Reading - Group 3

Emma’s Puppy Problem

Questions

1. Who is stopping Emma from getting a puppy?

2. Why do you think that the author describes dad as ‘boring’?

3. What makes you think that Emma is not ready to get a puppy? Use evidence from the text.

4. Summarise the main point of this story in 20 words or less.

Kiwi Kid: A Superhero

Kiwi Kid’s real name is Lily Longbeak. Lily lives in the forest and was wandering through the forest one day when she came upon a spring. Lily became Kiwi Kid when she drank from the stream that, unknown to her, had a kiwi feather in it.

Big Superhero Facts

• Kiwi Kid sleeps during the day and fights crime at night.

• Kiwi Kid loves flying in planes but is terrified of heights.

• Kiwi Kid has a healthy diet of bugs and insects.

What Are Kiwi Kid’s Powers?

Kiwi Kid has amazing eyes that allow her to see in the dark. This comes in handy when hunting for bad guys. She has a great sense of smell and can usually smell Peter Possum from miles away. Kiwi Kid also has the power of invisibility and, within seconds, can disappear and blend into her background.

Who Helps Kiwi Kid?

Kiwi Kid is only 7 years old and still lives with her parents in a cottage in the forest. She has lived there her whole life but has a huge range of friends that also live in the forest.

Her best friend is Tuatara Teen, who likes to stay up at night with her and fight crime. She also naps in during the day. Tuatara Teen has his own powers that help Kiwi Kid out in sticky situations.

Who Is Kiwi Kid’s Enemy?

Kiwi Kid’s enemy is Peter Possum. He sneaks around at night and tries to catch Kiwi Kid while she is fighting crime. His attempts fail him when he hasn’t washed in a while.

Questions

1. What is Kiwi Kid’s real name?

2. How did she become Kiwi Kid?

3. When does she sleep?

4. How does she like to travel?

5. Name 2 of Kiwi Kid’s superpowers

6. What does she use her powers for?

7. Who helps her?

8. Who hunts Kiwi Kid?

Meg’s Room

Meg sat on her bed in the corner of her room. Her green and black striped blanket was pulled up over her raised knees. She stared out the window at the trees. The wind was toying with the branches, pushing them back and forth. Meg had closed the old wooden window as best she could, but she could still feel the cold breeze creeping through. This was her favourite place to be on a cold winter’s night.

Beside her lay a pile of magazines, one of which was opened to a crossword. On her other side was her basketball that went wherever she did. At the end of her bed lay Bonny, curled up at her feet and fast asleep.

There was a knock at the door. Meg watched as the door opened with a creak. Her mother stepped into her room. Meg took her headphones off and pressed pause on her music player.

“Better get to sleep,” her mum said with a smile. “We’ve got an early start and a big day tomorrow.”

“Sure thing. I’ll turn the light out shortly. Goodnight.” Meg said.

“Goodnight, sweetie. Love you,” her mother replied.

Tomorrow they would resume their search for a new house. Meg sighed. She had so many memories here. Meg loved this house. She especially loved her room. None of the houses they had looked at so far compared to her beautiful house. Sure, some of the paint was starting to peel off the walls, but in Meg’s eyes, that just gave the place character.

Meg didn’t want to move, but she knew they couldn’t stay here. Meg’s grandmother would soon be coming to live with them. A two-storey house just wouldn’t be suitable.

Meg placed her music player on the table and then reached for the lamp.

Questions

1. What was Meg doing when her mother came in the room?

2. Why did Meg’s mum tell her she should go to sleep?

3. How was Meg feeling about moving? Why?

4. Which word from the text means ‘continue’?

5. Find 3 clues that tell the reader Meg lives in an older house.

6. What kind of house do you think the family were going to look for? Why?

Challenge!

What does your room look like? Write to describe it.

Foggy Figure

by Kelly Hashway

It was only 5:00AM, so everyone else in the house was still asleep. As they crept through the kitchen to the back door, Mary sniffed the air. It had the faint scent of coffee and something sweet. She shrugged it off and followed Justin out the door, down the back steps, and out onto the boat dock. The fog had settled over the lake, making it impossible to see anything.

“Do you see anything?” Mary asked, leaning forward for a closer look.

“Nothing. Do you think Uncle Thomas was just trying to scare us with that story?”

Uncle Thomas did have a good imagination. He’d been telling Justin and Mary stories for years, but this was the first scary story. Mary had a feeling it wasn’t made up.

Mary shook her head. “Remember what Uncle Thomas said? The Foggy Figure haunts the lake. We’re on the dock. Maybe that’s why we can’t see him. The people in the story were in boats.”

“You want to go out on the water?” Justin asked

Mary looked around, trying to find Uncle Thomas’s boat, but the fog was too thick.

“Mom and Dad will be really angry if we go out on the lake alone in this fog,” Justin said.

Mary shrugged. “Maybe we don’t have to go anywhere. We could sit in the boat while it’s docked. That wouldn’t be dangerous.”

“Okay.” Justin crept toward the end of the dock. He could barely see the outline of the boat. “I’ll go first.” He carefully lowered himself into the boat and then reached for Mary’s hand.

Mary climbed into the boat and sat beside him. She was getting nervous now that they were on the water. “See anything?”

They looked around, and gradually, the fog began to lift. Mary turned around and screamed. “The Foggy Figure!” It was in the boat with them!

Justin and Mary hugged each other in fear, but then they heard a laugh. Justin leaned toward the Foggy Figure. “Uncle Thomas?”

“I knew that story would get you two out of bed early enough to take a boat ride with me.”

Mary sighed, happy there was no Foggy Figure after all. Justin looked relieved, too.

Uncle Thomas laughed. “What do you say? I packed a breakfast for us.”

Mary smiled. She had smelled coffee. And Uncle Thomas had packed pastries for them, too.

“Let’s do it,” Mary and Justin said.

Questions

1. When does this story take place?

   1. shortly before or after dawn

   2. shortly before or after dusk

   3. in the middle of the night

   4. after their vacation is over

2. Uncle Thomas told Justin and Mary stories about...

   1. a haunted figure that scared campers in tents

   2. a haunted figure that can be seen from the shore every night

   3. a haunted figure on the lake that many boaters have seen

   4. real creatures that lived deep below the lake's surface

3. Based on the information in the story, which word best describes Uncle Thomas?

(Circle one)

scared hard-working lonely creative

Tell why you chose the word above.

4. Why didn't Justin and Mary take the boat out on the lake alone?

   1. They were too scared.

   2. The boat engine wouldn't start.

   3. They did not have any paddles.

   4. They thought their parents would be mad

5. In a mystery story, the author will sometimes add clues in the story that readers can use to help readers figure out the ending. This is called foreshadowing.

How did Kelly Hashway use foreshadowing in the fourth paragraph of this story? Tell what clue was written into the story and how readers could have used this clue to predict the ending of the story.

6. Do you think it was dangerous for Justin and Mary to venture out onto the boat dock? Explain your answer.

Questions

1. What is a rabbit habit?

2. List four action verbs in this poem.

Challenge: Write another verse for this poem.