Capo Creations, Box 1411, Haileybury, Ontario, CANADA. POJ 1KO Not to be used or copied in any manner without specific written consent of the publisher All Rights Reserved

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1. Describe the setting in the first chapter.
2. Why did one of the grandmothers stand apart from the other elephants?
3. Why did the elephants form a circle?
4. Why did the matriarch lead the herd west?
5. How were the mother and her calf separated from the rest of the herd?
6. What did the men do to immobilize the young calf?

Enrichment: Research the role of the matriarch in an elephant herd.

Chapter 2

1. Why did the captors decide on the name Bold One for the young calf?
2. What was the most "luscious-tasting" fruit in Africa?
3. What inhumane method did the men employ to get the calf to move into the box?
4. How were Asian elephants different from African elephants?
5. Where were they shipping the animals?
6. Present evidence that Mr. Bartlett was a kind man?
7. What is the origin of the name Jumbo--according to the novel and according to the dictionary.

Chapter 3

1. Who was Scotty?
2. How were Scotty's training methods different from most animal trainers of the day?
3. Who was Turner?
4. What does the author mean when she says that the flowers and plants intoxicated Jumbo?
5. Give evidence that Turner is not a man to be trusted.

Enrichment: Find out through research what is involved in the care of elephants in a modern zoo.

Chapter 4

1. What evidence is there that Jumbo is recovering?
2. Why were the keepers disappointed at the first meeting between Alice and Jumbo?
3. What was the main difference between Jumbo and Alice according to Scotty?
4. Who is Molly Tolliver?
5. Why would Mr. Bartlett like to hire her?
6. Why might Tod not have wanted to tell Scotty about his aspirations to become a clown?

Enrichment: Zoos are sometimes referred to as stationary arks. What is meant by this term?

Chapter 6

1. Why was Jumbo not allowed to go outside his room the rest of the day?
2. What is Tod's ambition when Scotty grows too old to take care of Jumbo?
3. How did Scotty plan to use Tod?
4. How did Scotty and Obaysch feel towards one another?
5. Why did Mr. Bartlett want Scotty to yell at Obaysch?

Chapter 7

1. What surprised Mr. Bartlett about Jumbo?
2. According to the newspapers, what did Queen Victoria announce?
3. Why did Scotty buy Tod needed some new knickers and shirts?
4. What contribution did Molly feel her husband had made?
5. What plan does Molly have for Tod and how does he react to this plan?
6. How do we know that Molly and Tod are very poor?
7. Why did Tod cry himself to sleep?
8. What had happened to Alice?

1. Why was Tod unable to talk to Scotty or Mr. Bartlett alone?
2. Where did he sleep that evening?
3. Who was Aunt Stubbs?
4. From what disease do you think Tod's mother is suffering?
5. Who is the young friend that Tod meets at the workhouse?
6. What does the young boy reveal to Tod?
7. How does Tod thank Aunt Stubbs?

Enrichment: Find out what a workhouse is in Victorian England. How was life different in that era for young people whose parents could not find work? How were criminals treated in those days?

Chapter 9

1. What did Aunt Stubbs give Tod to keep him warm?
2. What is consumption and why was it the plague of the poor?
3. What were Jumbo's latest measurements?
4. Why was Jumbo sick?
5. To whom was Jumbo sold and how did Tod feel about this sale?

Enrichment: Check out the modern London Times newspaper as well as the Daily Telegraph at their websites.

Chapter 10

1. How did "Elephant Bill" Newman decide to get Jumbo to the ship?
2. Why was Mr. Newman upset when Jumbo knelt and rolled onto his side?
3. How did P.T. Barnum react when he heard that Jumbo was lying down in the middle of the street?
4. Why did Barnum decide to hire Scotty?
5. Why did Tod become the reader of newspapers for his fellow cleaners and sweepers?
6. What plan did Tod devise?

Enrichment: Research P.T. Barnum and The Greatest Show on Earth.

Chapter 11

1. How many visitors arrived at the zoo the day before Jumbo's departure?
2. Why was it necessary for Tod to pretend that he was sad?
3. Find the Thames River in an atlas.
4. Why did Tod feel that Aunt Stubbs' deafness was a blessing?

Chapter 12

1. How was Tod awakened in the morning?
2. What did Tod see when he peeked through the slit?
3. When did Tod finally go on deck?
4. Who approached the ship by tug just as it arrived in New York?
5. What good news did Tod receive at the end of the chapter?

Chapter 13

1. What advice did Scotty give Tod about being a stowaway?
2. Who were Gipsy and Chief?
3. What is meant by the term "secret cues"?
4. What good news did the man with the sad face and floppy shoes give to Tod?
5. Why did Tod keep writing and writing to his mother?

Chapter 14

1. What woke Tod in the morning?
2. What memories were brought back to Tod by the sights and sounds of the circus?
3. Who was shot out of a cannon?
4. Describe Tom Thumb?

Chapter 15

1. Who was Mr. Fosset?
2. Where would the circus be travelling?
3. What warning did Mr. Barnum give to the public about seeing Jumbo?
4. Describe the letter sent to Tod from Mr. Bartlett.

Chapter 16

1. Why was Tod worried about his mother?
2. Describe the calliope.
3. Would you describe Tod as an optimist or a pessimist?
4. How did Tod plan on bringing his mother to the United States?
5. Describe the letter written by Tod's mother.
6. What good news does Tod hear in the letter from Aunt Stubbs?

1. How old was Tod?
2. What wonderful news did Tod hear from his mother?
3. What happened to Arto?
4. What showname did Tod decide to use when he performed for the first time as a clown?

Chapter 18

1. Describe the tragic accident at the first of the chapter.
2. What happened to Tom Thumb?
3. Why was it necessary for the train to leave on time despite the accident?
4. Why was Tod happy when he thought of New York City?

Created by:
Brian Thornton, Capo Creations, Box 1411, Haileybury, Ontario, CANADA POJ 1KO

Not to be used or copied in any manner without specific written consent of the publisher All Rights Reserved