Penguins and People
What animal does Mr. Popper first find a letter about that changes his life?
penguin
Where does Mr. Popper work at the start of the story?
Mr. Popper works as a house painter/at home writing about decorating.
How does Mrs. Popper feel the first time she sees a penguin in the house? (happy, surprised, worried — choose one and explain)
All correct if explained with text evidence
What does the word "expedition" mean? Choose the best simple definition that matches the book.
Expedition= a trip or journey, usually for exploration.
In which town or kind of place do the Poppers live? (city, small town, or village)
Small town (or specific town name depending on edition).
What is the name of the first penguin that arrives at the Popper house?
Captain Cook or Captain
What surprising thing happens to the Popper family after the penguins arrive?
The family gains penguins and their daily life changes (more fish, noise, attention).
How does Mr. Popper feel when he first holds Captain Cook (or his first penguin)? Use one word and why.
Proud, amazed, delighted
Define captain
Captain= leader of a ship or head penguin name/title.
Where in the house do the penguins make a home at first? Name one spot.
The living room, cellar, or refrigerator
Who wrote to Mr. Popper offering help with the penguin situation?
Explorers or Admiral Drake
Describe one performance or show the penguins take part in during chapters 1–15.
They perform tricks on stage or in a local show; they march, dive, or balance
Why are the children excited about the penguins? Give one reason from the story.
Because penguins are funny, unusual, or they want to see them perform.
The book uses the word "voyage." What is a voyage? Give a short example from the story.
Voyage = a long trip, often by sea; in story: penguin travels with explorers.
Give one detail that shows the house changes after penguins arrive.
House filled with iceboxes/extra fish/bird-care items.
How does Mr. Popper get the penguins to feel comfortable in his house at first? Give one thing he does.
gave them fish, made a cold place, built a pen, talked to them kindly.
What trip do the Popper penguins take that is especially exciting for the family?
They travel or appear in a show in town; sometimes a trip to a theater or to a ship is described.
How do the penguins seem to feel about Mr. Popper by chapter 15? Give evidence from the text.
Affectionate and protective — they follow Mr. Popper and respond to him.
What does "audience" mean when the penguins perform?
Audience: the people watching a performance.
Describe how the weather or season affects any event in the chapters.
Examples: cold weather makes penguins comfortable; shipping weather affects travel.
Name two ways the townspeople react when they learn Mr. Popper has penguins.
surprise, curiosity, laughter, concern, offers to see the penguins.
Tell the sequence: (1) The penguin arrives, (2) __________________, (3) The penguins go onstage. Fill in one big event for the blank.
Any of these answers are acceptable: caring, playing in the snow/ice, training
How do the penguins seem to feel about Mr. Popper by chapter 15? Give evidence from the text.
Mrs. Popper or the children worried when penguins caused a mess or when a penguin was missing.
The book sometimes says the penguins are "proud." What does proud mean here?
Name one place the penguins visit outside the house and explain why it matters to the story.
Examples: theater, train station, or ship