Chapter 1

·      What interesting language does the author use to describe how cold it is in Flint?

·      Why does Kenny’s mom give his dad dirty looks whenever it’s cold?

·      How does Hambone Henderson try to discourage Wilona from marrying Mr. Watson? What do you think Mr. Watson thinks of Hambone? How can you tell?

·      What kind of relationship does Kenny have with his brother, Byron?  How can you tell?

Chapter 2

·      Why do you think Kenny is afraid when he realizes that the reading he has been chosen to do will be for Byron’s class?

·      What happens after the reading that surprises Kenny?

·      For what other reason do the kids at Clark Elementary tease Kenny?

·      Why does Kenny see Rufus, the new boy on the bus, as his “personal saver”?

Chapter 3

·      Why is Kenny hesitant to spend time with Rufus?

·      How was Rufus’s life in Arkansas different than it is in Flint?

·      What does Rufus do with the other half of the sandwich?

·      What does this say about Rufus’ economic status?

·      Why do you think Kenny is friends with LJ, even though LJ isn’t nice to him?

·      What did Kenny do to Rufus that changed things?

Chapter 4

·      What story does Byron tell Kenny and Joetta to explain why their mother makes them wear so many clothes in the winter?

·      What kind of relationship does Kenny have with Joetta? Can you give examples of things that happen between them that make you think that?

·      Why do you think Byron stops Larry Dunn from giving Kenny a “Super Maytag” when Byron often plays similar tricks on Kenny himself?

·      How does the author make the reader sympathize with Larry Dunn?

·      Explain what happened  to Kenny’s gloves and what Byron did when he found out about it.

Chapter 5

·      What bad habit does Byron have?

·      What does Momma say she is going to do to Byron if he does it again?

·      What happened to Momma when she was little that made her so afraid of what Byron was doing?

·      Why do you think Mrs. Watson speaks “Southern-style” when she gets angry?

·      How did Joetta save Byron?

Chapter 6

·      Kenny says, “If you were stupid enough to task your question again there would be the loudest quiet in the world coming from Momma.”  What does he mean by “loudest quiet”?

·      Why was Byron mad when his mom told him to sign for the food?

·      Why does he get angry at Kenny so suddenly?

·      How does the author show that Byron is not as tough as he pretends to be?

Chapter 7

·      What is your first clue about Byron’s latest misdeed?

·      Why do you think Byron’s actions made his Momma so angry?

·      Why do you think Byron keeps doing things that his parents have forbidden?

·      Compare how each parent handles the situation.

·      When Byron misbehaves, who do you think handles the situation better, Mr. or Mrs. Watson? Why?

Chapter 8

·      Why do the Watsons think sending Byron to Alabama will help him to behave better? Do you think it will work?

·      What was the “final touch” Daddy bought for the car?

·      What was the surprise under the towel?

Chapter 9

·      Besides not wanting to get hooked on country music, why do you think Daddy decides to install the TT-700 in the Brown Bomber?

·      Why do you think Joetta wants to keep the angel from Mrs. Davidson in a drawer?

·      Why do you think Mrs. Watson is so careful with her planning of the trip, such as where the family is going to stay?

·      What is Byron’s plan to show his parents and make them sorry?

·      What is the only thing Kenny could call Byron to bug him?

Chapter 10

·      What is Mr. Watson going to try to do on the trip that Mrs. Watson doesn’t know about?

·      Why do you think Kenny feels scared when they’re driving through the mountains?

·      Why is the chapter called “Tangled up in God’s Beard”?

Chapter 11

·      How is Birmingham like Flint? How is it different?

·      What joke did Kenny and his daddy make about Momma’s name?

·      Why was Kenny so surprised at the way his grandma looked?

·      How does Byron behave when he meets Grandma Sands?

·      Explain who you think Mr. Robert is.

Chapter 12

·      How does Mrs. Watson act differently when she is with her mother in Alabama compared with how she acts at home in

·      Flint?

·      Why is this chapter called, “That Dog Won’t Hunt No More”?

·      Besides the actual dog, what else is the title of the chapter talking about?  Explain.

Chapter 13

·      Explain what happened down at Collier’s Landing and why they are supposed to stay away.

·      How does Byron explain a “Wool Pooh?”

·      What clues do we have that foreshadow something bad?

·      What does the dark figure that Kenny calls the Wool Pooh symbolize? Explain.

Chapter 14

·      Why does Kenny wonder if something is wrong with him?

·      What does By say has happened?

·      Why does the Wool Pooh show up in the church? What does it symbolize? Explain.

·      Joey says that she saw Kenny laughing and she chased him all the way home.  We know this didn’t really happen. How can you explain what Joey saw?

Chapter 15

·      Where has Kenny been disappearing to?

·      Since he believes this spot has magical powers, why do you think he is going there? Explain.

·      In modern times, what would we say is wrong with Kenny?

·      What do you think Byron is trying to do? Why?

·      Explain Kenny’s conclusions about the Wool Pooh and magic powers.

 compiled from:

http://www.scholastic.com/kids/homework/pdfs/Watsons.pdf

http://albion.jordan.k12.ut.us/TeacherWebFolders/Simons/Watsons/Watsons_Study_Guide.pdf