Dear Mr. Henshaw

by Heather Gough

Grade 5

Dear Mr. Henshaw Reading Group

1. Vocabulary – Define these words on the first day. You may work as a group.

Discussion questions (answer them as you get to each one in the story). Record your answers on this sheet.

Pages 1–12: Why did Leigh begin writing to Mr. Henshaw? Why does Leigh's attitude toward Mr. Henshaw change?
Pages 14–30: Why does Leigh feel so medium?
Pages 31–37: Why does Mr. Henshaw keep answering Leigh's letters even though he is very busy?
Pages 38–44: Why does Leigh's mom refer to them as “lonely hearts”?
Pages 45–53: How does Mom feel about Leigh's Dad? How does Leigh feel about his dad?
Pages 55–59: Why is Leigh worried about his mom?
Pages 61–72: Why is Leigh mad at his father?
Pages 73–78: Why does Mom cry?
Pages 79–87: Why is Leigh angry at Dad?
Pages 89–104: How does Leigh's lunch box alarm change things for him?
Pages 105–111: Why does Leigh decide to start scrubbing the mildew off the bathroom?
Pages 112–121: Why does meeting Mrs. Badger make Leigh feel so good?
Pages 123–134: a) How can you explain Leigh's mixed feelings at the end of the book? b) Why doesn't Beverly Cleary have Bonnie say she would like to get back together with Bill to make it a “happily ever after” ending?

Summary Questions:

Throughout the book, Leigh had different feelings about his dad. What caused Leigh's feelings to change? Have you ever felt this way?
At the end of the book, Leigh said that he felt bad and a whole lot better at the same time. How can that be possible? Use an example from your own life.
If you were to write a letter to any author you chose, whom would you write to? Give at least two reasons why you chose that author.

Discussion questions and vocabulary exercises to use while reading Dear Mr. Henshaw, by Beverly Cleary. It can be used for 4th or 5th grade.