Tag Archives: Series

Comprehension Questions Magic Tree House #36 Sunlight on the Snow Leopard

Sunlight on the Snow Leopard

by Mary Pope Osborne

Grades 1-4; Genre - Historical Fiction with Fantastical Elements; GRL N; AR pts. 1.0

Morgan le Fay tells Jack and Annie to seek out "The Gray Ghost" and listen to her story. They are whisked away to Nepal where they meet Tenzin, a climber, who takes them up the mountain to meet a snow leopard.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Summarize what this story is going to be about. Jack and Annie are going to Nepal to find a ghost in the mountains p.1

Chapter 2

  1. List an observation Jack and Annie made of the people in this area. They are hard workers p.19

Chapter 3

  1. How did Annie convince Tenzin to help them find the ghost? She read Morgan’s poem to him and told him they were serious about finding the ghost, not just curious p.25

Chapter 4

  1. What did you learn about Tenzin in this chapter? He’s sad because his wife and daughter died last winter p.34
  2. Predict how Jack and Annie will help him in this story. Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 5

  1. Why did Jack agree to follow Tenzin? Tenzin quoted a phrase from the poem and confirmed that they were supposed to follow Tenzin p.42

Chapter 6

  1. How did Tenzin put Jack and Annie at risk? By taking them on treacherous steep ground and for hiking so high p.51

Chapter 7

  1. What is the great ghost and how did Jack and Annie find it? A snow leopard; they tried to find Tenzin and when they hiked up to him, the snow leopard was with him. She was difficult to see because she blended in with the rocks p.59

Chapter 8

  1. How do you think the snow leopard is wise and what secret does she have to tell? Listen to your child’s answer p.62

Chapter 9

  1. Why didn’t Jack want to tell Ama and the girls about the snow leopard. Tenzin has a special bond with the snow leopard, and they want him to be the one to talk about her if he wants to p.72
  2. Have you ever had a story that was your own that you haven’t wanted anyone else to share or talk about? Explain. Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 10

  1. Were you correct in your assumption about what the poem means? Listen to your child’s answer
  2. If not, what is answer? The secret is love hides in plain sight, and we are never alone p.82
  3. What did you like about this story? Listen to your child’s answer

Comprehension Questions Little House on the Prairie #2 Farmer Boy

Farmer Boy

by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Grades 4-8; Genre - Historical Fiction; GRL P; AR pts. 9.0

Nine-year-old Almanzo lives with his family on a big farm in New York State at the end of the nineteenth century where he raises his own two calves, helps cut ice and shear sheep, and longs for the day he can have his own colt.

Comprehension Questions

School Days

  1. How does Almanzo’s school compare to the school you go to? The boys sit on one side of the schoolhouse and girls sit on the other; it has all ages in one classroom and isn’t split into separate classes; three children cannot talk or move; the girls went to recess first for 15 minutes, then the boys would go to recess 15 minutes; if they are late, they get whipped p.1

Winter Evening

  1. Give two examples in this chapter that show you that Almanzo loves and respects his parents. He listens and obeys his Dad about the horses and not taking a lantern into the haymows; pleased with himself that his father recognized he was a good milker and he knew he would milk the cows that are difficult to milk now; he knew his father was a good and honest man; he felt his mother was beautiful and listened and obeyed her as well p.17

Winter Night

  1. What part of this chapter did you enjoy? Listen to your child’s answer p.30

Surprise

  1. How did Mr. Corse defend himself and “best” the big boys of the class? One at a time, he used a whip to wrap around them; using the whip, he moved them to the door and threw them out; three of the boys saw they were going to get thrown out with the whip and they jumped out of the window; Almanzo’s dad gave Mr. Corse the whip p.44

Birthday

  1. What was special about Almanzo’s birthday? His father made him a yoke for his two calves and a sled; he didn’t have to go to school; he could eat all the treats he wanted; he went sledding and started to train his calves; he helped his dad make a shingle p.49

Filling the Ice-House

  1. What did Almanzo’s family use as a refrigerator in the summer? The ice-house
  2. How did Almanzo help with the ice-house? He and Royal put saw dust between each block of ice and covered the ice blocks with 3” of sawdust p.72
  3. What do you talk about with your siblings as you work together? Listen to your child’s answer

Saturday Night

  1. Describe the process Almanzo’s family used to take their baths on Saturday night. Almanzo and Royal hit icicles down from the kitchen eaves to fill the tub; Almanzo was the first to bath; Alice would empty his tub and fill her own; and each member of the family would take turns emptying the person’s tub that just bathed and then fill their own tub; this prevented the family from getting a cold p.82

Sunday

  1. Almanzo went to church in this chapter. Have you ever been to church? Describe your experience there. If not, then share what Almanzo did at his church. Almanzo sat and looked at the preacher during church; it was two hours long p.90

Breaking the Calves

  1. What lesson did Almanzo learn in this chapter? He needs to teach his calves how to follow commands while he is riding the sled p.105

Turn of the Year

  1. How did Almanzo’s family gather sugar for the year? They put taps on the trees and gathered sap; they boiled it to sugar; then they put it in buckets to harden p.110

Springtime

  1. List the vegetables Almanzo and his family planted in the spring? Potatoes, carrots, corn p.125
  2. Have you ever planted a seed? What type of plant was it? What did you need to do to help it grow? Water it and make sure it has sunlight. Listen to your child’s answer

Tin-Peddler

  1. What did Mother trade for the tin wear? Rags she made p.138
  2. Why didn’t Mr. Brown expect her to pay with money? Money was scarce in those days and goods were highly prized. Mother made the rags and they were important for Mr. Brown to have for his pans p.138

The Strange Dog

  1. Why do you think the dog stayed the night Father sold the horses? Listen to your child’s answer
  2. Why is it important the strange black dog came to Almanzo’s house? Whatever the reason, the dog stopped two men from robbing his family p.152

Sheep-Shearing

  1. How did Almanzo’s father give the sheep a bath? They put soap on the sheep and dragged it out into deep water and rubbed the wool of the sheep until the soap was rinsed out p.155
  2. What distracted Almanzo from his job and why was it a problem? He saw his cat run with a mouse in its mouth, and went to go see its new kittens; he got behind in his job p.158

Cold Snap

  1. Summarize this chapter. There was a cold snap the night before July 4th. Almanzo’s family had to take water and pour some over each corn plant to save it from the frost before the sun came up; once the sun hit the frozen plants, it would kill them, the water saved them; they only lost 1/4 acre and saved 2.75 acres p.163

Independence Day

  1. Define patriotism. The quality of being patriotic; devotion to and vigorous support for one's country.
  2. Why is patriotism important? 1) The country will benefit from the knowledge and skills of patriotic citizens as they show patriotism, hard work and loyalty. 2) The country will grow and succeed. 3) There will be peace and unity in the country.
  3. How did Almanzo’s family and town celebrate Independence Day? Dressed up in Sunday best; gathered in town; had a band that played and marched; said the pledge of allegiance; had political speakers; had a picnic together; American flags furling in the wind; lemonade stand; shot off cannons p.177
  4. How do you show patriotism for your country? Listen to your child’s answer.
  5. Why was it difficult for Almanzo to ask his father for a nickel? Respectable boys at that time didn’t ask their fathers for money p.182
  6. What did Almanzo learn in this chapter? Importance of earning money with hard work and how America was made p.177

Summer-Time

  1. What are two fond memories Almanzo made in this chapter? Going fishing with his father when it was raining and spending the day with his family berry picking p.195

Keeping House

  1. How was Eliza Jane a good sister in this chapter? She helped take care of the house with mother and father gone; she patched up the wallpaper when Almanzo made a black mark on the wall when he threw a paintbrush at her p.203

Early Harvest

  1. What does the word harvest mean?
  2. How did Almanzo help his family harvest their fields? He helped spread out hay and then stack it in the barn; helped bind oats and shock them (put stacks of grain around them to protect them from dew/rain); put rocks around the bean stakes and wrap bean stalks around them p.228

Late Harvest

  1. What’s the difference between the early harvest and late harvest? There was a rush to get everything into the barns so the frost wouldn’t ruin the crops; they harvested different crops; it was freezing cold while they worked p.240

County Fair

  1. When Almanzo won first prize for his pumpkin, why was he worried that he cheated? He had grown it with milk and realized that it may be against the rules p.273
  2. What gave Almanzo confidence that he hadn’t cheated? His father taught him how to grow the pumpkin, and his father wasn’t a cheater p.273
  3. Why did Almanzo grow tired of having a good time? He was used to working hard and accomplishing a lot throughout the day and he didn’t like that there wasn’t purpose to his days p.274
  4. Do you agree with Almanzo that three days at the fair was too much fun? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer

Fall of the Year

  1. How did Father know it was going to snow without a weather channel or app to tell him? He knew what the weather felt like; he had learned throughout his life what different weather and pressure in the air felt like, just like he knew the ground was going to freeze earlier in the book p.277
  2. Why was it important for Almanzo’s family to butcher the animals and make candles? To give them food and light throughout the winter and through to next fall p.284

Cobbler

  1. List two things from this chapter that we do not do anymore. Drink tea out of a saucer; have a cobbler come to our homes to make shoes; use a corn husker p.285

The Little Bobsled

  1. Why couldn’t Father and Almanzo work outside the next day? The storm would be too big p.304

Threshing

  1. Use a word to describe how Almanzo felt at the end of this chapter and explain why. Listen to your child’s answer p.311

Christmas

  1. Describe what your Christmas looks like and compare it to the one Almanzo celebrated in this chapter. What does Almanzo do differently? Listen to your child’s answer. Almanzo helped get everything ready on Christmas Eve; they went to bed and woke up really early (earlier than they were supposed to) and opened presents; they enjoyed their gifts and then got ready for family to come over; family came over and they had a big dinner; the cousins went out to play in the snow; they then came inside and had apple cider and ate apples; the cousins wrapped up and went home bundled up on their sleigh p.312

Wood-Hauling

  1. Summarize this chapter. Almanzo helped Father gather logs for firewood; he faced trials steering his calves, loading the logs and getting stuck in a snowdrift. His father gave him encouragement but let him figure out how to solve his predicaments. Share an experience where you learned something through sheer experience p.329

Mr. Thompson’s Pocketbook

  1. What good characteristic did Almanzo show in this chapter and how did it benefit him? He was honest with Mr. Thompson’s pocketbook; Mr. Paddock made sure that Mr. Thompson rewarded him with $200 p.354

Farmer Boy

  1. How did Almanzo tell Father that he wanted to be a farmer? He wanted to buy a colt and break it; this showed his father that he wanted to be on the farm just like him p.371
  2. What did you like about this story? Listen to your child’s answer.

Comprehension Questions – The Swindle Series #1 Swindle

Swindle

by Gordon Korman

Grades 3-7; Genre - Mystery; GRL T; AR pts. 5.0

After unscrupulous collector S. Wendell Palomino cons sixth-grader Griffin Bing out of a valuable baseball card, Griffin puts together a band of misfits to break into Palomino's heavily guarded store and steal the card back.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Summarize how this story begins? Two boys are in a condemned building sleeping over. They invited a whole crew of others and even gave them a plan of how to sneak out of their homes, but no one else showed. The boys talked about why no one else came and reviewed the stories they had heard of how the horse was haunted p.1

Chapter 2

  1. Describe Griffin and how he found the baseball card. A man with a plan; curly hair; determined to not be taken advantage of; stands up for what he believes in even if it’s misguided; comes from a home where parents are trying to make ends meet. He found the card by exploring the haunted home. It was in a locked drawer on a desk p.10

Chapter 3

  1. List two things you learn about Griffin in this chapter. He and Ben are in sixth grade; Griffin always sticks to the plan p.17

Chapter 4

  1. How is Griffin going to fight fire with fire? By stealing the card back from the man at the pawn shop p.40

Chapter 5

  1. Describe Ben and list a characteristic that Ben showed in this chapter. Griffin’s friend who follows him and always supports him; in the 6th grade; also stands up for what he believes in; he showed integrity in this chapter by standing up to Griffin and not wanting to rob the pawn shop p.41

Chapter 6

  1. What changed Ben’s mind about the heist? He saw that Griffin’s house was for sale and Griffin told him about his family’s financial situation p.56

Chapter 7

  1. What security fact did Griffin forget to put on his plan? The Doberman p.61

Chapter 8

  1. What two items of the plan were worked out in this chapter? Savannah is working to tame the Doberman, and Ben’s dad helped them figure out the alarm code p.69

Chapter 9

  1. What was Savannah’s reaction when the boys told her what they were up and what was the consequence? She was angry and yelled. The Doberman began to grovel and whimper at Savannah p.76

Chapter 10

  1. What could derail the heist at this point? Ben falling asleep and missing the next step p.87

Chapter 11

  1. Why do you think the safe and dog aren’t at the store? Listen to your child’s answer p.92

Chapter 12

  1. Find a simile on page 95. “Yet, deep down, it was like trying to enjoy great food while suffering from a gut-blaster stomachache.”
  2. What is Ben expressing in the last two sentences of page 95. Even though Griffin’s family is taking them to fun places, it’s hard to enjoy being there when you know Griffin is moving and there won’t be fun times anymore. Ben is thinking about the times they’ve spent together in the past, knowing there won’t be times together in the future p.95
  3. How did the boys find where the card is? They found the Doberman and realized the card and safe were taken to Swindle’s house p.98

Chapter 13

  1. Summarize this chapter. The boys went to Swindle’s house and found Luther and found he uses a high-tech security system. They also met Swindle’s neighbor and learned he is always outside observing the activities in the neighborhood. Their teacher helped them figure out where to go to see Swindle’s floor plan to get into his house p.100

Chapter 14

  1. Predict how the boys will get into the house via the bathroom skylight? Listen to your child’s answer p.116

Chapter 15

  1. Were you correct in your previous prediction? Listen to your child’s answer
  2. Griffin thinks the heist will be easy once each person’s job is broken down. What do you think might go wrong? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 16

  1. Why didn’t Griffin want Darren on the team? He’s a talker and might tell on them; they don’t trust him p.132

Chapter 17

  1. If you were a part of this heist, what responsibility would you want to have? Why? Listen to your child’s answer p.133

Chapter 18

  1. Does Griffin have a right to be nervous about the heist? What could go wrong? Listen to your child’s answer p.144
  2. Why do you think the card is cold? Listen to your child’s answer p.147

Chapter 19

  1. How was the heist going so far? Really well. The only hiccup they’ve had so far is Melissa intercepted an email to Palomino and the auction wanted to pick up the card early, but Griffin responded to them with the wrong address p.150

Chapter 20

  1. Choose a word to describe the team and how they worked together in this chapter. Explain. Flexible-Ben knew he couldn’t climb to the roof because of his narcolepsy and Melissa was happy to swap responsibilities. Encouraging-when Darren slipped on the roof, no one made fun of him, Pitch encouraged him and gave him clear instructions p.159

Chapter 21

  1. What went wrong with the heist? The vent pipe and Pitch fell into the house spraining her ankle; now the crew can’t exit the house that way
  2. What do you think Luther is trying to tell Savannah? Listen to your child’s answer p.171

Chapter 22

  1. What problems did the crew solve in this chapter? Melissa figured out the security system so they can get out of the house without triggering the alarm; Savannah found out why Luther was agitated, there’s a mean German shepherd in the basement. She shut the dog into the room, but it’s hitting the door trying to break it down p.172

Chapter 23

  1. What complicated the plan even further in this chapter? The man finally arrived to pick up the card; Ben fell asleep so he didn’t warn everyone; the card wasn’t in the safe p.180

Chapter 24

  1. Predict what Griffin is going to do to get the card out of the tree. Listen to your child’s answer p.193

Chapter 25

  1. Why did Griffin and his friends respect Griffin’s dad more in this chapter? They used his invention to get the card out of the tree and saw that it was a great invention p.199

Chapter 26

  1. Ben missed everything that happened inside the house. Pretend you are talking to him and tell him what happened from the time you climbed the roof to when he ran over to see what was going on. Listen to your child’s answer p.208
  2. Yikes! A police car is in front of Griffin’s house when he gets there. Why do you think they are there and predict what Griffin will do. Listen to your child’s answer p.208

Chapter 27

  1. Describe the sight Palomino probably saw when he arrived to his home. A broken window with glass all over the floor; dogs laying down in the kitchen; turkey skeleton on the floor of the kitchen; an empty plastic baggie that held the card p.214

Chapter 28

  1. What the heist crew did was a serious crime. Predict what will happen when the police arrive? Listen to your child’s answer p.223
  2. Use a word to describe how Griffin is feeling right now? Explain. Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 29

  1. What consequence is Griffin feeling now that he hadn’t predicted? How this would affect his parents p.231

Chapter 30

  1. Find a metaphor on page 237 and explain what the author means by using it. Ex. “It was a glowing coal on an icy night, a tiny measure of justice.” Griffin was feeling satisfied that Palamino didn’t have many customers amidst the possibility of getting arrested p.237

Chapter 31

  1. Why did Officer Vizzini finally arrest Griffin? He had the card and now there was evidence to arrest him p.242
  2. Why is the officer going to release Griffin? Palomino isn’t pressing charges and the card is being sent to the last surviving member of the Rockford family p.245
  3. Why isn’t Griffin’s family moving anymore? The publicity from the card has generated interest from investors for the SmartPick p.247

Chapter 32

  1. What’s ironic with who ended up with the baseball card? It went to Darren, who tried to steal the card during the heist p.250
  2. What did the money go towards and why? The Cedarville Museum where the Rockford house used to be. Darren’s parents didn’t want to reward him for stealing the card p.250
  3. What did you enjoy about this story? Listen to your child’s answer

Comprehension Questions – A to Z Mysteries The Goose’s Gold

The Goose's Gold

by Ron Roy

There’s sunken treasure off the Florida coast! On the day after they arrive for vacation, Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose meet two men who are diving for gold from their boat, the Golden Goose. They promise to share with anyone who backs their plan. Is it too good to be true?

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

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe the setting in this story. Key West, Florida; beautiful warm weather, beaches, ocean p.1
  2. How did the author set up the mystery in this story? Dink overheard someone talking about dough and a goose in the telephone booth next to him; the man in the booth had tan hairy ankles and had an eagle head tattoo p.2

Chapter 2

  1. Who did the kids meet in this chapter and what do their new acquaintances do? Chip and Spike; they own a boat and dive for treasure p.16

Chapter 3

  1. Where did the kids explore in this chapter and what did they find? Mel Fisher’s Treasure Museum; gold necklace p.23
  2. Who is coming over to Grams? Spike and Chip p.27

Chapter 4

  1. Explain how Grams know Spike and Chip. The men came to the senior center and asked the people there to be investors p.28

Chapter 5

  1. Why was Dink bothered in this chapter? Something Spike whispered to Chip was very familiar to what he heard the man whisper in the telephone booth at the airport p.41

Chapter 6

  1. Do you think Dink has a reason to be suspicious? Explain. Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 7

  1. What clue did the kids find when they were at the beach? Chip and Spike’s boat was called the Golden Goose p.52
  2. What is Dink’s backup plan to see if Spike has a tattoo? Create a tattoo contest p.54

Chapter 8

  1. Should the kids have gotten on the boat without Spike and Chip’s permission? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer p.61

Chapter 9

  1. What predicament did the kids find themselves in? Chip and Spike came back and took the boat out to the ocean; the kids hid and were trapped in a storage area under the floor of the boat p.66

Chapter 10

  1. Summarize this chapter. Spike and Chip took an ax and chopped up the boat to sink it. They took off in the dingy. The kids came out of the trap door and jumped into the ocean p.72

Chapter 11

  1. What was the conclusion to this story? The coast guard saved the kids; Chip and Spike were caught, and the money they stole was given back; the gold the men had at the beginning of the story was stolen from a museum and the reward money was going to the kids; Grams invited the kids back to visit next summer p.78

Comprehension Questions – A to Z Mysteries The Ninth Nugget

The Ninth Nugget

by Ron Roy

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

N is for Nugget . . . Howdy from Montana, pardners! Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are spending a week at a dude ranch. When they pan for gold, Josh finds a huge nugget. But gold fever has struck, and soon the nugget is stolen. It’s up to the kids to round up the thief.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Summarize the premise of this story and who the characters are (you don’t need to include the main characters). The friends are in Wyoming at a ranch; they won this experience from helping the person who lost the lottery ticket; Ma and Pa own the ranch, Jud is their son, Lulu is the cook and Thumbs (but we’re not sure who he is yet) p.1

Chapter 2

  1. Summarize Thumb’s story around the campfire. A fire was started in the woods with lightning. A bear cub came running from the woods and was burned; they caught him and took him to the vet the next morning and when he was better, he was sent to a zoo. The mama bear came running through destroying everything, looking for her cub but couldn’t find it. The mama bear is still looking for her cub and comes through the camp 2-3 times each summer p.18

Chapter 3

  1. What do you think the noises on the porch were from? Listen to your child’s answer p.25

Chapter 4

  1. Choose a word to describe Josh and explain what his reward was. Determined; patient; he found a potato sized gold nugget p.34

Chapter 5

  1. Who are the other guests at the ranch? Fiona, Ed, the Clydes p.15
  2. Who stayed back at the ranch during the horse ride? Ed, Fiona, Thumbs p.42

Chapter 6

  1. Why do you think the dinner bell is ringing when it’s the afternoon? Listen to your child’s answer p.51

Chapter 7

  1. Were you correct in your prediction? Listen to your child’s answer
  2. What was the emergency? Someone had tied up Lulu, Fiona and Ed and the large nugget was missing from the safe p.52

Chapter 8

  1. Why do the friends suspect Thumbs? He was the only one who wasn’t on the ride the entire time. He could have tied everyone up, stole the gold and raced out to the meadow on his horse p.62

Chapter 9

  1. Do you agree that Josh lied to Ma to get out of playing cards? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer p.71

Chapter 10

  1. Why is it suspicious that Ed is pacing and getting ready to leave the ranch? If he were the robber, he’d want to get off the ranch as quickly as possible so he wouldn’t get caught p.79

Chapter 11

  1. Use another word to describe Josh in this chapter and explain why you chose it. Selfless, charitable; he donated his nugget to the ranch to save it p.86

Comprehension Questions – Little House on the Prairie #4 On the Banks of Plum Creek

On the Banks of Plum Creek

by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Grades 4-7; Genre-Historical Fiction; GRL Q; AR pts. 8.0

After moving to Minnesota, the Ingalls family encounters a terrible blizzard and a grasshopper plague. The plot contains racial prejudice within historical context.

Comprehension Questions

The Door in the Ground

  1. How does this story begin? Laura’s family has traveled to Minnesota; they traded their horses, mule and wagon cover for a dugout and wheat fields p.1

The House in the Ground

  1. Describe the dugout. A little house dug out of the side of a hill; clean and small; whitewashed; willow branches and sod used for walls and roof p.10

Rushes and Flags

  1. Why does Ma say the girls will turn into “water bugs”? They are always playing in the water and come into the house all wet p.20

Deep Water

  1. Why don’t Ma and Pa want the girls to go upstream to the hole full of deep, dark water? They don’t want the girls to go by themselves in case they drown or get hurt p.23
  2. How did Pa teach Laura a lesson? When she continued to go out into the deep water after being told not to, Pa swam under and grabbed her foot, pulling her under the water p.24

Strange Animal

  1. What helped Laura stay safe and not go to the swimming hole? A badger p.30
  2. Why did Laura tell her Pa that she disobeyed him? She felt guilty and she knew she needed to p.33
  3. Have you been in a situation where you haven’t been honest and knew you needed to tell the truth? Explain. Listen to your child’s answer

Wreath of Roses

  1. Why is it exciting for Laura’s family to have a milk cow? They have been without milk and butter since they left Indian Territory p.40

Ox on the Roof

  1. How did the ox get on the roof? An ox got away from Laura and Jack as they tried to take him to the stable and he ran on their roof. One of his legs went through but out didn’t seem to do any harm; however, the next morning, the roof collapsed p.47

Straw Stack

  1. Why did the girls get in trouble for playing on the straw stack? As they jumped, slid and rolled down it, it spread the straw out; Pa needed the straw to be in a stack so he could feed it to the animals throughout the winter p.60

Grasshopper Weather

  1. Define grasshopper weather. Warm weather around Thanksgiving; nights are chilly, days are warm p.63

Cattle in the Hay

  1. Summarize this chapter. Ma, Pa, and Carrie went to town. Mary and Laura stayed home. Laura saw the cattle trampling and eating the hay. Jack helped them run at the cattle and finally got them to leave to the prairie. The cattle were there because Johnny had fallen asleep p.67

Runaway

  1. What scary event happened in this chapter? When the Ma and Pa were coming back from town, Bright couldn’t wait to eat at the stable and ran home without listening to Pa. Ma and Carrie almost fell to the riverbed in the wagon p.74

The Christmas Horses

  1. What is Ma’s explanation of Santa Claus? He is more than one person; he is everywhere and he is all the time. Whenever anyone was unselfish, that was Santa Claus p.85
  2. Do you agree or disagree with Ma? Listen to your child’s answer

A Merry Christmas

  1. What special gifts were given and received on Christmas? Mary and Laura made Carrie a beautiful button string and they all received candy in their stockings. They also received two beautiful horses and got to ride them down to the water p.93

Spring Freshet

  1. Laura was excited about the roaring creek. How would you have felt seeing and hearing so much water so close to your home? Listen to your child’s answer p.98

The Footbridge

  1. What sticky situation did Laura get herself into? She snuck outside and got into the roaring creek holding onto the footbridge. She could have drowned since the water was so strong, but she pulled herself out and was ok p.101

The Wonderful House

  1. If you previously read the book, Little House on the Prairie, compare the home Pa built in that story to the home he built in this book. In Indian territory, Pa built a home from logs he cut and stacked himself. This home is made from boards that were cut from a machine, there were lots of windows and a lean to attached. Pa also purchased a black stove p.107

Moving In

  1. List two things Laura found exciting as they moved into their new house. The new stove for Ma; there was so much light coming in from the windows; the curtains Ma had sewn; Laura and Mary’s new room with their own boxes; that she could hear the rain on the roof p.118

The Old Crab and the Bloodsuckers

  1. What did Mary and Laura find along the path Pa told them to take? Shallow water with minnows, a crawdad and leeches or bloodsuckers p.128
  2. Have you ever had leeches stuck to your skin? Explain. Listen to your child’s answer

The Fish-Trap

  1. Summarize how Pa helped Laura understand the importance of going to school. Not every child gets a chance to go; he promised her Ma their girls would go; that’s why they moved so close to a town with a school; her Ma used to be a teacher and understands the importance of book learning p.138

School

  1. Summarize Laura and Mary’s first day of school. They arrived and met a few other kids; the teacher rang the bell and they went inside; the teacher found out their names, ages, and their reading level; the teacher let them borrow her slate; at lunch, everyone else went home while Laura and Mary ate their lunch in the shade p.152

Nellie Olson

  1. Choose two words that describe Nellie Oleson. Give an example of each from this chapter. Example: Spoiled - Father gave her directions, but she didn’t listen and didn’t get in trouble when she should have; selfish - She has to have her way, playing Ring-around-a-rosy p.155&157

Town Party

  1. Did Laura enjoy the party? Why, or why not? Yes and no; yes because she got to play with new toys and beautiful books; no because Nellie yelled at her for almost touching her doll’s silky dress p.160

Country Party

  1. How did Laura get Nellie back? Guided her into the muddy water with the blood suckers p.174

Going to Church

  1. Pa is very kind and selfless. Give an example of a way he showed these characteristics in this chapter. Giving his hard-earned money to the church to put a bell in the belfry instead of buying himself new boots p.190

The Glittering Cloud

  1. Describe the devastation in this chapter. A giant grasshopper cloud came through the area and ate everything in sight. Because the wheat crop is eaten by the grasshoppers, Pa didn’t have wheat to sell and couldn’t pay off the house. Their friends had to move out east. p.192

Grasshopper Eggs

  1. Why did Pa leave? To go find work since the crop was eaten and the grasshoppers have laid eggs throughout the prairie. There won’t be a crop next year since there will be many more grasshoppers p.208

Rain

  1. Why was the rain such a blessing? It had been so dry that nothing new had grown since the grasshopper cloud ate everything. The cattle were starving and the water in the creek and spring was drying up p.213

The Letter

  1. What good news did Laura’s family receive? Pa was ok and found work. He walked 300 miles to find work and is getting paid a dollar a day and can buy new shoes. He also sent $5 home to them. P.226

The Darkest Hour is Just Before Dawn

  1. What does the title of this chapter mean? Things were bleak and difficult on the prairie without Pa. When things became the most difficult, Pa came home. The symbolism of this title is that at night, just before down, it feels so dark outside, but then morning comes and everything is a little better p.228

Going to Town

  1. Did Ma and Pa purchase the chalice and overcoat? No
  2. Why not? They both felt they needed to save that money since they aren’t sure what will happen next year p.243

Surprise

  1. For Christmas, everyone in town received gifts from Brother Alden’s Church members in the East. Have you ever given gifts to people you don’t know at Christmas time? How did it feel? Listen to your child’s answer

Grasshoppers Walking

  1. What strange behavior did the grasshoppers have? For three days, they started walking westward. By the fourth day, they spread their wings and flew west in the same type of cloud they arrived in. 262
  2. With your parent’s permission, do an internet search to find out if the grasshoppers’ behavior was common or was a phenomenon.

Wheels of Fire

  1. How did Mr. Nelson act like a good neighbor in this chapter? He saw the smoke and took the initiative to help put out the fire before it got to the Ingall’s home p.271

Marks on the Slate

  1. List two positives and two negatives of living on the prairie during the time Laura and her family lived. Positives: different type of freedom, simplistic life, learn to work hard, learn to be self-sufficient; negatives: Blizzards are scary; fire is a threat without fire stations; crops can be ruined due to drought and grasshoppers p.281

Keeping House

  1. Why did the girls bring in the entire wood pile? A blizzard hit and Ma and Pa were in town. The girls didn’t want to have to burn up the furniture or die from the cold p.286

Prairie Winter

  1. How did Laura’s family make it through these winter storms? There was a sunny day between each storm, so they learned to take advantage of the sunny weather and play outside, do laundry, check the traps, cut firewood, etc. p.296

The Long Blizzard

  1. What feeling do you think Ma has at the beginning of this chapter? Listen to your child’s answer
  2. What was the consequence for not listening to it? Pa is away from home when the storm comes in and they don’t know if he’s safe
  3. Have you ever had a feeling like that before? Listen to your child’s answer

The Day of Games

  1. Why did Ma play games instead of have the girls study? They were sad and worried about Pa, so she wanted to distract them p.316
  2. Why do the girls feel like they can’t cry? Back during this time in history, it isn’t appropriate for them to p.320

The Third Day

  1. Summarize this chapter. The storm went on fiercely; Ma did the chores and the girls tried to study but couldn’t; the day took a very long time to pass p.321

The Fourth Day

  1. Summarize Pa’s experience in the snow. He got lost in the storm on the way back from town and decided to keep walking since he would freeze to death if he didn’t. He fell into a hole and was protected from the storm. He fell asleep and woke up with snow over him, but he could breathe. He slept as much as he could, waiting for the storm to end. He had some crackers and Christmas candy that he ate. When he couldn’t hear the storm anymore, he crawled out of his den and saw the house not far away. It was a blessing he purchased the buffalo skin coat and wore two pairs of socks. p.326

Christmas Eve

  1. Why were Laura’s eyes shining? She was so happy she had tears in her eyes p.338

Comprehension Questions – A to Z Mysteries The Invisible Island

The Invisible Island

by Ron Roy

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

I is for Island . . . It’s picnic time! Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose pack up a basket and wade out to Squall Island. Right away, they find a hundred-dollar bill in the sand! But when they come back the next day, the entire island has mysteriously disappeared. What is the secret of Squall Island?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Where are the children exploring at the beginning of this story? Squaw Island p.1

Chapter 2

  1. Why should the children find the person who lost the $100 and give it back to him? It is the right thing to do p.14

Chapter 3

  1. Summarize this chapter. The children talk to Ron at the boat shop but still can’t figure out who the money could belong to. Ruth Rose writes a note to put on the bulletin board. They go get ice cream and then go see Officer Fallon. He puts the money in an envelope with Ruth Rose’s name on it and says that if no one claims the money in 30 days she can have it p.16

Chapter 4

  1. Why would someone put fake poison ivy on Squaw Island? To keep people away from it or to keep them from wandering around a certain part of the island p.34

Chapter 5

  1. Who do you think put the cement box and refrigerator on the island? Listen to your child’s answer p.40

Chapter 6

  1. Officer Fallon told the kids to stay away from the island. Would you have a hard time doing that? Why? Listen to your child’s answer p.48

Chapter 7

  1. Why does Ron make a good suspect? He owns boats; it’s easy for him to get to the island; he purchased calamine lotion at the store, so he probably has a rash from poison ivy; he had enough space at his shop to store a printing press

Chapter 8

  1. Summarize this chapter. The friends were spying on Ron and a man in a black car drove up and gave Ron a box that said Happy Heart Dog Food; Ron took the box into the shed then brought it back out and gave it back to the man in the black car p.56

Chapter 9

  1. What did the kids find in the Bent’s garage? Receipt for the calamine lotion, the Happy Heart Dog Food box, waders with boots, green paint p.67

Chapter 10

  1. Do you think the kids have enough evidence to catch the suspects? Listen to your child’s answer
  2. What will be the last piece of evidence? Catching the crook on Squaw Island where the counterfeit money is p.73

Chapter 11

  1. How did this mystery end? The Bents were captured and taken to prison and their dog was given to Josh; he was still thinking what name to call him p.78

Comprehension Questions – A to Z Mysteries The Deadly Dungeon

The Deadly Dungeon

by Ron Roy

Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose visit a castle in Maine and hear screams. They discover a hidden trap door leading to a secret tunnel and a dungeon, and must solve the mystery of who or what is making the noises, which might be a ghost.

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

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What is the setting of this story and why are the friends there? Belfast, Maine; visiting the author they helped save in The Absent Author p.1

Chapter 2

  1. Describe Emory Scott and why was it unsettling to hear his ghost scream? The man who built the castle in the 1930’s; he died suddenly in the castle; Wallis said she hears the ghost; the kids heard a scream as they were leaving for a picnic p.13

Chapter 3

  1. Summarize this chapter. The friends had a picnic; they took a walk and met Rip; they discussed the ghost of Emory Scott p.19

Chapter 4

  1. Where did the friends go that creeped them out? An old playhouse and a cave with bats on the beach p.25

Chapter 5

  1. Who do you think is out near the playhouse? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 6

  1. Do you think the light in the woods was a firefly? Why or why not? Listen to your child’s answer p.41

Chapter 7

  1. How many green feathers have appeared throughout the story so far? 3 p.53
  2. What do you think they mean? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 8

  1. Summarize what the children found in this chapter. A trapdoor in the playhouse with stone stairs leading downward into darkness p.57
  2. Would you be brave enough to go down those stairs after hearing that scream? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 9

  1. What is scary about the friends being stuck in the tunnel with the parrots? The tide is coming in and will flood the tunnel; they could drown p.64

Chapter 10

  1. Do you agree with Dink? Is the person hiding the parrots Walker? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer p.72

Chapter 11

  1. How is Ripley deceiving them all? He is driving Walker’s Jeep and leaving green feathers to make Walker look suspicious p.80

Chapter 12

  1. Why was Ripley’s boat always so clean? He never catches lobster; he acted like he did, but used his boat to pick up the parrots from other countries p.84
  2. What was the loud screech from the mudroom if the parrots had been taken by the police? Listen to your child’s answer p.86

Comprehension Questions – A to Z Mysteries The Canary Caper

The Canary Caper

by Ron Roy

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

C is for Canary...Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose get an urgent call from Mrs. Davis. Her canary is missing! The little bird has vanished without a trace, and he's not the only one!

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What’s the mystery in this story? Mrs. Davis’s canary and Ruth Rose’s cat are missing p.5

Chapter 2

  1. What other animals are missing? A parrot and rabbit p.23
  2. What do you think happened to the pets? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 3

  1. What did Ruth Rose think was strange about the person returning the canary? She wondered how he knew to return the canary to p.33

Chapter 4

  1. Describe what was fishy about Fred Little? He was only at Mrs. Davis for a few minutes and had to use the restroom; didn’t take the reward; said he contacted Mrs. Wong, but the friends talked to her and she hadn’t heard anything p.38

Chapter 5

  1. What theory did the friends form that connected the lost pets to the burglaries? 1. The pets would get stolen. 2. When the pets were returned, the burglar would make an excuse to see the house. 3. The burglar would come back later to steal valuable items they saw p.48

Chapter 6

  1. Describe Ruth Rose’s mood and why she feels that way. Grumpy, sad; her cat is missing and she wants to solve the mystery so she can get her cat back p.62

Chapter 7

  1. Did the canary guy see the friends hiding in the bushes? Predict what will happen next! Listen to your child’s answer p.72

Chapter 8

  1. Was your prediction correct? Summarize what happened in this chapter. The friends stayed in the bushes; Fred Little used stilts to climb into a window on the second story; Mrs. Davis scared Fred little when he came into her room; when he was back outside on the ground, the police arrested Fred; Mrs. Davis came out of the house swinging a sword and the friends came out of the bushes p.73

Chapter 9

  1. Was Ruth Rose’s cat part of the burglar scheme? No p.86
  2. What happened to Ruth Rose’s cat, Tiger? She had been hiding under Rose’s bed, she had kittens p.87

Comprehension Questions – A to Z Mysteries The Absent Author

The Absent Author

by Ron Roy

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

Dink and his friends Josh and Ruth Rose investigate the disappearance of his favorite mystery author, Wallis Wallace.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe Wallis Wallace. He’s an author who writes mysteries. He’s from Maine and he lives in a castle. He’s coming to visit Green Lawn at Dink’s request p.1

Chapter 2

  1. Does Dink know for sure that Wallis Wallace has been kidnapped? No p.17
  2. What has drawn Dink to that conclusion? In the letter written by Wallis Wallace, it said that he would be at the Book Nook unless he’d been kidnapped p.9

Chapter 3

  1. Explain what an itinerary is. An itinerary is a plan of a trip, including the route and the places that you will visit.
  2. How will the friends be able to locate Wallis Wallace using the itinerary? They can reach out to each of the locations the author was expected to be at p.26

Chapter 4

  1. Summarize this chapter. The friends learned that Wallis Wallace flew into Connecticut and was picked up by a taxi and dropped off to the hotel in Green Lawn p.28

Chapter 5

  1. What did the kids find at the hotel that was suspicious? Someone had checked in right after Wallis Wallace, but the signature of the name was smudged p.46

Chapter 6

  1. Who are the suspects so far and why? The taxi driver and hotel manager; they might have kidnapped Wallis when they got to the hotel p.55

Chapter 7

  1. What does the phrase, “out of hot water” mean? To have successfully escaped a difficult situation p.64

Chapter 8

  1. What is a cliff hanger in a story? where a scene or chapter ends at a crucial, unresolved, or suspenseful moment to keep the audience engaged and compel them to continue reading or watching.
  2. How was the end of this chapter a cliff hanger? The kids heard the “help!”, but we won’t know what is going on until the next chapter p.71

Chapter 9

  1. How did Ruth Rose conclude that Mavis is Wallis Wallace? Listen to your child’s answer p.75

Chapter 10

  1. Were you correct in your assumption? Listen to your child’s answer
  2. What did you like the most about this story? Listen to your child’s answer

Dink and his friends Josh and Ruth Rose investigate the disappearance of his favorite mystery author, Wallis Wallace.