Mr. Popper's Penguins

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Chapters 1-4

Reading Check

1. What does Mr. Popper do for an occupation?  

2. What does Mr. Popper receive in the mail from Admiral Drake?

3. Where does Mr. Popper allow Captain Cook to live in his house?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How do Mr. Popper’s aspirations contribute to his interests and pastime?

2. What are the differences between Mr. Popper and Mrs. Popper’s interests? What personality traits may contribute to these differences?

3. Analyze Mrs. Popper’s changing attitude towards Captain Cook. How does her perception of the penguin shift from her initial encounter with the bird?

Paired Resource

“The Dangerous Race for the South Pole”

• This 5-minute video describes the race to discover the South Pole.
• The information in the video connects to the theme of Mankind and the Natural World.
• Which two nations raced to reach the South Pole? Why might the explorer’s stories be inspiring to Mr. Popper?

Chapters 5-8

Reading Check

1. What does the serviceman mistake Captain Cook for?

2. What is Captain Cook making in the icebox?

3. Who calls Captain Cook an anteater?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How do the Poppers adapt to having an unusual pet in their home? What tools do they use to make Captain Cook feel comfortable?  

2. Why does Mr. Popper feel conflicted about paying the serviceman to alter the refrigerator for Captain Cook?

3. What misunderstandings occur because of Captain Cook’s presence within the community?

Paired Resource

Penguins

• This 5-minute video describes the different varieties of penguins and their rookeries.
• Information in these sources connects to the themes of The Primacy of Family Relationships and Mankind and the Natural World.
• Where can penguins be found? How do a penguin’s feathers help it to survive? What do penguins eat? Why is Captain Cook likely building a rookery?

Chapters 9-12

Reading Check

1. From what location is Captain Cook removed after dipping his beak toward a gentleman’s face?

2. To whom does Mr. Popper write when Captain Cook becomes lethargic?

3. What is the name of Captain Cook’s new companion?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How does Captain Cook’s behavior and mood change? What do the changes reveal about his well-being?

2. How might the community surrounding Mr. Popper be described? What do their actions toward Captain Cook when Captain Cook is unwell reveal about their feelings for the Poppers?

3. What new problems arise when Captain Cook is given a companion?

Paired Resource

Penguin Reproduction

• This article describes the lifecycle of penguins including their nesting habits.
• Shared themes include The Primacy of Family Relationships.
• What is the role of male and female penguins in caring for their young? How important is companionship to Captain Cook?

Chapters 13-16

Reading Check

1. What is Mrs. Popper’s role in the performance of the penguins?

2. To whom  does Mr. Popper take the penguins to meet?

3. What does the manager order for the penguins after their performance?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What is Mr. Popper’s solution to the financial difficulties he and Mrs. Popper find themselves in? What does it reveal about the personality of Mr. Popper?

2. What does Mr. Greenbaum like about the Poppers and their performance?

3. How do Mr. and Mrs. Popper view education? Do you agree with Mr. Popper’s assertions?

Paired Resource

“Untamed Science: Animal Training”

• This 5-minute video describes the purpose and methods of training various animals in a zoo environment.
• How do trainers succeed in achieving the desired behavior from animals? What purposes might trainers have in training animals in zoos or other environments? What is Mr. Popper’s purpose for training Captain Cook and his family?

Chapters 17-20

Reading Check

1. Who warns Mr. Popper of the danger the seals pose to the penguins?

2. Who visits Mr. Popper and his penguins in jail?

3. Where will the penguins live out the rest of their lives?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How has the popularity of the penguins inspired other businesses to invest in them?

2. What is Mr. Popper’s dilemma regarding Mr. Klein’s offer and Admiral Drake’s offer?

3. How is Mr. Popper able to fulfill his lifelong dream?

Recommended Next Reads 

My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

• This novel is about a 9-year-old boy who embarks on an adventure to save a baby dragon.
• Shared themes include Mankind and the Natural World.
• Shared topics include courage, exploration, and ingenuity.
• My Father’s Dragon on SuperSummary

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

• In this novel, a boy and a mouse who meet in a hotel bond over their shared love of motorcycles.
• Shared themes include Mankind and the Natural World and Practical Concerns Versus Otherworldly Concepts.
• Shared topics include friendship, adventure, and courage.
• The Mouse and the Motorcycle on SuperSummary