IMPORTANT: Comprehension questions will be in chronological order as you read through the story. Page numbers are approximate, and will vary with different editions of the book.
Section 1: Chapter 1
Vocabulary
- knead: to massage with a circular, repeated motion
- scrawny: exceptionally thin or meager in body size
- desperate: going to extreme measure to escape defeat
- dumpster: a large trash receptacle
- alley: a narrow street
- remarkable: uncommon or extraordinary
Vocabulary Usage in the Book
- “…Harriet when you purr, you should close your eyes partway and knead me with your front paws;…” (Chapter 1, pg. 1)
- The rats were fierce and dangerous; the mice were shy and scrawny. (Chapter 1, pg. 2)
- …and Harriet with one desperate mew flew straight up into the air and over the dog’s staring head… (Chapter 1, pg. 4)
- They all climbed back into the dumpster, Harriet was still trembling. (Chapter 1, pg. 5)
- “…I saw James flying across the alley last night – and yes, I saw you doing nose dives, too, Roger…” (Chapter 1, pg. 5)
- “They are remarkable children, Jane,” said Mr. Tom Jones in his soft, deep voice. (Chapter 1, pg. 6)
Vocabulary Sentences
- Our dumpster has been full of trash for over a week.
- It’s remarkable how well she swims, since she just learned.
- It was a desperate move to jump from the upstairs window into the arms of the firefighter.
- Behind the hotel was a narrow, winding alley leading to the old shops.
- The stray dog was scrawny it seemed it hadn’t eaten for weeks.
- The secret to a great loaf of bread is to knead it by hand until it is smooth and elastic.
Comprehension Questions
- Mrs. Jane Tabby explains that her children have wings because before they were born she dreamed of flying away from the neighborhood. (Chapter 1, pg. 1)
- Mrs. Tabby says that the neighborhood is terrible as it is dirty, full of trash and unsafe. (Chapter 1, pg. 2)
- Everyday Mrs. Tabby washes the children’s wings, chins, paws and tails. (Chapter 1, pg. 3)
- After the huge dog chases and corners Harriet behind the garbage can she flies up onto a rooftop to escape it. (Chapter 1, pg. 4)
- When Mrs. Tabby realizes what her dream means she wants the children to fly away from the neighborhood and grow up in a different place. (Chapter 1, pg. 5)
- After Thelma bursts into tears, Mrs. Tabby explains that she has no desire to leave the neighborhood, that she has work to do there and has just accepted a marriage proposal from Mr.Tom Jones. (Chapter 1, pgs. 5-6)
- Having eater a good dinner from the garbage cans the cats spread their wings and fly away from the neighborhood. (Chapter 1, pg. 6)
Section 2: Chapter 2
Vocabulary
- midair: a point in the air not immediately adjacent to the ground
- ache: dull pain
- pinnacle: a small spire on the top of a building
- plump: full and rounded form
- asphalt: dark pavement made from hydrocarbons
- gleam: a small bright light
Vocabulary Usage in the Book
- The pigeon jumped in midair, stared at her, and then turned and swooped away from them in a great, quick curve. (Chapter 2, pg. 8)
- “But my wings ache already,” Roger said… (Chapter 2, pg. 9)
- “Sitting in the catbird seat!” sang Harriet, perched on a pinnacle. (Chapter 2, pg. 10)
- Mrs. Tabby had always seen to it that they ate well, and so they were quite plump, and had to beat their wings hard to keep their weight aloft. (Chapter 2, pg. 11)
- The only ground they knew was pavement, asphalt, cement. (Chapter 2, pg. 13)
- They could just make out something moving in the water, in the starlight – a silvery flicker, a gleam. (Chapter 2, pg. 14)
Vocabulary Sentences
- The pinnacle of the tower was topped with a golden sphere.
- The asphalt pavement was blistering hot under my bare feet.
- My feet ache from wearing thin, stiff sandals all day long.
- The foul ball seemed to float in midair as it flew toward the eager fans.
- The plump and furry puppy had definitely eaten too many treats.
- I saw a gleam of light from the full moon through the dark forest.
Comprehension Questions
- As the cats are flying along a pigeon swoops up to join them. (Chapter 2, pg. 8)
- When the cats become tired, Thelma suggests that they land somewhere and rest. (Chapter 2, pg. 9)
- When Thelma points her nose to the west she sees that it looks softer. (Chapter 2, pg. 10)
- As the cats learn to glide Harriet has difficulty and wobbles badly. (Chapter 2, pg. 11)
- Being dark the cats land on soft ground filled with dirt, leaves, twigs, grass and worms, which is new to them. (Chapter 2, pg. 13)
- As Roger crouches on the creek bank he discovers a silver glimmer, a fish. (Chapter 2, pg. 14)
- On coming to a new place the cats know two things, that they have found a better place than the alley, but that it too is filled with dangers. (Chapter 2, pg. 15)
Section 3: Chapter 3
Vocabulary
- injustice: unfair
- evasive: seeking to avoid someone or something
- talon: claw of a bird of prey
- pitiful: arousing compassion
- indigestion: a burning or upset stomach
- modest: moderate estimation of one’s abilities
Vocabulary Usage in the Book
- Few people know what fish think about injustice, or anything else. (Chapter 3, pg. 17)
- The birds never got their wings tangled up in pine branches…they could escape by speeding up or taking evasive action. (Chapter 3, pg. 18)
- And softly Owl spread her great gray wings, and silently flew after James, her talons opening. (Chapter 3, pg. 19)
- Thelma and Harriet were washing each other’s necks and talking over the day’s adventures when they heard a pitiful crying at the foot of the tree. (Chapter 3, pg. 20)
- Thelma had found nothing to eat all day but a shrew, which gave her indigestion. (Chapter 3, pg. 23)
- “I bit it,” Thelma said, with modest pride. (Chapter 3, pg. 25)
Vocabulary Sentences
- The driver took evasive action to avoid the squirrel in the road.
- The kitten made pitiful, whining sounds because it was so hungry.
- Being a modest friend, he never bragged about being generous with his snacks.
- Sally got indigestion from eating too much candy and drinking too much soda.
- Cara fights injustice by treating everyone fairly, no matter what.
- Raptors use their sharp talons to capture prey.
Comprehension Questions
- After the mouse asks the bird about unfairness, it is learned that few people know what fish think about injustice or anything else. (Chapter 3, pg. 17)
- When Owl sees James chasing bats she realizes this will not do and flew after James with her talons open. (Chapter 3, pg. 19)
- James’s siblings wash his wounds until he falls asleep. (Chapter 3, pg. 20)
- After being attacked twice by the owl, the Tabbies have to take the precaution of hunting during the day and staying in their nest all night to avoid Owl. (Chapter 3, pg. 23)
- Thelma says that she bit the Hand that squeezed and hurt her. (Chapter 3, pg. 25)
- Thelma says that her mother said the right kind of hand you would never have to hunt again. (Chapter 3, pg. 26)
- Harriet describes the dinner that she found on the stump as interesting, similar to what they ate in the alley but fresher. (Chapter 3, pg. 28)
Section 4: Chapter 4
Vocabulary
- hover: to hang fluttering in the air
- alight: to descend from the air
- kibble: dry pellets of food for pets
- cartwheel: a lateral handspring with arms and legs extended
- dovecote: small house or box for domestic pigeons
- dignity: a serious manner or appearance
Vocabulary Usage in the Book
- She watched Harriet fly out of the woods and hover like a fat hummingbird over the stump, then settle down, fold her wings neatly, and eat. (Chapter 4, pg. 29)
- Harriet flew boldly from the woods and alighted on the stump. (Chapter 4, pg. 32)
- Thelma finished a last tasty kibble, washed her left front paw, and gazed at the children. (Chapter 4, pg. 33)
- Harriet jumped off the stump into the air, performed a cartwheel, and flew loop the loop over to Susan Brown. (Chapter 4, pg. 34)
- “…There’s that dovecote up in the loft, with all those holes in the wall where the doves flew in and out.” (Chapter 4, pg. 36)
- She arose in the air, flew over with great dignity, sat right down in Hank’s lap, folded her wings, and said, “Purr, purr, purr…”. (Chapter 4, pg. 38)
Vocabulary Sentences
- The dovecote in my backyard houses all of my pigeons.
- The birds alight on the branches of the tree.
- We sat on the beach for hours, watching the gulls hover over the sea.
- Though she tried to always act with dignity, the queen could not resist splashing in puddles on a rainy day.
- The bulldog slowly ate his bowl of kibble, even though he preferred table scraps.
- I won the cartwheel competition by going head-over-heels three times in a row.
Comprehension Questions
- When Harriet goes to the stump the next day she finds a tin plate with meat scraps and kibbled cat food. (Chapter 4, pg. 29)
- After Harriet and Roger settle down to eat, Hank whispers to his sister, “You didn’t say there were two of them.” (Chapter 4, pg. 30)
- Once James lands on the stump he eats, eats, eats and growls at Thelma to move over to the other pie tin. (Chapter 4, pg. 32)
- When Thelma flies up from the stump toward the children they duck. (Chapter 4, pg. 33)
- After Harriet lands on Susan’s shoulder, Susan promises to never to catch her, cage her or make her do anything she doesn’t want to. (Chapter 4, pg. 34)
- After Harriet says, “Purr,” Hank further promises to never tell anyone about her and the siblings. (Chapter 4, pg. 36)
- When Susan scratches James under his chin and behind his ears, he drools on her shoe. (Chapter 4, pg. 37)