83 pages 2 hours read

Richard Atwater, Florence Atwater

Mr. Popper's Penguins

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1938

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Reading Questions & Paired Texts

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Chapters 1-4

Reading Check

1. What does Mr. Popper do for an occupation?  

2. What does Mr. Popper receive in the mail from Admiral Drake?

3. Where does Mr. Popper allow Captain Cook to live in his house?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How do Mr. Popper’s aspirations contribute to his interests and pastime?

2. What are the differences between Mr. Popper and Mrs. Popper’s interests? What personality traits may contribute to these differences?

3. Analyze Mrs. Popper’s changing attitude towards Captain Cook. How does her perception of the penguin shift from her initial encounter with the bird?

Paired Resource

The Dangerous Race for the South Pole

  • This 5-minute video describes the race to discover the South Pole.
  • The information in the video connects to the theme of Mankind and the Natural World.
  • Which two nations raced to reach the South Pole? Why might the explorer’s stories be inspiring to Mr. Popper?

Chapters 5-8

Reading Check

1. What does the serviceman mistake Captain Cook for?

2.