Dear Mr. Henshaw Reading Comprehension Questions
by Sarah Scherling
Book Summary
A young boy named Leigh Botts copes with his parents' divorce, a lunch thief at school, and his own feelings of loneliness by writing letters to his favorite author, Boyd Henshaw. Through this correspondence and keeping a diary, Leigh discovers his own talent for writing and learns to accept his father's flaws.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Use these 8 questions to check understanding and spark deeper thinking about Dear Mr. Henshaw.
1.Who is Leigh Botts writing letters to at the beginning of the book?
2.What problem does Leigh face at school that makes him build an alarm?
3.What is a 'custodian' like Mr. Fridley?
4.When Angela Badger praises Leigh's 'prose', what does she mean?
5.Why does Leigh's mother insist that he answer Mr. Henshaw's list of questions?
6.How does Leigh's story for the Young Writers' Yearbook show his personal growth?
7.Why does Leigh decide to leave Bandit the dog with his father at the end of the book?
8.What happens when Leigh's lunchbox alarm goes off in the cafeteria?
Key Vocabulary
Important words from Dear Mr. Henshaw to discuss with your child.
Discussion Prompts
Great conversation starters for parents and teachers reading Dear Mr. Henshaw with children.
What was your favorite part of Dear Mr. Henshaw? Why did it stand out to you?
If you could talk to any character from Dear Mr. Henshaw, who would you choose and what would you ask them?
How did Dear Mr. Henshaw make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?
Would you recommend Dear Mr. Henshaw to a friend? What would you tell them about it?
What lesson or message do you think Sarah Scherling wanted young readers to learn from this story?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What reading level is Dear Mr. Henshaw?
Dear Mr. Henshaw by Sarah Scherling is recommended for grades K-1 readers with an AR level of 4.9. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.
What are good comprehension questions for Dear Mr. Henshaw?
ReadBuddy provides 8 carefully crafted comprehension questions for Dear Mr. Henshaw, covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.
How can I use Dear Mr. Henshaw for reading practice?
Read the book together or independently, then use ReadBuddy's comprehension questions to check understanding. Focus on vocabulary words, discuss character motivations, and encourage your child to make connections to their own experiences.
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