Muggie Maggie

Every 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 Muggie Maggie. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.

1. 1

   Early in the book

   In what book does a teacher compare cursive strokes to a roller coaster going up and dropping down?

   ✓ Answer

   Muggie Maggie by Beverly Cleary

   Mrs. Leeper introduces cursive by asking how many students have ridden a roller coaster. She explains that many letters start up slowly and then drop down, just like a ride. The class practices these up-and-down strokes before moving to actual letters.

2. 2

   First half

   In what book does a principal put his fingertips together like the letter A, with his thumbs as the crossbar?

   ✓ Answer

   Muggie Maggie by Beverly Cleary

   When Maggie is sent to the principal's office to discuss her cursive refusal, Mr. Galloway leans back and presses his fingertips together in the shape of a printed A. Maggie notices every detail because she's nervous, including how he combs his hair over his bald spot.

3. 3

   First half

   In what book does a girl practice writing her name with her left hand to copy her mother's style?

   ✓ Answer

   Muggie Maggie by Beverly Cleary

   During signature practice, Maggie writes her name in her father's messy style, then switches to her left hand to imitate her left-handed mother. Mrs. Leeper catches her and asks why a right-handed girl is writing with her left hand.

4. 4

   Second half

   In what book does a girl write a thank-you note by alternating blue and red letters?

   ✓ Answer

   Muggie Maggie by Beverly Cleary

   When Maggie writes her thank-you note to Ms. Madden with the new pen, she writes one letter in blue and the next in red, alternating colors the whole way. She's proud of the result even though her printing has gotten messy from lack of practice.

5. 5

   Second half

   In what book does a girl carry a note back to her classroom as if she were carrying something hot?

   ✓ Answer

   Muggie Maggie by Beverly Cleary

   After reading her own name in the principal's reply note, Maggie rushes back to Mrs. Leeper's classroom feeling flustered and embarrassed. The note feels like it's burning in her hands because she knows the grown-ups are writing about her.

6. 6

   Near the end

   In what book does a girl sigh so hard that her dog looks anxious?

   ✓ Answer

   Muggie Maggie by Beverly Cleary

   After failing to convince either parent to improve their handwriting, Maggie sighs heavily in frustration. Kisser hears the sigh and looks worried about her. Maggie decides that grown-ups are nearly impossible to reform.