pictures of the buildings around town? To make a scrapbook for Lucy p.69
  3. Why did Lucy’s parents disguise themselves and lead the kids around town? They wanted to have some fun with them p.70

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

Comprehension Questions – A to Z Mysteries The Yellow Yacht

The Yellow Yacht

by Ron Roy

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

Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose love visiting their friend Sammi, the prince of Costra. They swim, soak in the sun, and admire the bright yellow yacht that is moored just offshore. But the owners of the yacht are acting a little suspicious. And there's suddenly been a robbery on the island. Can Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose find out a connection between the robbery and the mysterious yellow yacht?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Who were the kids going to visit and
    why? Their friend Sammi in Costra; it’s his birthday p.1
  2. How long did it take to fly to Costra?
    15 hours p.3
  3. After Sammi greeted them on the
    plane, what type of transportation did they take to his castle? Helicopter
    p.6

Chapter 2

  1. What were people doing on the yellow
    yacht? Scuba diving p.14
  2. What structure is Sammi’s father building?
    An aquarium p.16
  3. What’s a marine biologist? A person
    who studies marine life p.18

Chapter 3

  1. Who did the kids recognize on the
    deck of the yacht? Dr. Skor the marine biologist p.21
  2. What’s missing from the bank? Sammi’s
    father’s gold p.24

Chapter 4

  1. How did the crooks get into the
    vault? Through a tunnel from the aquarium pit p.26
  2. How did the police know the boulders
    were fake? They were light and easy to move p.28
  3. What did the kids find in the tunnel?
    A note from Lees Baz to Riko, telling him to dump the gold over the wall
    p.32

Chapter 5

  1. What did the kids find on the
    backhoe? Gold scrapings p.36
  2. Who’s the mysterious man Dink had
    seen? Yondo, a magician the king hired for Sammi’s birthday party p.42

Chapter 6

  1. What did Sammi, his friends and
    family do for his birthday? Ate dinner, opened presents and had a magic show
    p.43
  2. Who did Yondo make disappear? Ruth
    Rose p.47
  3. Why did Dink think Yondo was a
    suspect? The gold disappeared right after Yondo arrived into town p.51

Chapter 7

  1. Who did Sammi’s family and friends
    eat lunch with? Dr. Skor on his boat p.56
  2. What were the kids going to do with
    Hugo at 3 o’clock? Go snorkeling p.57
  3. What did the kids get to do onboard
    the Sundown before lunch? Explore p.58

Chapter 8

  1. Why do you think the green stripe was
    missing from the yacht? Listen to your child’s answers p.63
  2. What did the kids see while they were
    snorkeling? Different colored fish; the sunken boat, other water creatures
    p.65
  3. Why were there rocks in the sunken
    boat? To hold it down so it doesn’t float away; it attracts fish p.67

Chapter 9

  1. Why is the green stripe missing from
    the yacht? the boat is heavy with the gold, so the stripe is now under water
    p.70
  2. What did Hugo see when he snorkeled
    under the Sundown? The king’s gold p.73

Chapter 10

  1. How did the king react when Sammi and
    the kids told him about what they learned? He told the police to meet him,
    then ran to the dock p.75
  2. How did Hugo and the kids catch Dr.
    Skor? Hugo threw an anchor at Dr. Skor’s dingy and it tore a hole p.79
  3. How did Sammi’s family and friends
    celebrate? They ate ice cream and cake p.84

Comprehension Questions – A to Z Mysteries The Lucky Lottery

The Lucky Lottery

by Ron Roy

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

Lucky O'Leary has never been very lucky - until his grandfather sends him a lottery ticket that turns out to be a million-dollar winner! But before Lucky can cash it in, someone sneaks into his house and steals it. Now it's up to Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose to track down the thief and return the ticket - before Lucky loses out!

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What’s the setting of this story and
    what are the main characters doing? In Ruth Rose’s yard having a snowball
    fight during Christmas break p.1
  2. Why did Lucky want to talk to Dink,
    Josh and Ruth Rose? Someone stole the lottery tickets his grandfather had
    sent them for Christmas p.7
  3. Why was it so important for Lucky to
    find the lottery tickets? His grandfather enjoys having his grandkids open
    the card with the tickets each Christmas morning; his grandfather called and
    said his lottery ticket won and it’s worth $7 million p.10

Chapter 2

  1. What did the kids find as they
    followed the footprints behind Lucky’s home? A small piece of tinfoil
    twisted into a bow p.14
  2. Where did the kids go to think about
    the unsolved mystery? Ellie’s p.16
  3. What was Dink going to do with his
    quarter? Use a pay phone to call Lucky p.18

Chapter 3

  1. Why did the kids go to the
    elderly-housing building? To talk to Lucky’s grandfather p.19
  2. What’s an atrium? a building that
    feels like a tropical rain forest: warm, moist, plants all over with birds p.21
  3. Who had Lucky’s grandfather told
    about the tickets? Everyone in the assisted living home p.25

Chapter 4

  1. Why did the kids disagree that Zelda
    could have been the thief? She would have a hard time tromping out in the
    snow behind Lucky’s house p.28
  2. Where did the kids decide to
    investigate and why? The supermarket; that’s where Hector bought the tickets
    p.29
  3. Describe Dorothy. She was the
    cashier that sold the tickets to Hector; people call her Dot; she chewed gum
    and blew bubbles; she was helpful and remembered the man who looked suspicious
    behind Hector p.33

Chapter 5

  1. What did Josh do as Dot described
    Joe? He drew a picture of him p.38
  2. Who did the kids go see after talking
    to Dot? Officer Fallen p.41
  3. Why did the kids want to find proof
    for Officer Fallen? So the thief couldn’t cash in the lottery ticket p.44

Chapter 6

  1. What information did the kids realize
    they may have to find Joe? The video camera at the supermarket may have a
    shot of his jacket with his bowling team name p.47
  2. Where did the tinfoil bowtie in Ruth
    Rose’s soup come from? Blue Boy put it in her hair at the Atrium p.49
  3. How were the kids going to get around
    town with all the snow? Cross-country skis p.51

Chapter 7

  1. Where did the kids go to see if they
    could find anyone who had seen or knew Joe? The fitness center/bowling alley
    p.53
  2. What did everyone say when Josh
    showed them the picture of Joe? That he looked familiar p.56
  3. Who does the picture look like? Josh,
    but with a mustache p.59

Chapter 8

  1. What did Pal find in the pile Eric was
    sweeping together at the supermarket? Tinfoil bowties just like the other
    ones the kids had found p.64
  2. What did the kids realize about Dot? She
    was the thief and made up the story about Joe to throw them off her trail p.65
  3. Why did the kids find a tinfoil
    bowtie at the Atrium? Dot had been there to ask where Hector’s grandkids
    lived p.65

Chapter 9

  1. What evidence did Dink realize they
    could gather if they caught Dot turning in the lottery ticket? Hector’s
    fingerprints to prove he bought the ticket p.72
  2. Why did the kids leave so early to
    the lottery headquarters? In case it was open, and Dot tried to turn the
    ticket in early p.72
  3. How did the kids get there? On
    their skis p.74

Chapter 10

  1. How did the kids know it was Dot’s
    car parked in front of the lottery headquarters? There were tinfoil gum
    wrappers twisted into a bowtie in it p.80
  2. What was Dot’s disguise? A man;
    she wore a wig, hat, mustache and big coat p.81
  3. What did Dot start to admit when the
    kids were accusing her of stealing the ticket? That she wore gloves to take
    the card, so her fingerprints won’t be on the mantle p.83

Comprehension Questions – Cam Jansen and the Mystery Writer Mystery

Cam Jansen and the Mystery Writer Mystery

by David A. Adler

Grades K-2; Fiction; GRL N; AR pts: 1.0

There's a book fair at school. Cam Jansen and her friends are excited because the famous mystery writer Jim E. Winter will be there to sign books. When Danny's parents discover their car is missing during the signing, Jim E. Winter thinks he can solve the mystery. But will Cam-with her famous photographic memory-solve it first? Click! See if you can spot the clues.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Why was Cam and her mom driving to the school that night? To go to the book fair and see Cam’s favorite author p.1
  2. Describe what a book fair is? It’s a fair that comes into the school a couple of times a year and exhibits and sells lots of books p.7
  3. What did Cam think about Jim E. Winter when she saw him in person? She was surprised he looked much older than his picture, but she wanted to meet him anyway p.9

Chapter 2

  1. What did Danny want to do while they waited in line to see Jim E. Winter? Tell jokes from his new joke books p.12
  2. What does Barry Blake do each time after he solves a mystery? Goes home and helps his mom make dinner p.15
  3. What went missing at the end of this chapter? Danny’s dad’s car p.16

Chapter 3

  1. Why did Jim E. Winter think he was qualified to help solve the mystery of the missing car? He was once a police detective p.18
  2. Why did Jim E. Winter think Mr. Pace didn’t remember what parking space he parked the car in? because he couldn’t remember his license plate number, so how could he remember what number he’d parked in p.21
  3. How would clicking the remote button help Jim E. Winter find the car? When you push the button the lights flash and there’s a horn or beeping sound, so they could easily find the car in the parking lot p.22

Chapter 4

  1. What happened when Jim E. Winter push the remote button? Nothing, they couldn’t see the car p.25
  2. Where did Jim E. Winter go when he couldn’t find the car? Back to signing books p.27
  3. Did Jim E. Winter solve the mystery? No p.27

Chapter 5

  1. Why did Cam have to stay in the gym? The principal and her mother asked her to p.29
  2. Which police officer has been at the school before to help solve other mysteries? Officer Oppen p.30
  3. Who else’s car was stolen? Eric’s dad’s car p.32

Chapter 6

  1. What did Mrs. Jansen say when Cam asked her to help with the mysteries? Yes, but she wanted to come along to make sure she was safe and dry p.34
  2. How did Cam know the thief took the keys out of Mr. Pace’s pocket then returned them again? Mr. Pace is right-handed and puts his keys in his right pocket, but they were in his left pocket p.37
  3. What was missing on his keychain? The key to his car p.39

Chapter 7

  1. Why was Jim E. Winter writing down Cam’s explanation of how the thief stole the cars? He wanted to use it in a book p.41
  2. Why would the thief have parked the first car he stole close to the school? So he could get back to the school quickly and steal another car p.42
  3. Who does Cam think the thief is? The man they saw walking across the street as she and her mom drove up to the school p.44

Chapter 8

  1. Where were the cars being hidden? In a garage p.53
  2. What did the police officer ask Cam to do that made her mother nervous? Identify the man that walked across the street earlier p.54
  3. Why was Jim E. Winter going to put Cam Jansen’s name in a book? Because she helped him solve the mystery p.57

Comprehension Questions – Cam Jansen and the Wedding Cake Mystery

Cam Jansen and the Wedding Cake Mystery

by David A. Adler

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

Cam and her friends are having fun performing in a talent show at the senior center and enjoying cookies from Ken's Bake Shop. But when a wedding cake goes missing from Ken's truck, it's up to Cam to solve the tasty case. Click! along with Came and follow the clues to catch the cake thief!

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Where was Mr. Jansen taking Cam and her friends? To the senior center p.1
  2. Why were they going to the senior center? To help with the talent show p.2
  3. Why was Lucy Lane taking a picture of Bob? So Bob can send the picture with a card to his friends and family for the holidays p.3

Chapter 2

  1. What did Danny do for the talent show? Tell funny jokes p.10
  2. What did Cam do for the talent show? She did memory magic where she took a mental picture of people, then faced the wall and gave the details what she remembered p.12
  3. Where did Lucy Lane and Ken need to go? to a wedding p.14

Chapter 3

  1. Why couldn’t Lucy and Ken go to the wedding? Ken couldn’t find the keys to his truck p.16
  2. Where were Ken’s keys? In the back door of his truck p.19
  3. What’s missing now? The cookies, cake and pastries that were in the back of the truck p.20

Chapter 4

  1. How did the seniors at the center feel about the mystery? They were excited p.22
  2. What clue did Bob find on the ground near the truck? A shopping list with broken cookie and cookie crumbs p.25
  3. What police officers came to help solve the mystery? The same ones that came to school and helped solve the case of the missing computers: Officers Oppen & Davis p.26

Chapter 5

  1. Why did Danny think the thief was across the street? The house across the street has a large window the thief could have looked out and saw the opportunity to steal the desserts p.29
  2. Who lived in the house with the large window and what did they see? An elderly woman; she didn’t see anyone by the truck, but did say there were two trucks p.33
  3. Predict what clue Cam is missing. Listen to your child’s answers p.35

Chapter 6

  1. How did the young man in the bathrobe feel when he opened the door and saw the police officer? Worried that he was in trouble p.37
  2. What was the clue Cam, Eric and her dad were looking for on the ground near the truck? Cookie crumbs p.40
  3. Where did Cam find the cookie crumbs and where did they go? On the ground at the back of the truck; passed her car, passed the next car and on further down the road p.42

Chapter 7

  1. Who does Cam think stole the cake and other desserts? Mr. Fancy p.43
  2. Why does Cam think it was Mr. Fancy? He had a vehicle big enough to put a tall cake p.46
  3. What information did Cam remember from Mr. Fancy’s truck that will help the police find him? The name of his company, his phone number and email address p.49

Chapter 8

  1. What did everyone do while they waited for the police to find Mr. Fancy and call them? continue the talent show p.51
  2. What did Ken give to Cam as a reward for finding his cake and desserts? Lots of delicious muffins, cookies and breads at his bakery p.55
  3. How did Ken and the cake get to the wedding? He took it in Mr. Fancy’s truck and had a police escort p.57

Comprehension Questions – Cam Jansen and the Snowy Day Mystery

Cam Jansen and the Snowy Day Mystery

by David A. Adler

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

It's a very snowy day outside and Cam and Eric's class head to the computer lab. Cam, Eric and Danny can't do any work because three computers are missing! There are only two clues: footprints in the snow outside, and a locked window. This mystery seems impossible to solve, but with Cam Jansen on the case, the thieves don't stand a chance!

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Why are so many parents taking their kids to school? It’s snowing p.1
  2. Why did the bus driver, Mrs. Lane, turn off the engine to the bus before they got to school? There’s a long
    line of cars, that aren’t moving, leading to the school p.3
  3. Why do people call Jennifer, Cam? It’s her nickname for her photographic memory p.5

Chapter 2

  1. How did Beth feel about Danny’s jokes? She didn’t like them p.10
  2. What was missing in the computer lab? 3 computers p.12

Chapter 3

  1. Why didn’t the thief take the new printer when he stole the computers? He couldn’t fit it through the window p.14
  2. Why did Beth write the clues on the chalkboard? To help them remember then and to help solve the mystery p.17
  3. Why was Eric so confident that Cam could solve this mystery? Because she’s solved other mysteries p.19

Chapter 4

  1. Why is Danny in the school office more than the secretary? Because he gets in trouble a lot p.23
  2. How does Danny think the thief stole the computers? Used a big magnet to unlock the window from the outside, climbed in, then took the windows out through the window p.24
  3. What’s Cam’s theory? That there are two thieves, one handing the computers to another outside p.25

Chapter 5

  1. How did Mrs. Bell feel about her computers being stolen? Upset; she didn’t care that kids were being loud
    p.30
  2. What two doors did Cam and Eric check to see if they could find where the thief entered the school? The gym doors and back door p.32
  3. Who’s also asking questions and trying to figure out the mystery? The two policemen p.33

Chapter 6

  1. Why did Eric want to go inside so badly? It was cold outside p.37
  2. Why was it easy for the thieves to get away? There were so many people at the school that morning p.37
  3. How did Mrs. Adams show kindness to Cam and Eric when they came back into the school? Let them warm up by her heater and gave them pretzels p.38

Chapter 7

  1. Who does Cam think stole the computers? A person in a blue car p.46
  2. How does she know? A blue car left from the back of the school during the morning drop off p.48

Chapter 8

  1. What did Beth say Danny was guilty of when the police came towards them? bad jokes p.54
  2. What’s the good news the police officers gave the kids? They found the car and computers were still in the trunk p.54
  3. What did Dr. Prell give to the class as a reward for finding the computers? Ice cream cups p.56

Comprehension Questions – Cam Jansen The Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds

The Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds

by David A. Adler

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

Cam and Eric are sitting in the mall when an alarm goes off. Cam jumps onto a bench to get a better view and sees a man race out of the jewelry store. Cam knows that she has to act fast, especially after the police arrest the wrong person. It's up to Cam and Eric to catch the real thief.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Why is “Cam” the main character’s nickname? It’s short for Camera since she has a photographic memory p.6
  2. Why didn’t Eric want to play memory games anymore? He was tired of losing to Cam p.7
  3. Why do you think the alarm went off in the jewelry store? Someone might have stolen something p.8

Chapter 2

  1. Who came out of the store after the man ran out of it? A couple with a baby and two elderly women p.11
  2. How did Eric get his baby brother to stop crying when the alarm was going off? He fed him a bottle p.14
  3. How did the policemen know what the man looked like and which direction he went? He asked the people outside of the store who saw him p.15

Chapter 3

  1. Who told Cam and Eric about what happened in the jewelry store? The two elderly women who came out of the store p.20
  2. Who was yelling as Cam and Eric were talking to the elderly women? the police had caught the man and he was yelling, "I didn’t do it! You’ve got the wrong man!” p.23
  3. What did the elderly women say about the man the police had caught? They said he didn’t do it p.24

Chapter 4

  1. What did Cam think was strange about the couple who left the store with the baby? They didn’t have a baby bag or anything, just a baby in a blanket and a rattle p.28
  2. What direction did the man go when the police let him go? The same way the couple went when they left the store p.30

Chapter 5

  1. What did Cam and Eric do, when following the man, as he stopped and looked at them? kept walking right passed him p.33
  2. How did Eric keep Howie quiet while they were spying through the window at the man and couple? Rocked the carriage p.36
  3. What made Howie cry after Eric left to go get the police? an acorn that dropped out of a tree after a squirrel ran along a branch p.40

Chapter 6

  1. What was inside the baby rattle? 81 diamonds p.44
  2. How did Cam trick the thieves while they were counting the diamonds? She slammed the door to the room and jumped behind a bookcase in the room they were in p.46
  3. Why was Cam worried about Howie crying? Someone would find them p.49

Chapter 7

  1. Who did Cam see in the window? A policeman p.51
  2. How did Cam and Howie get out of the house and away from the thieves? Cam ran to the open window and handed Howie to Eric, then climbed out herself p.52
  3. How did the police capture the thieves? A policeman called to them with a megaphone and the thieves came out with their hands up p.54

Chapter 8

  1. How did Eric’s mom feel when they weren’t in the mall with Howie when she was done shopping? Worried sick p.56
  2. Why did the elderly woman think the couple with the baby should know the thieves were captured? She was worried about them and didn’t know that the man and woman were the actual thieves p.56