Author: S Nurser

Activity 1
Read chapter 1.
What clues are there in this chapter that tell us that Oliver is magical?
Some of the surnames of characters in this chapter are ‘Moon, Frogfreckle and MacLizard’ why do you think that the author chose these names?
3. Why has the author used exclamation marks for “Dragon rides! Line up here for your dragon rides!”?
On page 9, the author describes Jake’s eyes as ‘shining happily’, what does this mean?
On page 10, Oliver and Jake could win tickets to see the ‘Cacklewick Lightnings’ what are they?
What is the ‘bouncy dungeon’ supposed to be? How about the ‘hook a frog’ and ‘guess the number of eyeballs in the jar’?
Can you come up with your own magical fairground stall/ride?
Activity 2
Read chapter 2.
Why can Oliver hardly move? (page 17).
Oliver is described as ‘grimacing’ at his prize, what does this mean? Why do you think he is grimacing?
Make a list of the similes the author uses to describe High Witch Arabella on page 22.
On page 23, why does Oliver roll his eyes at Jake?
Who is the ‘Witch baby’?
Why did Oliver jump when he saw the Monster Mystery painting hanging on the kitchen wall?
What do you notice about the spell that Mr Moon uses to try to move the painting?
Why is Mr Moon grunting when he tries to lift the painting off the wall?
What do you think could happen to this painting in the rest of the book?

Activity 3
Read to page 37.
Why does Oliver hope that his sister will go away on page 31?
Why is Oliver ‘jolted wide awake’ when he enters the kitchen?
Why has the author used an exclamation mark and put the word ‘everywhere’ in italics in this sentence: ‘There was food everywhere!’?
Can you make a list of the magical food that has been spilled on pages 33 and 34?
How does the witch baby feel when Oliver asks her if she made the mess? What clues are there in the text that make you think that?
What do you think the pasta message said before the witch baby knocked it over?
Why do Mrs Moon’s eyes look like they are about to pop out of her head?
Who do you think created all of this mess?
Activity 4
Read to the end of chapter 3.
Where could the green paint have come from?
On page 39, why does Oliver think that it couldn't have been a goblin who made the mess?
How would you have felt if you were Oliver when the plates and cutlery started to move around the kitchen by themselves?
Why has the author used a dash in this piece of speech: ‘”But-” Oliver protested.’? (page 43).
5. Oliver is getting all of the blame for the strange goings on in his house. How would you feel if you were in this situation?
6. Why does mum think that it is Oliver who is making all of the mess?
7. Look back to the cover and title of the book, what clues are there that could tell us who is created all of this mess in the Moon household?

Activity 5
Read to the end of chapter 4.
Write three reasons why Oliver likes ‘Wilderness Woods’.
Why were the Witch Baby’s eyes ‘...as bright as stars’?
3. Do you think that it has been the imp playing tricks all along? What else could be going on?
4. Can you write down an adverb from page 51? Remember an adverb tells us how something is done.
5. Who has written Oliver the note that he finds in his pocket?
6. Why does nothing suspicious happen when they are at Wilderness Woods?
7. Why does Oliver scratch his head on page 59?
8. What happens on pages 59 and 60 that make Oliver think that the monster is to blame?
Activity 6
Read to the end of chapter 5.
Why does Oliver think it was silly to imagine the painting had winked at him? What does he think it was instead?
What verb does the author use to describe how the rain fell out of the sky? (page 62).
Why does Mrs. Moon look ‘rather pleased with herself’ on page 64?
The author uses an ellipsis on page 67 (…), why does she do this? What affect does it have on the reader?
Why does the book only show High Witch Arabella?
How have the pasta pieces ended up inside the painting?
How does Mrs Moon feel when she sees the monster in the painting come alive and grab her son? What does she do?
Where do you think the monster in the painting is taking Oliver?

Activity 7
Read to the end of the book.
The author gives two reasons why Oliver is terrified, what are they?
Write two synonyms for said used on page 73.
Why can’t Oliver’s parents hear him anymore on page 74?
What is Cacklewick forest full of that make it sound like a terrifying place?
The author describes the thunder as ‘thundering ominously’, use a dictionary to write what ‘ominous’ means in your guided reading book. (page 75).
What adverb does the author use to describe how the cat is looking at Oliver on page 77?
Why does Oliver feel less scared of Arabella all of a sudden on page 81?
Why does Mr Moon think that the High Witch Arabella is ‘bonkers’?
Which witch do you think that Oliver is going to base his class project on?
Is the ending what you expected? Write a few sentences to explain how you thought the story would end– don’t forget your capital letters and full stops!
Activity 8
1. Oliver had just one wish and he wished for five tickets to the Cacklewick Lightnings match, what would you wish for if you had just one wish?
2. Can you write an alternative ending for this story?
-What could have happened when he went to the creepy cottage?
-Who could have been waiting there?
-Would it be a happy ending?
Write a paragraph in your guided reading book remembering CL and FS, interesting adjectives and even adverbs to describe how somebody is doing something.