Blanket Adventures Jake felt a tug on his cape.

His dog Bandit had

grabbed the end of Jake’s blanket. Jake pulled on one
Jake liked to pretend. He draped a blanket over his
end of the blanket. Bandit pulled on the other end of the
shoulders. The blanket turned into a robe. Jake had
blanket. The blanket turned into a rope in a game of tug-
become a king! Jake asked his mom to make waffles for
of-war.
breakfast. He did not think kings ate oatmeal.
Jake grew tired, climbed into bed and took a nap.
Jake grew tired of being a king. He laid the
On top of him, his blanket turned into a blanket.
blanket out flat on the floor and sat in the middle of it.
The blanket turned into a magic carpet. Jake made
swishing sounds as if he was flying. He leaned one way
and then the other pretending to steer.
Jake landed his magic carpet and crumpled up the
blanket’s edges. The blanket turned into an island in the
sea. Jake’s cat became a sea monster! Jake battled the
sea monster who kept trying to crawl up on his beach.
After the battle, Jake grew hungry. He draped the
blanket between two chairs to make a tent. Jake asked
his mom to cook hot dogs for lunch. His mom always
made hot dogs when they went camping.
After eating the hot dogs, Jake grew tired of
camping. He draped the blanket over his shoulders. This
time the blanket turned into a cape. Jake became a
superhero! He grabbed the corners of his cape and
spread out his arms.
He flew through the house looking for someone to
rescue. Jake found his sister reading a book, but she did
not want to be rescued.
Exercises: c. chocolate covered ants
1. Put the events in order. d. bacon and eggs
______ The blanket turned into a rope.
______ The blanket turned into an island.
______ The blanket turned into a magic carpet.
______ The blanket turned into a cape.
2. Choose the correct answer.
What did Jake ask his mom to make for breakfast?
a. toast
b. waffles
c. hot dogs
d. oatmeal
What did Jake’s cat become?
a. a magic carpet
b. a super hero
c. a king
d. a sea monster
What did Jake eat in his tent?
a. hot dogs
b. a blanket
 A Visit to the Water Park
There is a new water park in town. We go there on the
first day of summer. It has pools and water slides. There
are sprinklers too. The slides are scary at first. After the
first ride, we love the water slides.
The sprinklers are cool on hot days. One of the pools
makes its own waves. All the kids try to surf the waves.
It is really fun. The water park can be very crowded.
There are many kids and adults, but they do not allow
pets. We really like the ice cream at the snack bar. They
also sell pop and donuts. We all love the new water
park.
Questions:
1. What is new in town?
_____________________________________________
_________________________________________
2. What is scary at first?
_____________________________________________
_________________________________________
3. What is cool on a hot day?
_____________________________________________
_________________________________________
4. What do they love at the snack bar?
_____________________________________________
_________________________________________
 The New Bicycle
Emma has a new bicycle. It is bright pink and
shiny. It was a gift from her uncle. He hid it behind a
bush to surprise her.
When Emma looked behind the bush and saw the
bicycle, she jumped for joy. It was just what she wanted.
She gave her uncle a big hug. She loves her new
bicycle, and she loves her uncle.
Questions:
1. What color is the bicycle?
_____________________________________________
_________________________________________
2. Who was it a gift from?
_____________________________________________
_________________________________________
3. Where was it hidden?
_____________________________________________
_________________________________________
4. What did Emma do when she saw the bicycle?
_____________________________________________
_________________________________________
 At the Zoo
By William Makepeace Thackeray
First, I saw the white bear, then I saw the black;
Then I saw the camel with a hump upon his back;
Then I saw the grey wolf, with mutton in his maw;
Then I saw the wombat waddle in the straw;
2. What did the camel have upon his back?
_____________________________________________
_________________________________________
3. What did the wombat do in the straw?
_____________________________________________
_________________________________________

Then I saw the elephant a-waving of his trunk;

Then I saw the monkeys — mercy, how unpleasantly 4. Which is the last animal that was seen?
they smelt! _____________________________________________
_________________________________________

Questions:
1. What colors were the two bears?
_____________________________________________
_________________________________________
 Penny’s Pet Problem d. On the couch.
More than anything in the world, Penny wanted a pet. She
thought of asking for a puppy. She thought of asking for a kitten. She Why did Penny’s mom not think the pony could spend time on the
thought of asking for a hamster. Above all else, Penny knew she balcony?
wanted a pony. a. The pony might jump over the railing.
One morning, Penny dared to ask her mom for a pony. “You b. The pony might fall.
don’t see many ponies living in apartments,” Penny’s mom said. c. The pony might climb down the fire escape.
“Besides, a pony needs a place to sleep.” “I could share my bed with d. The pony might be afraid of heights.
him,” Penny said.
“I don’t think so,” Penny’s mom replied. “What if your pony
kicked off all the blankets. Besides, a pony needs a place to eat.” “He
could eat at the table with us,” Penny said. “I don’t think so,” Penny’s
mom replied. “What if your pony had poor table manners? Besides, a
pony needs a place to spend time outside.” “He could spend time on
our balcony,” Penny said. “I don’t think so,” Penny’s mom replied.
“We live on the fourth floor. What if your pony is afraid of heights?”
“So, I guess this means I can’t have a pony,” Penny said.
“It means we can’t keep a pony in our apartment,” Penny’s mom
replied. “But I know where we can visit some ponies.” “Really?”
Penny asked. “I know a farmer who
just bought two ponies. If we ask, I
bet he will even let you feed and
brush them. Do you know what
else?” “What?” Penny asked. “His
barn cat just had kittens. I’ve seen a
lot of cats living in apartments.”

Choose the correct answer.

What did Penny want more than
anything as a pet?
a. A puppy
b. A Lamborghini
c. A pony
d. A kitten

Where did Penny suggest a pony could sleep?

a. In the bathtub.
b. In Penny’s bed.
c. In the doghouse.
 A Cold Bear
Brrrr! It is getting cold.
Bear needs to get ready for winter.
First, he eats a lot.
Next, he finds a den.
Then, he fills the den with leaves, so he will stay warm.
Last, he eats even more!
Is Bear ready for winter?
Yes, he is. Winter is here!
2. What does Bear need to do?
___________________________________________
3. How does Bear get ready for winter?
___________________________________________
4. What do you think a den is? How could you find out?
___________________________________________
5. Share your opinion! Do you like winter? Why?
___________________________________________

Questions:
1. Who is the character?
___________________________________________
 Here is a Nest 1. What is the nest made of?
_____________________________________________
“Look, Ned, here is a nest! The hen made it from _________________________________________
hay.”
“Can you see her chicks, Mary?” her brother 2. How many chicks are in the nest?
asked. _____________________________________________
The hen flapped her wings and clucked at them. _________________________________________
But she moved to one side so Ned and Mary could see
her babies. 3. What will the children do for the little chicks?
“Six of them!” Mary said. “They’re so cute.” _____________________________________________
“Little yellow chicks!” Ned said. “I want to touch _________________________________________
one.”
The hen clucked loudly. “She’s saying “no” and 4. Why won’t the hen let Ned play with the chicks?
protecting them,” Mary said. _____________________________________________
“I want to pick one up,” Ned said. The hen _________________________________________
clucked twice, even louder.
“She doesn’t want you to touch them,” Mary said.
“I want to play with them,” Ned
said. The hen clucked three times,
very loudly.
“She is getting mad at you,
Ned! She wants to keep her
chicks safe,” Mary said.
“OK,” Ned said. “I will run
and get some food and water for
them. Then we can help the hen
look after her babies.”

Questions:
 Hide and Seek
2. Where was Roy hiding?
“Come boys, what shall we do? Let’s play hide _____________________________________________
and seek,” suggested Fred. _________________________________________
“Oh yes! That will be fun for all of us. Who will
shut his eyes? Fred, will you shut your eyes?” asked 3. What is Frank wearing that others can see?
Roy. _____________________________________________
“Yes, I’ll shut my eyes while you all go and hide,” _________________________________________
replied Fred. Then Fred stood by the tree and shut his
eyes, and the other boys ran off to hide. Pretty soon Fred 4. How many boys are playing the game all together?
shouted, “Boys, are you all hidden? Well, here I go. _____________________________________________
One, two, three, here I come!” _________________________________________
Fred started to look for the hidden boys. He
spotted Andrew hiding in a box. “Ha! I found you,
Andrew. You are in that box!” shouted Fred.
Then Fred said to Roy, “I found you, Roy. You
are under the sofa.”
Fred could not find Frank. Fred kept looking and
then saw Frank behind the curtain. “Oh there he is! I
found you, Frank. Come out from behind the curtain. I
see your black shoes!”
shouted Fred.
Now it was
Andrew’s turn to stand by
the door and shut his eyes
while the other boys hid.

Questions:
1. Who is the first person to close his eyes and seek?
_____________________________________________
_________________________________________
 Little by Little
When Charley awoke one morning, he looked 2. What does mother tell Charley to help him feel better?
from the window and saw the ground deeply covered ___________________________________________
with snow. On the side of the house nearest the kitchen,
the snow was piled higher than Charley’s head. 3. What does father give Charley for his hard work?
“We need a path through this snow,” said his ___________________________________________
father. “I would make one if I had time, but I must be at
the office early this morning. Do you think you could 4. What does Charley learn by shoveling the snow?
make the path, son?” he asked little Charley. ___________________________________________
“Me? The snow is higher than my head! How
could I ever make a path through that snow?”
“How? By doing it little by little. How about you
try?” requested his father as he left for his office.
So Charley got the snow shovel and set to work.
He threw up first one shovelful and then another; but it
was slow work. “I don’t think I can do it, mom,” he said.
“A shovelful is so little, and there is such a large heap of
snow.”
“Little by little, Charley,” repeated his mother.
“That snow fell in tiny bits, flake by flake, but you see
what a great pile it has made.” “Yes, mom, I see,” said
Charley. “If I throw it away little by little, it will soon be
gone.” So he worked on.
When his father came home to dinner, he was
pleased to see the fine path. The next day he gave little
Charley a fine blue sled. Painted on the sled in yellow
letters was “Little by Little”.

Questions:
1. Why does father ask Charley to make the path?
___________________________________________
 Moving On The Boones traveled across Pennsylvania. On and
Several years went by, and the father of the Boone on they went toward the new country. At last the family
family called them together. “Pack your things,” he told came to the rolling, green Yadkin Valley in North
them. “We are leaving here. Boones never stay long in Carolina. There were a few houses there already, but it
one place. Besides, our farm land is worn out. We can was much wilder than in
buy rich land cheap to the Southwest of here. We will Pennsylvania. Father said,
settle there.” “This is good farming land.
Sixteen-year-old Daniel was happy. “I'm glad we We will stop here.”
are going,” he said. “I feel crowded here. There are too Daniel looked all
many houses and too many people.” about him. There was level
Father prepared for the journey. He took out the land close by. There were
big wagon and hitched two horses to it. Mother packed woods not far away. There
clothes, quilts, dishes, pots, pans and kettles. She would were mountains in the
fix food for the family along the way. Daniel tied a cow West. Daniel knew the
behind the wagon. hunting would be good. “I like this place,” he said.
The family said goodbye to the neighbors and to “There's plenty of room here.”
their old home and started on their way. Mother, the Father and the boys jumped off the horses. Mother
and the girls climbed down from the wagon. They fed
the horses and the cow. They made a campfire. Father
and the boys cut down trees and started to build a log
house. Soon the Boones had a
new home in the new land.
The years went by. Daniel
grew taller. His shoulders
became wider. He was fair-
haired, blue-eyed, lean and
rugged. He hunted in the woods
girls, and the little children rode in the wagon. Father of the Yadkin Valley. The
and the boys rode the horses. Sometimes all of them Boones' neighbors said that
walked to give the horses a rest.
Daniel was the best shot for miles around. Daniel Boone
had grown into a man.

Questions:
1. How old was Daniel Boone when they moved?
______________________________________________

2. Why did the family need to move?

______________________________________________

3. Why didn’t they always ride the horses?

______________________________________________

4. In which state does the family Boone make their new

home?
______________________________________________
 The Coat 3. What happened when Joe went out without a coat?
“I think you should put on your warm coat, Joe,” ______________________________________________
Mom said. “It is very cold, and there is so much snow on the
ground. You might catch a cold and get sick.” “I’m nice and 4. Why did Joe decide he wanted for Christmas?
warm. I don’t need to wear a coat,” Joe said. ______________________________________________
“I think you do. In here, we have a big fire burning.
Outside, there is a cold wind blowing. Without a coat, you’ll
be very cold.”
Joe thought he knew best, so he went outside without
a coat. The next day, he woke up and sneezed. Then he
coughed. He did not feel well. He had a cold. He had to stay
in bed.
Joe’s friends were playing hockey on the frozen pond,
but Joe was too sick to go. In his warm bed, Joe thought
about how much fun he was missing.
Joe’s mom brought him some soup to make him feel
better. She wanted to cheer him
up, so she asked what he wanted
for Christmas.
Joe said he wanted a scarf,
gloves and a warm hat so he
would not catch any more colds!

Questions:

1. What was the weather like

outside?
______________________________________________

2. Why doesn’t Joe think he needs a coat?

______________________________________________
 Turnip Teamwork
One bright, sunny morning, Old Ben decided to plant
his garden. He hoed the rows and planted the seeds. The last
things he planted were his turnips. He hoped to have a large
crop come harvest time.
As the spring turned into summer, Old Ben harvested
his tomatoes. He had a lot of them, so he ate a few and
canned a few. He made sauce out of the rest.
Next, Old Ben harvested his beans. He had a lot of
them, so he ate a few and canned a few. He saved some to
plant the following year.
Old Ben kept harvesting all through the summer.
When autumn came, it was time to harvest the rest of the
vegetables. Old Ben harvested the last of the tomatoes. Old
Ben harvested the last of the beans. Old Ben harvested his
pumpkins. Old Ben harvested his potatoes.
It was now time
for Old Ben to harvest
his turnips. He grabbed
a turnip by the leaves
and pulled.
Old Ben grunted
with effort. The turnip
wouldn’t come out of
the ground. Old Ben
called for his wife.
Together, they grabbed the turnip by the leaves and pulled.
Old Ben’s wife wiped the sweat from her forehead. The
turnip wouldn’t come out of the ground.
Old Ben’s wife called the dog. Together, they grabbed
the turnip by the leaves and pulled. The dog bit down as
hard as he could. The turnip wouldn’t come out of the
ground. Old Ben’s dog called the cat. Together, they
grabbed the turnip by the leaves and pulled. The cat dug its
claws into the ground. The turnip wouldn’t come out of the
ground.
Old Ben’s cat called the mouse. Together, they
grabbed the turnip by the leaves and pulled. They pulled and
pulled and pulled.
Old Ben grunted with effort. Old Ben’s wife groaned.
The dog growled. The cat
hissed. The mouse squeaked.
They were making a lot of noise,
but the turnip would not come
out of the ground.
Old Ben let go of the
turnip and turned to the others.
“Let’s try one more time. I will
count to three, and we will all
pull as hard as we can at the
same time.” Old Ben’s wife
nodded. The dog and cat
nodded. The mouse nodded.
“One, Two, Three.” Suddenly the air was filled with
grunts, groans, growls, hisses and squeaks. And then they
heard a loud pop as the turnip came out of the ground! Old
Ben, his wife, the dog, the cat, and the mouse all tumbled
head over heels onto the ground.
Old Ben held up the turnip with a smile. “We did it,”
he said. “We did it together.”
Questions:
1. What did Old Ben do with his tomatoes?
 a. Old Ben ate a few and canned a few. He made sauce
from the rest.
b. Old Ben placed the tomatoes in his bird feeder.
c. Old Ben played baseball with the tomatoes.
d. Old Ben tossed the tomatoes in the creek.

2. Who came to help Old Ben first?

a. The dog came to help Old Ben first.
b. The cat came to help Old Ben first.
c. The mouse came to help Old Ben first.
d. Ben’s wife came to help Old Ben first.

3. How did they get the turnip out of the ground?