All Because of Jackson
E.S.P.
Happy Mouseday
Horse Pie
The Guard Dog
A Mouse Called Wolf
All Because of Jackson by Dick King-Smith
1. Explain how Jackson and Bunny came to have their names.
2. Find out and write down how/why you got the name your parents
gave you.
3. Lots of special vocabulary is used in this book that has to do with
ships. Read through the book again and make a “ships” word-web.
Add more words of your own if you like.
ships
4. Explain how the rabbits are fortunate enough NOT to be made into
rabbit pie.
5. Why were the rabbits such a problem for the Australian settlers?
E.S.P. by Dick King-Smith
1. What does the author mean when he says (pp12-13) “a
couple of benches had long forgotten the feel of a lick
of paint” ?
2. Why do you think Old Smelly lives as a tramp in the
park? Find a sentence in the book to support your
answer.
3. What interesting fact do we learn about Eric Stanley
Pigeon´s initials? Can you explain IN YOUR OWN
WORDS what they mean?
4. How would you describe the ending of the story? Is the
ending how you imagined it would be? Do you think Dick
King-Smith wrote a good ending for ESP?
Happy Mouseday by Dick King-Smith
Comprehension
1.
2.
3.
4.
Which things did Pete prepare in readiness for having a mouse?
What does the pet-shop man think a P.E.W. is?
Why does Pete prefer to have a doe?
Do you think Dave does a good job of distracting Pete´s mum?
Give a reason for your answer.
5. Explain why Pete was upset on Mouseday morning.
6. Do you think the story has a good ending?
Extra
Have you ever wished desperately for something that your parents would
not agree to? What arguments did you use to try to persuade them?
What arguments did they use to try to dissuade you? How did it turn
out?
Horse Pie by Dick King-Smith
1) Why are Captain, Ladybird and Herbert in the Old Horses´Home
even though they are not old?
2) What kind of welcome does Jenny receive when she arrives there?
3) On page sixteen, Alfie points out that just as the English eat beef,
lamb and pork, so the French also eat horsemeat. Do you know
which animals beef, lamb and pork come from? Can you think of
other types of meat and which animals they come from?
4) a) How do Alfie and Jenny plan to stop the rustlers?
b) What special task does Jenny have?
5) In this story we hear horses neighing and donkeys braying. Find
out and write down the sounds that the following animals make:
geese _______________
elephants ____________
sheep________________
dolphins______________
foxes_________________
The Guard Dog by Dick King-Smith
1. Describe the sixth dog in the window of the pet shop, giving as
much information as possible.
2. Do you know the meaning of the word pedigree? Use a
dictionary to help you.
3. Match the dogs with what they want to be when they grow up.
pug
springer-spaniel
poodle
labrador
old-English sheepdog
sheep-dog
guide-dog
lap-dog
show-dog
gun-dog
4. On page eighteen the author mentions some awful sounds.
Name three awful sounds you cannot bear and explain why they
are so terrible for you.
5. Give some reasons why the new owners become cross with the
guard-dog.
6. What sad thing does the terrier try to explain to the little
guard-dog?
7. What funny coincidence do we learn of right at the end of the
story?
A Mouse Called Wolf
1. For what reasons does Mother Mouse want to give her last-born a
special name?
2. Why is Wolfgang Amadeus secretly pleased that his brothers and
sisters shortened his name to just Wolf?
3. In what way are the mice fortunate that Mrs. Honeybee is the
owner of the house they live in?
4. In chapter six we learn that Mrs. Honeybee and Mrs. Mouse are
both “widows” – a word which means a woman whose husband has
died.
Find the defintions of these words:
bachelor
fiance
spinster
fiancee
betrothed
5. Mrs.Honeybee selects her tunes carefully. For example, when she
puts out the first chocolated drop she plays “Food”, when she wants
to make Wolf climb up the piano leg she plays “Climb Every
Mountain.” Explain why these other songs are appropriate:
“You´re the Top”
“Oh Dear What Can The Matter Be?”
6. Explain in your own words how Wolf manages to help Mrs.
Honeybee when she falls in her room.
7. What lovely surprise does Wolf have for Mrs.Honeybee when she
comes home from the hospital?