Tag Archives: Series

Comprehension Questions – Secret Agent Jack Stalwart #1 The Escape of the Deadly Dinosaur:USA

The Escape of the Deadly Dinosaur; USA

by Elizabeth Singer Hunt

Grades K-3; Genre - Fiction; GRL P; AR pts: 1.0-2.0

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What did Jack receive in the mail? A
    book about the allosaurus p.3

Chapter 2

  1. What did Whizzy cough up? A puzzle
    piece in the shape of a country that goes to the map on Jack’s wall p.6
  2. What country was it and where is he
    going? USA; New York City p.7
  3. How did Jack travel to the United
    States? His map swallowed him up p.8

Chapter 3

  1. Where did Jack arrive? In the
    Museum of Natural History in New York City p.12
  2. What was missing from the dinosaur? A
    toe, the hallux p.14

Chapter 4

  1. What was Jack hoping to look at to
    find a clue to the missing bone? Security tapes from the day before p.20

Chapter 5

  1. How did the student steal the bone? He
    used a thin hook and yanked the bone off p.24
  2. What school was the student from? East
    Side Grammar School p.27

Chapter 6

  1. Who did Jack contact to find out who
    the student was? The principal p.29
  2. What did she tell Jack about the
    student? That he was one of the finest science students at the school and had
    great science fair projects p.32

Chapter 7

  1. Where did Jack find Thomas? At
    home p.38
  2. How did Thomas’ mom feel about him
    stealing the bone? Upset p.44
  3. What was Thomas’ science project? Bringing
    to life a real live allosaurus p.48

Chapter 8

  1. Where did Jack and the Eberly’s hide
    from the dinosaur? Under the kitchen table p.49
  2. Why didn’t the dinosaur smell them? Jack
    sprayed his neutralizing spray on them p.50

Chapter 9

  1. How did Thomas make the allosaurus? He
    used some DNA from the toe bone, mixed it with a quickening solution, then gave
    it to his dog Freddie p.53
  2. What did Thomas create to help change
    Freddie back into a dog? A reversal serum p.54
  3. Why did Jack let Thomas come with him
    to hunt down the dinosaur? He knew New York City, he knew a lot about the
    allosaurus, and he had a relationship with his dog p.56

Chapter 10

  1. How did Jack distract the dinosaur
    from eating the man? He projected a camptosaurus on the wall near the
    dinosaur p.62
  2. Who was the dinosaur’s target at the
    end of this chapter? Jack p.64

Chapter 11

  1. How did Jack prevent the dinosaur
    from eating him? He put the expandable goo in its mouth p.67
  2. What advice did Jack remember from
    his brother? A secret agent always clears his mind first, and then thinks of
    a plan p.70

Chapter 12

  1. How did Jack save the people in line
    at the Empire State Building? He put dog biscuit powder into his spray gun
    and shot it in the air, the people ran into another building p.74

Chapter 13

  1. What did the boys use to catch up
    with the dinosaur as it raced to Times Square? The Flyboard p.77
  2. What did Jack shoot into the air with
    his Warning Gun? The letters: Danger Get Indoors p.79
  3. Why did Freddie head for Central
    Park? There were animals in the zoo p.82

Chapter 14

  1. Why couldn’t Jack use the Flyboard
    anymore? It was almost out of hydrogen p.86
  2. How did Jack convince the taxi driver
    to take them to the allosaurus? Jack told him he’d be a hero p.87

Chapter 15

  1. What was Jack’s dilemma in this
    chapter? He couldn’t see the dinosaur and knew that he would fail if it
    wasn’t coming to the zoo p.91

Chapter 16

  1. How did Jack get the serum into the
    dinosaur’s mouth? He used a canister to wedge it’s mouth open, and used a
    sling to catapult the vial into his mouth p.94
  2. Describe Freddie’s transformation
    back into a dog? A violent wind came and swirled around the allosaurus and
    turned it to dust, then another wind came and carried the dust away p.95

Chapter 17

  1. What did Thomas confess to Lewis? That
    he was sorry and shouldn’t have taken the bone p.100
  2. What does it mean to make amends? To
    try and set something right p.101
  3. Why did Lewis smile when Thomas said
    he was scared of heights? Thomas would have a consequence that would put him
    out of his comfort zone p.101

Chapter 18

  1. What did Jack wear to bed that night?
    Dinosaur pajamas p.104

Comprehension Question – Fablehaven

Fablehaven

by Brandon Mull

Grades 3-8; Genre - Fantasy; GRL V; AR pts: 11.0

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Why are Kendra and Seth staying at
    their grandparents? Their parents are going on a cruise p.2
  2. What was the consequence the kids
    would receive if they went into the woods or barn? They’d be grounded to
    their room the rest of their stay p.13
  3. How long were Kendra and Seth going
    to be staying at their grandparents? 2 ½ weeks p.5

Chapter 2

  1. How did the insects respond to the
    mirror Kendra took out to the pool? they came to it; they liked it p.24
  2. After swimming, where did Seth
    disappear to? The woods p.26
  3. What’s Dale’s secret? He puts milk
    out for the insects p.31

Chapter 3

  1. Describe who Seth ran into while
    exploring in the woods? A woman he thought was a witch p.36
  2. Why did Seth get frightened while
    running out of the woods? He felt he was being pursued p.42
  3. What was Kendra doing when Seth came
    in from the woods? Trying to find what the last key went to p.43

Chapter 4

  1. Why did Kendra and Seth go into the
    woods? Seth wanted to show Kendra a beautiful park with a pond p.53
  2. Why did their grandpa tell them not
    to go into the forest? there’s a lot of dangerous animals p.61
  3. What’s their consequence for not
    following the rules? They’ll have to stay in their room for the entire next day
    and they’ll be completely grounded if they break the rules again p.63

Chapter 5

  1. Who did Kendra use as a guinea pig to
    test the milk? Seth p.71
  2. What happened to Seth and Kendra when
    they drank the milk? They could see magical creatures instead of normal
    insects p.72
  3. Why did Grandpa bring the kids into
    the study? To explain Fablehaven to them p.75

Chapter 6

  1. Who’s Lena? The naiad Patton loved
    p. 88
  2. Who is Maddox? A fairy
    hunter/trader p.95
  3. After dinner, what did Maddox show
    the kids? Different fairies he’d caught to sell p.99

Chapter 7

  1. How did Seth catch the fairy? He
    tricked her by putting a mirror into a jar, then when she went in to admire
    herself, he put the lid on it p.117
  2. What were the fairies doing to the
    bubbles Grandpa blew? Changing them into different colors, shapes and things
    p.118
  3. Where did Seth hide his captured
    fairy? In his dresser drawer p.120

Chapter 8

  1. What did the fairy turn into that
    Seth caught and why? An imp; from being indoors from sunset to sunrise p.133
  2. How did the other fairies get revenge
    on Seth? Turned him into a misshapen whale p.131
  3. How did Seth get turned back into a human?
    Grandpa had to undo one of the witch’s knots and she healed him p.140

Chapter 9

  1. How does Lena feel about death and
    dying? Fearful p.147
  2. Why do the kids need to wear ear
    plugs and stay in bed during Midsummer Eve? Nightmares take shape and prowl
    the yard and terrible sounds will be heard in the night p.149
  3. What type of creature did Seth get to
    meet? A golem p.153

Chapter 10

  1. Why did Grandpa want the kids to
    sleep in the attic? It’s the safest place in the house if children occupy it
    p.162
  2. Why did Seth open the window? He
    saw a crying baby and wanted to help it p.172
  3. What protected the kids from the
    monsters that came into the room? The salt that was around their beds p.174
  4. Why did the kids suspect that their
    grandpa, Dale, and Lena might be dead? They didn’t come and get them for
    breakfast p.177

Chapter 11

  1. What did the kids find when they left
    their bedroom that morning? Their grandpa and Lena were gone, Dale was a
    statue lying outside on the grass; they were all alone p.182
  2. Why did the kids follow the tracks
    into the woods? They hoped it would lead to their grandpa p.190
  3. Who saved the kids from the ogress? A
    satyr p.199

Chapter 12

  1. What creature did the kids find in
    the barn? A giant cow p.211
  2. Why was the cow bellowing? It hadn’t
    been milked that morning p.211
  3. How did the kids help the cow? They
    milked her p.215

Chapter 13

  1. What gave the kids a clue that
    Goldilocks was their grandma? The chicken had spelled out I M GRAM on the
    floor and bobbed her head when Kendra asked if she was her grandma p.221
  2. Why did Grandma want the kids to take
    her to Muriel? For healing p.236
  3. What happened when the last knot to
    Muriel’s rope was undone? She was freed p.234

Chapter 14

  1. Why did Grandma and the kids need to visit
    Nero? They needed information on their grandpa, and he could give it to them
    p.242
  2. Why was it better for Seth to climb
    up to Nero’s ledge than his grandma? There were 20 upright logs, three feet
    apart that were easier for Seth to scale than Grandma p.245
  3. What did Nero trade Grandpa’s location
    for? A 90 minute massage p.255

Chapter 15

  1. Who regularly milks Viola the cow? Hugo
    the golem p.261
  2. Where did Grandma and the kids go to
    talk privately? In the secret room on the other side of the attic p.268
  3. Why did Grandma arrange photographs on
    the kitchen floor? So the brownies could fix the house up using the pictures
    as a guide p.265
  4. What will happen to Grandma if she
    kills Muriel? She’d have to banish herself from the preserve p.276

Chapter 16

  1. Which imp caught Seth? The same
    one he had captured p.291
  2. Why couldn’t the imps catch Kendra? She
    hadn’t used magic, inflicted harm or caused any mischief, so they can’t touch
    her p.292
  3. What did Grandpa tell Kendra to do? Run,
    get off the property, and ram the gate with his truck p.292

Chapter 17

  1. This chapter is titled, “The
    Desperate Gamble.” What was Kendra’s gamble? She needed to choose between
    going to the house and getting a weapon, or asking the Fairy Queen for help
    p.299
  2. What was the Fairy Queen’s answer to
    Kendra’s plea? She said she’d help her and gave her 3 ingredients to gather
    p.311
  3. What were the ingredients? Blood, tears,
    and milk p.312
  4. How did Kendra get rid of Mendigo? She
    unhooked his arms and threw them in the water. When he went to get them, the
    naiads pulled him into the water p.314

Chapter 18

  1. What happened to the fairies when
    they drank the elixir Kendra had made? It enlarged each fairy to become a
    fairy army p.323
  2. How did Seth become free and his
    normal self again? The fairy he had captured freed him p.330
  3. How did the fairies defeat Bahumat
    and Muriel? They used ropes to tie them up; they tore off Bahumat’s horns;
    Muriel shriveled with age; they threw them back into the alcove p.332
  4. How did the fairies heal the imps? Kissed
    them on the mouth p.327

Chapter 19

  1. How did Kendra give the silver bowl
    back to the Fairy Queen? She threw it into the water p.342
  2. Describe Kendra’s interaction with
    Lena? Lena wasn’t the same and wanted to grab Kendra and bring her into the
    water p.343
  3. Why is Dale upset? He feels bad
    that his brother Warren wasn’t present when the fairies were curing everybody
    p.347
  4. Why did Kendra decide to take her
    painting home? She realized she would feel pain with or without the
    painting, so she might as well take it home p.350

Comprehension Questions – Young Cam Jansen and the Ice Skating Mystery

Young Cam Jansen and the Ice Skating Mystery

by David A. Adler

Grades K-2; Genre - Fiction; GRL J; AR pts: 0.5

Cam Jansen and her friend Eric are going ice skating! They put their shoes in a locker, and Eric puts the key in a pocket. "I won't lose it", he tells his father. But he does. Can Cam use her amazing memory to find the lost locker key?

Comprehension Questions (by Steve)

Chapter 1

  1. What did Cam tell Eric about skates? They
    should be snug. Pg. 5    .
  2. What did they do with their shoes? Put
    them in their locker. Pg. 6.
  3. What did Cam remember when she came in? The
    sign to rent a locker for 25 cents. Pg. 7.
  4. Where did Eric put the key? In his jacket
    pocket. Pg. 10.

Chapter 2

  1. How did Eric want to skate? Faster. Pg. 11.
  2. What was in Eric’s way? A large group of
    skaters. Pg. 12.
  3. Why did Eric fall? He skated into the rail.
    Pg. 13.
  4. What was the announcement from the loudspeaker? Three
    minutes left. Pg. 16    .

Chapter 3

  1. Why did Cam think the key wasn’t in Eric’s
    pocket? It had a hole. Pg.17.
  2. How did Cam know where Eric fell? At the letters
    M L on the rail. Pg. 18.
  3. Who told them to leave? The man in the green
    jacket. Pg. 19.

Chapter 4

  1. What did Eric and Cam find? A red mitten and
    blue scarf. Pg 21.
  2. Where were items returned? To the office. Pg.
    22.
  3. What did Mr. Shelton want to do? Go home for
    pizza. Pg. 23.
  4. How did Eric try to delay leaving? He asked
    for hot chocolate. Pg. 24.

Chapter 5

  1. What did Cam make Eric do? Sit next to her
    and look for the key in his pocket. Pg. 26
  2. Where did Eric really put the key? In Cam’s
    pocket. Pg. 28.
  3. Did Mr. Shelton know Eric lost the key? No.
    Pg. 30.
  4. What did Eric say he proved? He wasn’t a
    baby. Pg. 31.

Vocabulary

Rink (15, 16, 21) – a closed area for skating

Announcement (20, 21) - a public statement

Comprehension Questions Young Cam Jansen and the Lost Tooth

Young Cam Jansen and the Lost Tooth

by David A. Adler

Grades 1-2; Genre - Fiction; GRL J; AR pts: 0.5

Annie has lost her tooth during art class, and she cannot find it anywhere. Cam Jansen says she has a memory like a camera. Will Cam have the picture she needs to find the missing tooth?

Vocabulary

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Who are Cam’s friends? Annie, Eric, and
    Robert. Pg.5.
  2. Why does Cam close her eyes and go “Click”? She
    has an amazing memory; remembers everything. Pg. 7.
  3. What is Cam’s real name and why is she called
    Cam? Jennifer and her name is short for Camera. Pg. 9.
  4. What happened when Annie bit the apple? She
    lost a tooth. Pg. 10.

Chapter 2

  1. What did Robert tell Annie happens when you lose
    a tooth? You get money under your pillow. Pg. 12.
  2. Why did Mr. Fay ring the bell? It was cleanup
    time. Pg. 13.
  3. What did Mr. Fay say about the Turkey-stick
    puppets? They looked almost real. Pg. 15.
  4. Why did they look in the bead box for Annie’s
    tooth? It looked like a white bead. Pg. 16.

Chapter 3

  1. Why did Annie not want to leave the art room? Because
    she didn’t have her tooth. Pg. 18.
  2. When Cam said “Click”, what did she have? A
    picture in her head. Pg. 20.
  3. What did she find in the pocket of her smock? Two
    beads and a feather. Pg. 21.

Chapter 4

  1. Did Robert believe Cam could remember everything
    in her mind? No. Pg. 22.
  2. Why did Cam have to whisper “Click”? The
    teacher was having quiet reading time. Pg. 23    .
  3. What did Eric think when Cam had her eyes
    closed? She was sleeping. Pg. 24.
  4. What did Eric say that made her remember where
    Annie’s tooth was? Lunch boxes. Pg. 25.

Chapter 5

  1. Why did Cam, Annie and Eric go back to the art
    room? To find the garbage cans. Pg. 28.
  2. Where did Cam find the tooth? In the apple in
    the garbage. Pg. 29.
  3. What made Cam think that the tooth was in the
    garbage? Lunch boxes -> eating -> apple. Pg. 30.
  4. Who made sure the bus didn’t leave? Robert.
    Pg. 31.

Comprehension Questions – The Original Adventures of Hank the CowDog #1

The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog

by John R. Erickson

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

Hank has been accused of murder! In a fit of despair, Hank resigns his position as Head of Ranch Security and decides to join the outlaw coyotes. There he's known as Hunk (that's Hank in coyote language). Hank meets Missy Coyote, sister to Scraunch — the meanest, roughest, toughest, most notorious coyote in the whole country. If Scraunch found Hank with his sister... Well, look out for trouble.

Vocabulary (by Steve)

Comprehension Questions (by Steve)

Chapter 1

  1. What was
    Hank’s job? Head of Ranch Security Pg. 1.
  2. Why did
    Loper shoot off the gun? Hank was barking at the coyotes. Pg. 3
  3. Who was
    Beulah? The neighbor’s collie that Hank liked. Pg. 4.
  4. What did
    Hank and Drover think killed the chicken? A coyote or a coon. Pg. 8.

Chapter 2

  1. Where
    did the porcupine stick Hank? In the face, nose, and paws. Pg. 12.
  2. What did
    Pete, the barn cat,  do to Hank? Flicked
    his tail on his nose. Pg. 14.
  3. How did
    Loper feel about Hank’s quills? It was Hanks fault for messing with a
    porcupine. Pg. 15.
  4. Why did
    Loper throw the pliers at Hank? He wet on his pants. Pg. 17.

Chapter 3

  1. What did
    Loper feel about Hank and the dead chicken? He barked all night and was expensive
    to feed. Pg. 19.
  2. Why did
    Hank tell Drover he was useless? He was playing with a frog. Pg. 22.
  3. What did
    Drover find in the night? A big monster with horns. Pg. 25.
  4. What did
    Hank actually attack? The milk cow. 
    Pg. 28.

Chapter 4

  1. Why was
    Slim nice to Hank? He wanted to wipe the dip stick on his ear. Pg. 31.
  2. How
    did Hank feel about Drover’s help the night before? He was not happy he
    didn’t give any . Pg. 33.
  3. Why was
    Drover not afraid to pee on the Boxer’s truck? He was chained up. Pg. 35.
  4. Why did
    Bruno get in trouble? The men thought the other dogs were asleep. Pg. 39.

Chapter 5

  1. What did
    Hank decide to do instead of guarding the chicken house? A steak-out. Pg.
    44.
  2. Why did
    Hank fall asleep? Because he dreamt he was awake. Pg. 45.
  3. Who
    found Hank with the dead chicken? Sally May. Pg. 48.
  4. What did
    Loper do to punish Hank? Made him wear the dead chicken head. Pg. 50.
  5. What did
    Hank decide to do because he was punished? Leave and become an Outlaw. Pg.
    53.

Chapter 6

  1. What
    did Hank think Loper and Sally Mae would feel about him being gone? They’d
    miss him. Do anything if he’d come home. 
    Pg. 57.
  2. How did
    Hank feel about the spring pool? A sewer is better. Pg. 58.
  3. What did
    Junior think about Hank? Thought he was d-d-d-dead. Pg. 59.
  4. What
    gave the signals that something was dead? The chicken head around hank’s
    neck. Pg. 62    .

Chapter 7

  1. Why did
    the dog look headless? A Hawaiian Punch can was stuck on its head. Pg. 67.
  2. Why
    couldn’t the coyote understand hank? It didn’t speak Doglish. Pg. 69.
  3. Did Hank
    like the coyote’s name? No. Girl-Who-Drink-Blood. Pg. 72.
  4. Who was
    the coyote’s brother? Scraunch. Pg. 73.

Chapter 8

  1. Who is
    Chief Gut? The coyote father of Missy and Scraunch. Pg. 75.
  2. What did
    the coyotes call cowboys and guns? Big-hat and boom-boom. Pg. 76.
  3. What did
    the coyotes call Hank that upset him? Chicken dog. Pg. 77.
  4. Why
    didn’t the coyotes attack Hank? They were going to make him part of the
    tribe. Pg. 84.

Chapter 9

  1. Why did
    Hank’s secret work? Coyotes are superstitious. Pg. 85.
  2. What Did
    Hank’s mom say about coyotes? They were lazy, sneaky, undisciplined. Pg. 87.
  3. What did
    Rip and Snort want to do? Go carousing in the silage pit. Pg. 88.
  4. What is
    silage? Grass that ferments and turns into alcohol. Pg. 88.
  5. What did
    Drover think about Hank with the coyotes? He was a traitor. 95.

Chapter 10

  1. What did
    the coyote pups do to hank? Bit his tail. Pg. 99.
  2. How did
    Hank feel about coyote life? Told Missy too much noise. Pg. 102.
  3. What was
    the mutton feast? A piece of aged meat that was green with maggots on it.
    Pg. 103    .
  4. What did
    Missy’s mom think made Hank sick? Brackish water. Pg. 105.

Chapter 11

  1. What did
    the coyotes like to eat and why? Juicy chicken because they are easy. Pg.
    107.
  2. Who made
    the speech to the village? Scraunch and then led the raid. Pg.107.
  3. Where
    did Hank hope Drover was? Hiding in a corner of the shed. Pg. 109.
  4. What did
    Scraunch want Hank to do? Kill Drover, but he tried to save him. Pg. 114.
  5. When
    Hank “heard Saint Peter blow” what did he think? He was going to die. Pg.
    116.

Chapter 12

  1. What did
    Loper do and why to Hank? He smiled; glad he was back. Pg. 119.
  2. What did
    everyone think happened to Drover? He was dead. Pg. 120.
  3. What did
    Hank tell Drover he was doing with the coyotes? He was undercover. Pg. 122.
  4. What
    did the Badger tracks turn out to be? Skunk tracks. Pg. 125.
  5. What did
    Hank do to Sally May? Run in to her clean laundry with skunk smell. Pg. 127.

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 – Magic Tree House Merlin Missions #27 Night of the Ninth Dragon

Night of the Ninth Dragon

by Mary Pope Osborne

Grades ; Genre - Fantasy; GRL N; AR pts: 2.0

The magic tree house whisks Jack and Annie through space and time to find that the castle of Camelot has been attacked and King Arthur has been gravely wounded. To save the kingdom—and the king—Jack and Annie have only one day to solve a riddle that will help them find a missing dragon!

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Why did Jack and Annie go into the
    Frog Creek woods? Oki ran in, so they chased after him p.5
  2. Where did they find Oki? At the
    bottom of a tree looking at the magic tree house p.6
  3. What’s going to be the setting of
    this book? Camelot p.10

Chapter 2

  1. Who sent the tree house for Jack and
    Annie? Queen Guinevere p.16
  2. Why did the guard aim a crossbow at
    Jack and Annie as they approached Camelot? They’re under attack and didn’t
    know if the kids were friends or enemies p.20
  3. Where did the queen lead Jack and
    Annie? Morgan le Fay’s secret garden p.23

Chapter 3

  1. What were the statues of in the
    garden? Dragons p.25
  2. What’s been stolen out of the garden?
    The gold dragon; the ninth dragon p.32
  3. Why do the kids need to help find the
    ninth dragon? To get Merlin, Morgan, Teddy and Kathleen back from Avalon and
    to send King Arthur there to heal from his wound p.33

Chapter 4

  1. Why were the Jack, Annie, the king
    and queen going to Cafelle’s? She can prophesy and tell them where the ninth
    dragon is p.37
  2. Why were they traveling in a hay
    cart? No one will suspect the king riding in a hay cart p.39
  3. Why was Jack nervous when he found
    out the knights weren’t coming with them? he knew they could be attacked by
    invaders and they wouldn’t have the protection of the knights p.45

Chapter 5

  1. Describe Cafelle. She’s an old
    woman who’s blind, but could describe Jack and Annie perfectly, she’s kind and
    has a dog that cannot hear p.51
  2. What is Cafelle’s special ability? The
    leaves and wind speak to her and tell her what she desires to know p.56

Chapter 6

  1. When did the ninth dragon need to be
    returned to the garden? Dawn the next day p.59
  2. What did the seer give to both Jack
    and Annie? Red stones from the mountains of fire before time p.61
  3. Why was Jack frustrated about the
    stones? He didn’t know how to use them p.66

Chapter 7

  1. How did Annie help get rid of the
    invaders that questioned them? she put yellow spots on her face with a
    highlighter and said she had yellow fever p.72
  2. Why was Jack freezing as they
    traveled in the rain? He’d given his cloak to the king p.78
  3. What did Guinevere tell the kids
    about as they traveled? The Isle of Avalon p.78

Chapter 8

  1. Why did the kids send the oxen back
    to Camelot? The rope that connected the oxen to the cart had torn and they
    weren’t of use anymore p.83
  2. How did Jack, Annie and Guinevere get
    the cart to Munith Mor without the oxen? They pushed and pulled p.85
  3. What represented the curtain in the
    riddle? A waterfall p.88

Chapter 9

  1. What did Jack and Annie find in the
    cave behind the waterfall? The dragon statue p.96
  2. Why was the queen giving up? The
    healing water was gone, Arthur was dying, they heard the robbers coming on
    horses p.98
  3. What happened when Jack and Annie
    used their stones? A giant red dragon rose out of the erupting mountain
    above them p.101

Chapter 10

  1. Where did the portal take Jack,
    Annie, Guinevere and Arthur? To Avalon p.103
  2. How did Merlin, Morgan, Teddy and
    Kathleen respond when they first saw Jack and Annie in Avalon? Bewildered, amazed,
    surprised, astonished p.106
  3. Why did Jack and Annie need to return
    the dragon statue to Camelot before dawn? If it’s not returned by dawn, it’s
    power will be lost forever and those in Avalon will never return p.109

Chapter 11

  1. Where did Jack and Annie leave their
    magic stones? By the dragon statue in the garden p.115
  2. What message did Jack and Annie give
    the knights? That the kind and queen are healing in Avalon and will be back
    to restore order to the kingdom p.118