Name: _________________

Date: _______________

Chapter Reading Guide 1-2

During our reading, we met . . .

1.

Little Man

Mam

Mrs. Worthington

How does the boy describe stuttering?

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________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

2. What is the Gentle Air trick?

__________________________________________________________
________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
3. What do you think he means when he says its better to be called
a snake than a retard?
__________________________________________________________
________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

4. What form of communication does the boy prefer? Why?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
5. How did the boy get the name Little Man?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
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6. What worried him most about the paper route?
__________________________________________________________
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__________________________________________________________
7. When Little Man says, the streets are like friends that I dont
have to talk to, what does he mean? Why do you think he feels
this way?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
8. When Little Man wrote the apology note to Mrs. Worthington,
what did you learn about his character?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

C hapter R eading G uide 3

During our reading, we met . . .

1.

Ara T

Mr. Spiro

How does Little Man feel when people use the wrong words?
Why?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

2. Who is Ara T, and what does Little Man need him to do?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
3. How does Little Man view Ara T?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

4. What question did Little Man think was the worst question? Why
did he feel this way?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
5. How did Little Man feel about his name, commas, and
contractions?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
6. How did Mr. Spiro make Little Man feel? Why do you think he
felt this way?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
7. What did Mr. Spiro give Little Man? What do you think it
means?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

Chapter Reading Guide 4

During our reading, we met . . .

1.

Big Sack

Why do you think Big Sack wanted to talk to Mam?

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

2. Why do you think Mam didnt want Little Man around Ara T?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
3. Why wouldnt Ara T give Little Man his knife?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
4. What note did Little Man write to Mr. Spiro?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

5. Why did Little Man follow Ara T? What did he discover?

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

Chapter Reading Guide 5-6
During our reading, we met . . .

1.

TV Boy

How did Mr. Spiro surprise Little Man?

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

2. How did Mr. Spiro help Little Man? What does that make you
think about his character?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
3. How does Mr. Spiro treat Little Man differently than other
people? Does this impact Little Man?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
4. What did you learn about Little Mans real name?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

5. What was Little Mans favorite quote? What do you think that
means?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
6. How does Little Man feel about the Rosetta Stone and
hieroglyphics?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
7. Connect the story of Jason, the Argonauts, and The Golden Fleece
to the pieces of the dollar bill.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
8. Describe Little Mans interaction with Mr. Worthington. Why was
Little Man supprised?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
9. How does Mam feel when Little Man tells her that Ara T wont
give him his knife back?
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

Chapter Reading Guide 7
1.

Was Little Man able to have the conversation with Mrs.

Worthington? Why?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

2. When Little Man thinks that should have been a warning to me

that things were going to be bad for the rest of the day, what do
you think this foreshadows?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
3. What happened during Little Mans night at the Italian restaurant
with his parents? How did he feel, and why?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
4. Describe the reaction of Little Mans mother and father to his
stuttering.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

5. What does Little Man not like about his mother?

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
6. What does Little Man find in his mothers close? What do we
learn about Little Man from what he finds?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

Chapter Reading Guide 8
1.

Why do you think Little Man didnt ask his parents about his
birth certificate?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

2. What do you think has happened to Mam? Do you think she will
come back?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
3. What were the three questions Little Man wanted to ask Mr.
Spiro? Why do you think he chose these?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
4. How does Little Man feel when Mr. Spiro tells him something he
doesnt know?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

5. What does Little Man tell Mr. Spiro that no one else knows?
Why do you think he trusted him?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
6. What does Little Man accomplish in this chapter?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
7. How do you think Mr. Spiros reaction make Little Man feel?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

Chapter Reading Guide 9-10
1. Do you think Mam is telling the truth about what happened to
her? Why?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
2. What does Little Man think happened? Do you agree?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
3. Why does Little Man wish he were a grown up?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
4. What does Little Man want more than anything? Why does he feel
this way?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
5. Compare Mam at the beginning of the novel to her actions now.
Has she changed?
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
6. Why does Little Man go to Ara Ts shed? What happened while
he was there?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

Chapter Reading Guide 11-12
1.

How does Little Man feel about his knife? Why?

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

2. What decision did Little Man make about Mr. Spiros dollar bill?
Why do you think he feels this way?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
3. What does Little Man start to realize about not talking?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
4. Describe Mams interaction with the big kid at the zoo?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
5. What helps Mam when she faces hardship? Does Little Man feel
the same way?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

Chapter Reading Guide 13-15

1.

Why does Little Man have to steel papers?

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

2. What shows that Little Man is honest?

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
3. If you were faced with the decision to steal but knew you would
correct it later, would you make the same decision Little Man did?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
4. Compare and contrast Mams interaction with the big boy at the
zoo and Little Mans interaction with Willie.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
5. What does Little Man realize about TV Boy? How does this
change Little Mans perspective?
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
6. Why does Little Man want to be TV Boys friend?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
7. How does Little Mans relationship with Mr. Spiro change?
Why?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
8. How does Little Man feel about grown-ups?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

Chapter Reading Guide 16-17
1.

How does Little Man feel about Mr. Spiro leaving?

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

2. What happened to Little Mans room?

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
3. Why did Little Man go into the red building? Was that a good
idea?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
4. What does Little Man see when he walks in?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
5. Why does Mam not like Ara T?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

6. How does Little Man help Mam? Does it work?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
7. Who rescues Little Man and Mam? How?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
8. Describe the significance of Mam closing her handbag?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

Chapter Reading Guide 18-20
1.

How does Little Man feel about the incident with Ara T?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

2. Describe Mams history with Ara T and Big Sack.

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
3. Why was Mam willing to answer all the questions he wanted her
to?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
4. Why does Mam not get scared?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
5. How does your view of your soul compare to Mams?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

6. What would you have done in Little Mans situation? Would you
have saved Mam?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
7. What does Mr. Spiro leave Little Man?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
8. What do the words student, servant, seller, and seeker have in
common? What do they mean to you?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
9. Why is it important that Little Man told his mom he didnt like
praline pecans?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
10. How does Little Mans opinion about his father change?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Date: _______________

11. How did Little Man grow from his relationship with TV Boy?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
12. What does Little Man want to do when he grows up?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
13. Describe how Little Man feels about blacks and whites going to
school together. Do people around him feel the same way?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
14. What does Vincent mean when he says, Words in the air blow
away as soon as you say them but words on paper last forever?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Name: _________________

Vocabulary Words

Blasphemy

Impediments

Ignoramus

Aura

Bias

Segregated

Integrated

Confounding

Enunciate

Diminutive

Queries

Deficiencies

Imbibe

Date: _______________