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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSWhen a tornado threatens their farm, a boy named Pete and his family take shelter in their storm cellar along with Pete the farmhand, an older man who works for them. To pass the anxious time while they wait out the storm and worry about the father who is still out in the cornfield, Pete the farmhand begins telling the children stories about a remarkable black dog named Tornado who blew into his life during a different tornado when he was a boy.
Free Battle of the Books questions for Tornado
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 Tornado. 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 does a family find a stranger's doghouse sitting beside their well after a storm?
✓ Answer
Tornado by Betsy Byars
When Pete walks outside to survey the damage, he sees a doghouse he has never seen before by the well. Inside it is the trembling black dog that the storm carried in.
- First half
In what book does a boy fan out a deck of playing cards and ask a dog to pick one?
✓ Answer
Tornado by Betsy Byars
Pete holds out the deck and tells the dog to pick any card. The dog stretches his neck out and grabs a single card in his teeth, kicking off the famous card trick story.
- First half
In what book does a thirsty dog accidentally slurp up a tiny turtle along with a drink of water?
✓ Answer
Tornado by Betsy Byars
Pete pieces together what must have happened. The dog wandered up, leaned in for a drink from the bowl on the porch, and ended up with a mouthful of turtle that he didn't know how to deal with.
- Second half
In what book does a part-collie named Babe try to dig a hole in the carpet indoors?
✓ Answer
Tornado by Betsy Byars
Pete describes a former family pet, Babe, who would dig anywhere the urge struck her, even in the carpet. He contrasts her with the dog of his childhood, who only dug holes when needed.
- Second half
In what book does a cat refuse to budge from a dog's hole until exactly her dinner time?
✓ Answer
Tornado by Betsy Byars
Five-Thirty stays put while the dog stands watching. At her usual feeding hour she simply yawns, stretches, and walks off to the house.
- Near the end
In what book does a girl climb into a stranger's truck and throw her arms around a black dog's neck?
✓ Answer
Tornado by Betsy Byars
When Pete and his daddy returned from shopping, a girl was already in the truck bed hugging the dog. She kept calling him by another name.
