Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Henshaw
Beverly Cleary
Section 1 Pages 1-33
PROMPT: Write a list of ten questions that you would ask Beverly Cleary.
GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Think about the fact that Mr. Henshaw wrote to Leigh as well as his answers to Leighs questions.
What kind of person do you think Mr. Henshaw is? Why?
2. Does Leigh seem like hes a happy boy? Why or why not? Use examples from the story to support
your answer.
3. What did Leigh mean when he said he was medium in his December 1 letter (in the answer to
question #10)? HINT: He was NOT talking about his size.
PROMPT: Pretend that you are Mr. Henshaw and Leigh has just written you about the problems hes having
in school and with his father. Write him a letter and give him advice about how to handle his problems.
GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Leigh said that he felt blank like the paper in his diary. What did he mean by that? Have you
ever felt that way? When?
2. What do you think of Leighs father? Do you think hes a good father? Why or why not? Use
examples to support your answer.
3. How is Leighs life similar to the bears lives in Mr. Henshaws new book? How is it different?
PROMPT: Leighs mother said Leighs father had many good qualities or traits. Based on what you know
about him from the story, make a list of at least 5 good qualities and 5 bad qualities that Leighs father
has.
GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Does Leigh have a right to be mad at both of his parents? Why or why not? If you were in Leighs
place, how would you feel towards your parents? Explain.
2. Why do you think seeing the butterflies make Leigh feel good?
3. Why did it make Leigh angry that his father sent him $20 with the note about Bandit? If you were
in Leighs place, how would it have made you feel? Why?
PROMPT: Write a letter to Beverly Cleary. Tell her all about yourself and what you thought of her book.
BE HONEST.
GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What did Leigh mean when he said maybe Im not so medium after all?
2. Leigh said that he learned that he couldnt count on his father. How does that make you feel? How
would you feel if you couldnt count on your parents?
3. Why do you think Leigh continued to write to Mr. Henshaw even though hed never actually met him?
Why do you think Mr. Henshaw answered Leighs letters? Do you think Leigh and Mr. Henshaw will
ever actually meet each other? Why or why not?
Section 1
What I want to know:
Prediction:
Section 2
What I want to know:
Prediction:
Section 3
What I want to know:
Prediction:
Section 4
What I want to know:
Prediction:
NAME ____________________________
SECTION 1
REMEMBER TO WRITE THE PAGE NUMBER WHERE YOU FOUND THE ANSWER.
1. Who is Mr. Henshaw? Why is Leigh writing to him?
3. What did Mr. Henshaw suggest Leigh should do after Leighs third letter about Ways to
Amuse a Dog?
5. What made Leigh angry about the letter he received from Mr. Henshaw?
6. Why did Leigh and his mother get into an argument? What did she make Leigh do?
7. What does Leigh say is the reason that his parents got divorced?
9. Leigh said there were many things that bothered him. What were THREE things he listed?
10. Why does Leigh say that hell call his own book The Great Lunchbag Mystery?
NAME ______________________
Vocabulary Word
Pg
duplicated (duplicate)
11
(Verb)
mobile
14
16
16
antique (Adjective)
22
cautious
25
lonesome
partition
32
33
I think it means
Section 1
NAME_____________________________ #__________
DATE__________________
NAME ____________________________
SECTION 2
REMEMBER TO WRITE THE PAGE NUMBER WHERE YOU FOUND THE ANSWER.
1. What was the nice thing that happened to Leigh in December?
2. What advice did Mr. Henshaw give to Leigh about writing in his diary?
3. What idea does Leigh come up with to keep someone from stealing food from his lunchbag?
4. Who came to the door on Christmas Eve? What did the person bring?
5. Why did Leigh say that Monday, January 8 was a great day?
7. What was one of the tips that Mr. Henshaw gave Leigh about being a writer?
10. Why was Leigh upset with his father? What did his mother tell him to make him feel
better?
Pg
halyard
34
fastened (fasten)
34
nuisance
36
grateful
37
foil (Verb)
40
relieved (relieve)
57
scowling (scowl)
62
wrath
64
I think it means
Section 2
NAME_____________________________ #__________
DATE__________________
NAME ____________________________
REMEMBER TO WRITE THE PAGE NUMBER WHERE YOU FOUND THE ANSWER.
1. What surprised Leigh when he called his fathers trailer?
4. According to Leighs mother, why did she and Leighs father get divorced?
6. What was in the letter from Leighs father? How did Leigh feel about it?
7. What did Mr. Henshaw tell Leigh about Leighs wax man story?
10. Why did Leighs mother come running into his room?
SECTION 3
NAME _____________________
Vocabulary Word
Pg
tournament
67
mildew
68
stranded (strand)
71
(Verb)
reception
72
rig (Verb)
85
villains (villain)
89
racket
98
muffle
98
Section 3
NAME_____________________________ #__________
DATE__________________
13. What did Mr. Frindley tell Leigh after Leigh complained that he had no friends in the school?
A. Nobody wants to be friends with someone who scowls all the time.
B. Leigh isnt the only person who has problems.
C. Lots of people have jerks for fathers.
D. Both A & B
14. What did Leigh realize about the sticks on the branches of the trees in the butterfly grove?
A. They were actually butterflies.
B. They were dead.
C. They had leaves growing at the tips of the sticks.
D. None of the above.
15. What was in the letter that Leigh received from his father?
A. A $20 bill and a note from his father on a paper napkin
B. A check for $25 and a letter from his father about Bandit
C. A $10 bill and a picture of his father and Bandit
D. A birthday card
16. What was Leighs story for the Young Writers Yearbook about?
A. A butterfly that moves to a new city and has adventures
B. A boy who catches a thief stealing lunches
C. A wax man who drives a truck cross-country
D. None of the above
17. Why did Leigh check out books about electricity?
A. He wanted to do an extra credit project in Science class.
B. He wanted to build a burglar alarm for his room.
C. He wanted to fix the lamp in the living room for his mother.
D. He wanted to build a burglar alarm for his lunchbox.
18. What did Leigh buy with the money his father sent him?
A. Materials to make an alarm for his lunchbox
B. A lock for his lunchbox
C. A puppy to replace Bandit
D. A present for his mothers birthday
NAME ____________________________
SECTION 4
REMEMBER TO WRITE THE PAGE NUMBER WHERE YOU FOUND THE ANSWER.
1. What big problem did Leigh have at lunchtime?
5. What did Leighs father ask that surprised Leigh when he called?
6. What did Leigh write about for the Young Writers Yearbook?
7. What award/place did Leigh win in the Young Writers Yearbook contest?
10. What surprise was waiting for Leigh when he and Barry got back from the butterfly grove?
Pg
dash
99
startled (startle)
101
prowls (prowl)
101
fad
103
prose
107
mysterious
113
splendid
119
imitate
119
I think it means
Section 4
NAME_____________________________ #__________
DATE__________________