dear mr henshaw book unit

Name _____________________________________ Date _________________

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

1

Comprehension, part 1

1. Why does Leigh write to Mr. Henshaw? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

2. Why isn�t he happy with Mr. Henshaw�s answers? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

3. Why doesn�t Leigh want to answer the questions Mr. Henshaw asked? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

4. Who is Leigh? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

5. What is Leigh�s family like? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

6. Where does Leigh live? ______________________________________________________________

7. How can you tell Leigh misses his father? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

8. What do people steal from Leigh�s lunch bags? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

9. Who noticed Leigh? What was this person like? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

10. Why doesn�t Leigh tell the teacher someone stole his lunch? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

11. How does Leigh feel about his parents� divorce? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

12. How did Leigh�s package arrive, and how did he like it? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

Name _____________________________________ Date _________________


2


13. What is Leigh�s fictitious name, and why did he choose it? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

14. How will Leigh protect his lunch this time? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

15. Why does Leigh want a father at home? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

16. How are bear families and Leigh�s family similar? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

17. Why does Leigh like Mr. Fridley so much? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

18. Why does Leigh�s father love the truck? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

19. Why is Leigh filled with wrath? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

20. What happened to Bandit, and how does Leigh feel? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

21. Why does Leigh feel sad when he hears voices in the background? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

22. Does Leigh�s mother help him to understand why his parents divorced? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

23. What does Leigh like to watch when things are bad? ______________________________________________________________

24. Why does Mr. Fridley think Leigh isn�t making friends? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

Name _____________________________________ Date _________________


3


25. What does Leigh say would make him feel better, and why? ______________________________________________________________

26. What will Leigh do with the $20 from Dad? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

27. What is Leigh�s story about, and what does he need help with? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

28. What made the alarm go off at school, and what did everyone think?______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

29. The battery helped Leigh make friends. How? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

30. What subject did Leigh use for the �Young Authors� book? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

31. What prize did Leigh win, and how does he feel? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

32. Why does Leigh get to meet Angela Badger? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

33. What did Mrs. Badger say about Leigh, his writing, and his future? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

34. What did Mrs. Badger tell Leigh about Mr. Henshaw? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

35. How did Mr. Henshaw help Leigh with his writing? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

36. Why did Leigh feel sad and happy at the same time when his father left? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

Name _____________________________________ Date _________________


4

Writing

1. How did Mr. Henshaw�s suggestion of writing in a diary help Leigh work through his confusing life?

________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 2. How was Mr. Fridley�s advice about people and friends helpful for Leigh? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ 3. Do you write in a diary? If not, would you think about starting one now? If you

have one, what do you write about? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________

Name _____________________________________ Date _________________


5

Answers

1. He liked his book Ways to Amuse a Dog2. Mr. Henshaw was goofing around 3. He doesn�t want to do extra work 4. He is a plain boy, the �mediumest� boy in the class 5. Divorced, with both parents working. He lives with mother 6. California 7. He wonders about him all the time 8. The good things Katy makes 9. Mr. Fridley, who is nice, and fair 10. New kids shouldn�t tattletale 11. He wants them back together 12. It arrived early, and he loved the coat 13. Joe Kelly, so people wouldn�t know it was his lunch 14. He will tape it shut 15. He could help build an alarm 16. Fathers leave after the baby is born 17. He always speaks to him 18. The truck makes him feel powerful 19. Nothing seems to go right for him 20. He is angry that his father lost Bandit 21. He thinks his father has a new family 22. She explained that she was tired of the road 23. The ocean waves 24. He is always frowning 25. He would be able to make an alarm and protect his lunch 26. Buy a typewriter 27. A ten-foot tall man who drives a truck. Leigh can�t come up with an ending 28. Leigh opened his lunchbox; they thought he was great 29. Everyone wanted to learn how to make an alarm 30. He wrote about a truck trip 31. He won Honorable Mention, but is disappointed 32. One of the other writers cheated 33. He wrote like a real boy instead of imitating someone else, giving him a future

as a writer 34. He was a nice young man with a twinkle in his eye 35. He told Leigh to write about something he was familiar with 36. His parents still love each other but they won�t remarry

Name Date


Author

# of pages

Main Characters

Setting (s)______________________________________________________________

Introduction - How does the book begin?

Point of View - From what point of view is this story told? How would the story be different if it were written from another point of view?

Organization of Text - How is the book organized? How does this organization help tell the story?

Character-Who is the main character, and how would you describe him? Include what you like and dislike about him.

Conflict - What is the major problem in the story?

Rising Action - How does Leigh begin to solve the conflict?

Climax - What is the turning point in the story?

Falling Action - How is the problem finally solved?

Resolution - How does the story end?

What did you like best about this story? What did you like least?

Would you recommend this book to others to read? Why or why not?

Dear Mr. Henshaw #1 : Analogies

lazy fictitious separate shakeanger

Complete the analogies.1. disconnect : break :: partition : _____________________

2. nag : complains :: bum : _____________________

3. dribble : spill :: quiver : _____________________

4. frank : honesty :: wrath : _____________________

5. aged : antique :: made-up : _____________________

6. walking : car :: stairs : _____________________

building feet airplane elevator

7. locomotive : train :: cab : _____________________

taxi van subway bicycle8. a sheltered body of water that opens to the sea : bay :: a small group of trees : _____________________

gondola fad mildew grove

9. gash : cut :: ulcer : _____________________

bandage sore potluck wheeze

10. fussy : cranky :: handy : _____________________

snoop cautious consoling useful

11. hearth : fireplace :: tavern : _____________________

chair inn store cave


grove fictitious lazy innshake

Complete the analogies.1. aged : antique :: made-up : _____________________


3. a sheltered body of water that opens to the sea : bay :: a small group of trees : _____________________



6. disconnect : break :: partition : _____________________

cover review separate connect


taxi bicycle subway van8. frank : honesty :: wrath : _____________________

laughter anger lies sadness


feet elevator building airplane


cautious consoling snoop useful

11. gash : cut :: ulcer : _____________________

potluck sore wheeze bandage


useful grove fictitious shakelazy

Complete the analogies.1. a sheltered body of water that opens to the sea : bay :: a small group of trees : _____________________

2. aged : antique :: made-up : _____________________





elevator airplane feet building


separate cover connect review8. gash : cut :: ulcer : _____________________

potluck wheeze bandage sore


bicycle taxi van subway


laughter sadness lies anger


store cave chair inn

Key # 11. disconnect : break :: partition : separate2. nag : complains :: bum : lazy

3. dribble : spill :: quiver : shake4. frank : honesty :: wrath : anger

5. aged : antique :: made-up : fictitious6. walking : car :: stairs : _____________________

building feet airplane elevator


taxi van subway bicycle

8. a sheltered body of water that opens to the sea : bay :: a small group of trees : _____________________

gondola fad mildew grove

9. gash : cut :: ulcer : _____________________

bandage sore potluck wheeze


snoop cautious consoling useful11. hearth : fireplace :: tavern : _____________________

chair inn store cave

Key # 21. aged : antique :: made-up : fictitious2. dribble : spill :: quiver : shake

3. a sheltered body of water that opens to the sea : bay :: a small group of trees : grove4. hearth : fireplace :: tavern : inn

5. nag : complains :: bum : lazy6. disconnect : break :: partition : _____________________

cover review separate connect


taxi bicycle subway van


laughter anger lies sadness


feet elevator building airplane


cautious consoling snoop useful11. gash : cut :: ulcer : _____________________

potluck sore wheeze bandage

Key # 31. a sheltered body of water that opens to the sea : bay :: a small group of trees : grove2. aged : antique :: made-up : fictitious

3. nag : complains :: bum : lazy4. fussy : cranky :: handy : useful

5. dribble : spill :: quiver : shake6. walking : car :: stairs : _____________________

elevator airplane feet building


separate cover connect review

8. gash : cut :: ulcer : _____________________

potluck wheeze bandage sore


bicycle taxi van subway


laughter sadness lies anger11. hearth : fireplace :: tavern : _____________________

store cave chair inn

Based on

Dear Mr. HenshawBy Beverly Cleary

About the Book:Leigh Botts is a new kid in the sixth grade at school. He lives with his mother but misses his father and dog, Bandit, terribly while they travel cross-country. Mr. Botts works as a truck driver, and Leigh is struggling with the recent divorce of his parents. He is angry with a mysterious thief who keeps stealing things from his lunch box at school. When Leigh’s teacher assigns a letter-writing project, naturally Leigh chooses to write to his all-time favorite author, Boyd Henshaw. After all, Leigh has loved his books ever since he was in second grade. Can Mr. Henshaw’s answer change Leigh’s life forever?

Set the Stage:Use the following to get the students ready to read:

Who is your favorite author? If you wrote a letter to him/her, what questions •would you ask?

Have you, or anyone you’ve known, ever been affected by divorce? Explain your answer with details.•

Moving to a new school is a scary experience for children of all ages. Have you ever had to move to a new •school? How did you feel while attending it on the first day? What things would you do in order to make a new student feel comfortable?

What do you know about writing letters? What are the important parts to include in letters? Do you enjoy •receiving letters (mail) or telephone calls? Which do you prefer? Why?

Has a classmate at school ever done something to bother you? What was done to you and how did you •resolve the problem?

Is there an adult, other than one of your parents, who you feel comfortable sharing your ideas and feelings •with? Who is this person? Explain your answer with details.

Review:After reading the book, discuss the following:

Why did Mr. Henshaw’s answers to Leigh’s questions for his project arrive late?•

How does Leigh feel about answering Mr. Henshaw’s questions? What would you do in the same situation?•

What occupations do Leigh’s mom and dad have?•

When Leigh’s mom makes him answer Mr. Henshaw’s questions, Leigh views it as a lot of work. What does •Leigh do in each letter to show that he is upset about this?

How does Leigh describe himself? How would you describe Leigh at the beginning of the story?•

How would you describe the economic status of Leigh and his mom? What clues from the story help explain •your answer?

What things bother Leigh?•

How does Leigh feel about writing after he finishes answering all of Mr. Henshaw’s questions?•

As Leigh progresses in school, what changes do you notice about his writing?•

Leigh wants to be an author when he grows up and clearly enjoys writing. What does Mr. Henshaw suggest in •order to help Leigh meet his goal?

What are two ways Leigh tries to solve the “lunch box” problem? Do either of these ways work? Explain your •answer with specific details from the story.

What are Leigh’s feelings about his dad? Explain your answer with details.•

pg. 1 of 2

Why does Leigh write in his diary instead of sending all of his writings to •Mr. Henshaw?

Who is Mr. Fridley? Describe Leigh’s relationship with him.•

What happened to Bandit?•

How does Leigh decide to use the $20 that his dad sends him?•

Leigh’s lunchbox alarm helps him socially. How does his invention help •him socially?

Where is Leigh’s “special place”? Why does it make him feel so good?•

How does Leigh end up placing in the Young Authors’ Contest? •

Leigh gets the privilege of eating lunch with Angela Badger. What words of •encouragement does she give to Leigh?

At the end of the story, Leigh’s dad finally visits. What surprise does Leigh’s •dad bring with him?

How do you think Leigh feels about his parents’ divorce at the end of the •story? Compare these feelings with those he felt at the beginning.

Student Activity (found on the last pages of this PDF):Students will conduct a character comparison.

Related Activities:To extend students’ enjoyment of the book, try these:

Author Activity:• Ask students who their favorite author is. Have them choose one and compile a list of questions that they would like to ask him/her. Help students to find an address for the author. Following the format of a friendly letter, ask students to compose a letter to this special author, including their questions. You or a parent can mail the letter to the author. Ask children to share authors’ responses with the class.

Dear Diary:• One of the greatest ways in which Leigh improves his writing is by keeping a diary. Diaries are kept in order to express personal emotions, thoughts, and events. Using a diary or spiral notebook, have students keep a diary for at least two weeks. Tell them to include the personal events in their life (as they won’t be shared with others). After recording many things for this period of time, ask students to write a separate journal entry describing their feelings about this activity.

Doggie Danger:• Leigh allows his dog Bandit to travel cross-country with his dad. But when his dad is careless regarding Bandit’s activities, Bandit goes missing. Ask students: Do you have a pet? What kind of pet do you have and what is its name? What things do you do each day to make certain that your pet is well attended to? If you don’t have a pet, what kind would you like to have? How would you take care of it? Have students draw a picture of their pet, or the one they’d like to have. Then, have them make a list of the things they feel are or would be important when caring for it.

Dealing with Divorce:• Like many children his age, Leigh is struggling to understand and accept his parents’ divorce. He has mixed feelings regarding the effect the divorce has had on him, his mom, and his dad. Ask students: If you could write a letter to Leigh about divorce, what would you say? On a piece of notebook paper, have students pretend they are Mr. Henshaw responding to one of Leigh’s journal entries. What would they say to him? Could they comfort him and make him feel better? Then have them write a letter to Leigh telling him their feelings about divorce and their experiences with the issue.

Dear Mr. Henshaw• Isn’t Just About Writing!: Although it is apparent that the author, Beverly Cleary, wants the readers to understand and embrace the importance of writing, much dedication in the book is given to the concepts of growth, responsibilities, and divorce. Have students create a timeline of the important events in the story that show Leigh’s growth and stages of maturity. Then have them use the dates of his journal entries to record when each event took place.

pg. 2 of 2

© 2010 Scholastic Inc. 8476

Name

Character Comparison Based on Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

Beverly Cleary provides readers the opportunity to get to know the characters in the story intimately. Their good traits are shown, as well as their bad ones. This leaves readers with mixed emotions about them, and opinions change regularly about each person.

Directions: Think about the characters in Dear Mr. Henshaw. What things make them endearing? What things are not their best qualities? Complete the chart below with the physical description of Leigh and occupations of Bonnie and Bill Botts and Mr. Henshaw. The positive and negative traits for all characters should be based on opinions.

Leigh Botts

Physical Description: ___________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Positive Traits: _________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Negative Traits: _______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bonnie Botts

Occupation: __________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Positive Traits: _________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Negative Traits: _______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bill Botts

Occupation: __________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Positive Traits: _________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Negative Traits: _______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

© 2010 Scholastic Inc. 8476Permission to reproduce this curriculum connection is fully granted by Scholastic Book Fairs.

Mr. Boyd Henshaw

Occupation: __________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Positive Traits: _________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Negative Traits: _______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

dear mr henshaw book unit

Education

leigh feel

leigh s father

leigh s package

leigh s fictitious

leigh s mother

leigh s story

leigh isn t

doesn t leigh