Name ______________________________ The Talent Show By Susan Wojciechowski Illustrated by Laura Ovresat Prediction ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Author’s Purpose inform persuade entertain

The Talent Show Focus Skills: To use prefixes and suffixes to determine or clarify word meaning To read and understand a realistic fiction story To read and understand a mystery To use abbreviations correctly when writing Genre Realistic Fiction- tells about characters and events that are like people and events in real life Summary Beany is anxious about the upcoming talent show. After a talk with her father, Beany realizes the most important thing is to have fun. Reading Strategy Create Mental Images Creating mental images will help students understand what they read better. Good readers use details in the story to picture the events that occur and to better understand the story characters.

Why doesn’t Beany complain about the props Carol Ann chooses? What is Carol Ann like? Page 308 Supporting details Why doesn’t Beany complain about the props Carol Ann chooses?

Why does Carol Anne only tell about things Beany might do wrong? Page 310 Why does Beany worry something might go wrong? Page 312 How does Beany’s family feel about her part in the show? Beany’s mom suggests she does… Page 314 Why does Beany’s dad show her the stars? Is Beany enjoying the night sky? Why do you think this way?

Why does Beany tell Carol Ann she doesn’t want to do the bee poem? Page 316 What lesson does Beany learn from looking at the night sky with her dad? Page 318 Why does Beany tell Carol Ann she doesn’t want to do the bee poem? Why does Carol Ann ask Beany so many questions about her decision? Do you think Beany will be happy about the decision she has made?

Think and Respond Why does Beany change her mind about being in the talent show with Carol Ann? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ What is Beany’s father like? How do you know? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ How does Beany show courage in this story? If your class put on a talent show, what kind of act would you perform?

The Last Case of the I.C. Detective Agency Page 322 How does Ivan feel about Ursula when he first meets her? Why? How do Ivan’s feelings toward Ursula change? Why? Page 324 How do Ursula and Ivan solve the mystery? What message is sent to Charlie?

Use the graphic organizer to follow the following questions. What makes this selection a realistic fiction? Who is telling the story? What does it mean when Ms. Babbitt wears her smiley face earrings? Why does Ms. Babbitt have the talent show? What does Carol Ann want to perform with her friend Beany? Why does Carol Ann think she should be the queen bee in the performance? Who decides what Beany’s and Carol Ann’s costumes and props should look like? Why does Beany agree to perform with Carol Ann? What does Carol Ann think will happen during the performance? What does Beany’s mother suggest she do for the talent show? Why does Beany’s dad take her out to see the stars? In what way does Beany’s father compare the night stars to the talent show? What does Beany learn that is important for herself and how she deals with friends?