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: Chapters 1-2
Vocabulary Definitions and Sentences Found in Book
- astonish: to cause a feeling of great wonder or surprise;
They were so astonished that they couldn’t speak for a few seconds. (Pg 23) - indignant: feeling or showing anger because of something that is unfair or wrong;
I am not a friendly old tramp, said Armand indignantly. (Pg 18) - loiter: to remain in an area when you do not have a particular reason to be there;
In the green park behind the flying buttresses, some street urchins were loitering. (Pg 5) - maneuver: a clever or skillful action or movement;
The hobo quickly maneuvered his buggy between himself and the dog. (Pg 11) - rogue: one who is dishonest or immoral; one who causes trouble in a playful way;
He grinned like one of the roguish gargoyles on the cathedral. (Pg 7) - swagger: to walk in a very confident way;
The boy swaggered a little. (Pg 13) - twitter: to talk in a quick and informal way about unimportant things;
… “Witless, twittering, little pests.” (Pg 5)
Vocabulary Example Sentences
- Gary was indignant when his younger sister laughed after she broke his favorite Lego model.
- The vivid colors of the rainbow against the bright blue sky did astonish our eyes.
- Jan will swagger all the way home to show her parents her perfect math test score.
- Grandma Louise enjoyed listening to her granddaughter twitter when she came to visit her on Saturdays.
- It takes much focus and caution to maneuver a baby stroller through a crowded street.
Comprehension Questions
- Armand doesn’t worry about rent or burglars because he pushes all his belongings around in a baby buggy. (pg. 1)
- Armand will take up residence under the bridge for the winter. (pg. 4)
- Armand thinks children are witless, twittering little pests. (pg. 5)
- Armand does not eat dinner, but sits near the restaurant to smell the steak and potatoes. (pg. 8)
- Armand is shocked to find children three sitting at his niche under the bridge. (pg. 10)
- The older girl says they can’t be taken away because families have to stick together. (pg. 10)
- Suzy apologizes and says Armand can live with them. (pg. 14)
- Armand says he hopes to never be a millionaire or a grandfather. (pg. 14)
- Armand says that he is a mean, cranky old tramp, and he hates children, dogs, and women. (pg. 18)
- The children can’t go to school until they have a place to live or they might be taken away from their mother. (pg. 20)
- Suzy wants to be a teacher when she grows up. (pg. 21)
- Suzy is sure that Armand will take her and the children with him because she says he has a good heart even if he looks bad. (pg. 22)
Section 2: Chapters 3-4
Vocabulary Definitions and Sentences Found in Book
- blithe: showing a lack of proper thought or care;
At sight of Armand, the angry lines left the forehead of Father Christmas and blithely curled around his lips. (Pg 31) - coax: to influence or persuade to do something by talking in a gentle and friendly way;
Armand was continually having to turn around and coax the children along. (Pg 27) - forlorn: sad and lonely; not having much chance of success; nearly hopeless;
He wanted to cheer them because they were so silent and forlorn. (Pg 36) - frantic: wild with fear, anxiety, or emotion;
They were buying frantically and noisily, as if they might never again find anything for sale on the Rue de Rivoli. (Pg 27) - haughty: having or showing the insulting attitude of people who think they are better, smarter, or more important than other people;
Aren’t you in the wrong store?, he asked haughtily. (Pg 35) - reverent: showing great respect for;
On tiptoe, reverently, they followed the old hobo to the studio where a child could have his picture taken with the saint (Pg 30) - tantalize: to cause someone to feel interest or excitement about something that is very attractive, appealing, etc.;
The air was warm around the brazier and the smell of chestnuts was tantalizing. (Pg 28)
Vocabulary Example Sentences
- The mother did coax her curious toddler away from the fireplace by inviting him to look at a book with her.
- Michael was forlorn when his father was unable to take him on the backpacking trip.
- Anne was blithe about brushing her teeth every single day.
- Josh gave a haughty smile when he got the highest spelling grade in his class.
- Sage was tantalized by the idea of only doing math homework four days a week.
Comprehension Questions
- Armand says that City Hall is where they run Paris and he says he can run it better from under the bridge. (pg. 25)
- Rue de Rivoli is crowded with holiday shoppers. (pg. 25)
- Armand coaxes the children away from the Christmas food by telling them it tastes like medicine. (pg. 28-29)
- Evelyne confesses to Father Christmas that she pulled Jojo’s tail. (pg. 32)
- Suzy asks Father Christmas to bring them a real house. (pg. 33)
- Evelyne wants windows so she can see when Paul and Suzy come home from school. (pg. 33)
- Father Christmas offers Armand a job as a night watchman. (pg. 34)
- People give generously when Armand begs because they feel the spirit of Christmas. (pg. 40)
- Armand treats the children to pancakes. (pg. 40)
- The ragged man with the monkey is angry because he says that Armand is begging in his territory and stealing his show. (pg. 42)
- Madame Calcet is angry with Armand for turning her children into beggars. (pg. 46)
- Madame Calcet forbids the children from having anything to do with Armand. (pg. 46)
- When Armand leaves the Calcets, Evelyne calls him their grandpa. (pg. 47)
Section 3: Chapters 5-6
Vocabulary Definitions and Sentences Found in Book
- crag: a steep rugged rock or cliff; a sharp detached fragment of rock;
Above it rose the crags of buildings which were slowly being torn down, floor by floor. (Pg 60) - courteous: very polite in a way that shows respect;
The gypsies received her courteously, and Mireli even offered to tell her fortune, although Madame Calcet refused. (Pg 72) - dilapidated: in very bad condition because of age or lack of care;
They passed the doorways of dilapidated rooming houses. (Pg 59) - fret: to become vexed or worried;
He tried to pretend to himself that he was fretting about something else. (Pg 50) - mischievous: causing or tending to cause annoyance, minor harm or damage;
She mischievously batted her eyelashes at Suzy. (Pg 76) - moor: to secure a boat with a cable or rope to the shore or to an anchor;
But the Paris fireboats were moored along the quay. (Pg 48) - queer: differing in some odd way from what is usual or normal;
Looking up at the high window across the street, they saw a queer old lady hanging out her washing on lines stretched across the window. (Pg 60)
Vocabulary Example Sentences
- Sam was mischievous when he hid behind the door and then jumped out to scare his older sister.
- Isaiah was courteous when he offered to hold the door open so his family could walk into the restaurant first.
- Maggie thought it was queer for her mother to sleep in so late on a Monday morning.
- The dilapidated old house needed a new roof and new windows before the family could move in.
- Jane decided not to fret over all the homework assignments she needed to complete for the week.
Comprehension Questions
- Armand jumps up and down with excitement when the fisherman finds the mate to the shoe in his buggy. (pg. 50)
- Armand doesn’t sleep well because he wonders if the children are safe and warm. (pg. 50)
- The children are crying because two women said they are going to find someone to take them away and put their mother in jail. (pg. 52)
- The children quicken their steps because they hear the word “food” and they are hungry. (pg. 55)
- The outlandish hat means that the man is strong and can carry four hundred and forty pounds at once. (pg. 56)
- The Court of Miracles is where fake beggars took off their bandages and crutches and feasted together. (pg. 59)
- The gypsy girl says that Evelyne has sad clothes and happy hair. (pg. 63)
- Suzy decides to ask Father Christmas for a house on wheels. (pg. 64)
- Tinka tells Suzy that gypsies stick together just like families do. (pg. 68)
- Madame Calcet thinks the pigeon stew is very good. (pg. 72)
- Suzy learns that Tinka is always on vacation and doesn’t go to school. (pg. 74)
- Suzy teaches Tinka the alphabet and Tinka teaches Suzy gypsy writing. (pg. 74-77)
Section 4: Chapters 7-9
Vocabulary Definitions and Sentences Found in Book
- chagrin: a feeling of being frustrated or annoyed because of failure or disappointment;
Tinka looked at her with chagrin. (Pg 90) - envious: feeling or showing a desire to have what someone else has;
There are rich people in beautiful clothes sitting at white tables up there, she said enviously. (Pg 83) - indignant: feeling or showing anger because of something that is unfair or wrong;
Armand was indignant. (Pg 103) - pedestrian: relating to or designed for people who are walking;
Nikki raced down the narrow streets and shouted insults at the pedestrians. (Pg 82) - plight: a dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation;
The plight of this family. (Pg 88) - solemn: very serious or formal in manner, behavior, or expression;
I gave Father Christmas my solemn promise that I would keep it a secret. (Pg 86) - wrath: extreme anger;
But Suzy only pointed wrathfully across the courtyard. (Pg 92)
Vocabulary Example Sentences
- Olivia felt envious when she saw her brother’s brand new bike.
- Imagine my chagrin when I got to Disneyland and realized I had forgotten my wallet at home.
- The pedestrian was careful to look both ways before crossing the street.
- Abby was solemn after finding out that she had to move out of state, far from her friends and family.
- Daniel locked himself in his room to escape his sister’s wrath, after she found out he had lost her doll.
Comprehension Questions
- Armand distracts the children by asking if they want to go to a Christmas Eve party. (pg. 79-80)
- Madame Calcet insists on going to the midnight mass at the quay. (pg. 87)
- Nikki cuts down the Christmas tree from the Jardin des Plantes. (pg. 89)
- Armand enjoys the companionship in the gypsy camp. (pg. 91)
- Suzy is worried that Paul enjoys being with the gypsies and doesn’t want to be part of the family anymore. (pg. 91-92)
- Armand says if God didn’t make Paul a gypsy, and that Paul shouldn’t be a gypsy when he has a smart sister like Suzy to teach him things. (p. 92-93)
- Suzy thinks that Paul left with the gypsies. (pg. 101)
- Paul went to Halles and tried to get a job. (pg. 103)
- Armand says he will get a job to help the Calcets to have a place to live. (p. 106)
- Madame Calcet helps Armand to take a bath so he can look respectable. (pg. 108-109)
- Armand discovers a job of being a building caretaker to pass out keys, deliver mail and take out the trash every day. (pg. 119)
- Armand raises his head and straightens his shoulders because he is not a hobo anymore, but a working man of Paris. (pg. 123)