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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSTen-year-old Comfort Snowberger knows more about death than most kids her age, and that is mostly because her family runs Snowberger's Funeral Home in the small town of Snapfinger, Mississippi. She writes colorful obituaries she calls "Life Notices," keeps track of the 247 funerals she has attended, and counts her great-uncle Edisto and great-great-aunt Florentine among her closest companions. Then, on the first day of Easter vacation, Great-uncle Edisto dies after a stroke, and six months later Aunt Florentine follows him. Comfort is used to death, but she is not prepared for what happens next: her best friend Declaration starts pulling away from her, her annoying cousin Peach arrives for Aunt Florentine's funeral and immediately makes a scene, and a sudden flash flood in the nearby oak grove puts all three of them in serious danger.
Free Battle of the Books questions for Each Little Bird That Sings
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about Each Little Bird That Sings. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book has a ten-year-old already attended 247 funerals and kept a record of every one?
✓ Answer
Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles
Comfort has attended 247 funerals by the time of Aunt Florentine's death. She keeps notes on every one in her notebooks for A Short History of a Small Place, including who came, what folks said, and whose food no one would eat, which Aunt Florentine called funeral geography.
- First half
In what book does a mother fill her flower shop with lavender a great-great-aunt loved?
✓ Answer
Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles
Mama spends the day before Aunt Florentine's funeral cutting and arranging lavender, since Florentine had stuffed lavender in her pockets, pillows, drawers, and hair. The flower shop is overflowing with the herb in her honor, and Mama dabs at her eyes with a Snowberger's handkerchief while she works.
- First half
In what book does a boy burst into a bedroom shouting, "It's morning and I've come to see you!"?
✓ Answer
Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles
On funeral day morning, Peach bursts into Comfort's bedroom right behind Dismay, beaming and announcing his greeting. Comfort yells at him and he collapses into a wailing lump in the hallway, which is the moment that pushes Mama to insist Comfort spend the day looking after him.
- Second half
In what book is a hurtful friend called "overwrought" after she slaps someone with her gloves?
✓ Answer
Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles
After their kitchen blowup, Comfort tries to give Declaration a face-saving label, calling her overwrought. Declaration latches onto the fancy word and agrees, and they manage to keep their friendship limping along just long enough to walk to the cemetery.
- Second half
In what book does a girl pry her cousin's fingers off a dog's collar in rising floodwater?
✓ Answer
Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles
When the water reaches Peach's nose and the dog is being pulled under by Peach's grip, Comfort makes the impossible choice. She pries Peach's fingers off the collar and lets her dog go to save her cousin's life. The moment haunts her for the rest of the book.
- Near the end
In what book does a brother's search report list 3 tires, a snakeskin, and part of a fence?
✓ Answer
Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles
Tidings, who calls himself a general, files a formal regiment-wide search report listing the random items the search party found in the oak grove. He includes the Snowberger Squadron and Boy Scout Troop 685 as participating units.
