characters
Who finds the bookshelf messy and decides to investigate?
Sumiko
What problem does Sumiko discover at the start of the story?
Books missing/messy shelf
What is the main conflict in the story?
Person taking/moving Sumiko’s books
One theme is about taking things without asking. True or False?
True
Name Sumiko’s little brother who borrows her things.
Tosh
What method does Sumiko use to try to collect fingerprints from the shelf?
She uses tape for fingerprints
Why does Sumiko hesitate to accuse Toshi at first?
Because Toshi is only four and can’t read yet
What idea about sharing or honesty does this story teach?
Respect others’ belongings and ask before borrowing
Which family member does Sumiko first suspect of taking her books?
Tomoko
What trick (trap) does Sumiko set to catch the person taking her books?
Sprinkles green glitter on books
How does Toshi’s behavior cause a problem between him and Sumiko?
He borrows without asking and misplaces books
How does the story show that communication can solve problems?
Shows talking/asking helps solve misunderstandings
Who is Bandit and what role does he play in the story?
Bandit is the cat who knocks things down and is suspected of helping
How does Sumiko find evidence that connects the books to someone?
Finds glitter trail to Tomoko’s room and sees glitter on Toshi later
What new problem does Sumiko have after she discovers who moved her books?
The messy glitter to clean up
Identify a lesson about responsibility that Sumiko or Toshi learns.
Responsibility for one’s actions and sharing
Describe how Tomoko reacts when Sumiko accuses her of taking books.
Tomoko denies taking books and tells Sumiko to get out
Summarize the main events of the story in three sentences.
Sumiko notices books missing, investigates with tape and glitter, finds glitter on Toshi, realizes he borrowed books to read, they decide to read together and must clean up glitter.
Explain how the conflict is resolved and what both siblings learn.
Toshi admits he borrowed books because he wanted to read; Sumiko offers to read with him — problem solved, lesson learned.
Describe the story’s theme in one sentence and give one text detail that supports it.
The story teaches honesty and sharing — shown when Toshi admits he borrowed books and Sumiko offers to read with him.