2. How does Jerome manage to protect his food?
(a) He puts his food in a safe
(b) He makes latches that can be opened by pulling a string
(c) He trains the animals to stay out of the cupboards
(d) He puts everything under lock and key

3. Strong Heart intends to eat Papa, however...
(a) Papa sprays him
(b) Papa tricks him
(c) Papa runs faster
(d) Papa cowers under the bed

4. Donald Roger has made a habit of...
(a) Watching the Kildee house
(b) Stalking Emma Lou
(c) Counting the pets at the Kildee house
(d) Stalking the fawn

5. Now that Mrs. Grouch is gone, who will have to care for the children?
(a) Mr. Grouch
(b) Papa
(c) Emma Lou
(d) Jerome

Short Answer Questions

1. Emma is teaching the young skunks to...

2. What breed is Strong-Heart?

3. The cabin smells so bad, that Jerome decides to...

4. What is keeping Jerome awake at night?

5. Papa's reaction to the sound of barking is to...

Short Essay Questions

1. Although Jerome has given up stonecutting, his reaction to making Charmine's gravestone is interesting. Discuss what might be happening in this regard.

2. Donald is spying on Jerome Kildee's house from the woods. What might this tell us about the time of history in which the book was written?

3. What can we learn about the Eppy family, based on the description of their arrival at the redwood grove which would become their home?

4. Write a short essay about the subtle clues regarding Jerome's life. This is something of a fantasy story, but there are real life elements that are only mentioned in passing. What are they, and what do they indicate?

5. When Jerome wakes up, the little fawn is hungry. What makes this passage humorous?

6. To what is Jerome referring, when he tells Old Grouch, "I have missed much."

7. Discuss the sense of mourning in the house over Charmine's demise.

8. Looking back at this chapter, what stands out as ironic, given the outcome of the story?

9. What gives Jerome happiness in this first chapter of the story?

10. What does Jerome assume about the status of Papa skunk when the new babies arrive?

(see the answer keys)

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