Mayowa and the Sea of Words Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal
Mayowa and the Sea of Words has 32 chapters · Grades 3–5 · 296 pages
WARNING: DO NOT JUMP ON THIS BOOK! Have you ever jumped on a book?
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Inside the journal: 32 chapter pages, one question each · 3 example answers · a cover for your reader’s name
Written for this book Questions about this story, good after any chapter.
What is Mayowa dealing with at this point in the story? Explain what seems most important to her right now.See all 32 questions ↓
About the book
WARNING: DO NOT JUMP ON THIS BOOK! Have you ever jumped on a book? Perhaps not. Most people would think it was a rather unusual thing to do.
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Mayowa and the Sea of Words questions by chapter
We know the book, its characters, setting and story, but not what happens in each chapter. So every question is written for this book, and any of them works wherever your reader has just stopped. One question per chapter, across all 32 chapters, and every one is editable before you print. The example answers under 3 of the chapters are the ones printed at the front of the booklet.
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Chapter 1
What is Mayowa dealing with at this point in the story? Explain what seems most important to her right now.
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Chapter 2
Which of Mayowa's personality traits stands out so far? Use something she says, does, or thinks to support your answer.
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Chapter 3
Based on the clues you have read, what might happen next for Mayowa? Explain why your prediction makes sense.
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Chapter 4
Grandpa Edward has an unusual green beard and jumps on books. What is your impression of him, and which detail helped you form it?
Example answer: I think Grandpa Edward seems unusual and interesting. His emerald-green beard makes me think he does not mind standing out. Jumping on books also makes me curious because it is such a strange thing to do. I would want to find out his reason before deciding he is just being silly.
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Chapter 5
Which feeling seems strongest in the story right now? Describe a detail that helped you recognize it.
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Chapter 6
How does the place where this chapter happens affect its mood? Explain whether it feels safe, strange, exciting, or something else.
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Chapter 7
Choose an unfamiliar or interesting word from this chapter. What do you think it means, and which nearby words help you figure it out?
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Chapter 8
What have you learned so far about Mayowa's family? Explain how one family detail helps you understand her better.
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Chapter 9
Who seems trustworthy at this point in Mayowa's story? Support your answer with a clue from your reading.
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Chapter 10
What does the title, Mayowa and the Sea of Words, make you picture now? Connect your idea to something you have read.
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Chapter 11
Describe a choice a character makes in this chapter. What other choice could that character have made?
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Chapter 12
How does Mayowa's world make you think differently about ordinary books? Explain using a detail from the story so far.
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Chapter 13
Which unanswered question about Mayowa or her family are you most curious about? Explain what made you wonder.
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Chapter 14
What feels ordinary in Mayowa's life, and what feels magical or unusual? Explain how those two sides fit together so far.
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Chapter 15
Where do you notice courage—or a need for courage—in your reading? Explain what makes the situation difficult.
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Chapter 16
Find a phrase or sentence that creates a strong picture in your mind. What do its words help you imagine?
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Chapter 17
The book's premise gives Mayowa the power to share emotions from books. Why might that power be helpful, and why might it be risky?
Example answer: I think this power could help people understand feelings they have never experienced. Mayowa might use it to help someone care about another person's troubles. But it could be risky if she makes someone feel something without asking. I think she would need to consider other people's choices, not just her own good intentions.
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Chapter 18
Choose someone besides Mayowa who appears in your reading. How might that person describe what is happening differently from her?
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Chapter 19
What part of Mayowa's experiences connects with something you have felt or experienced? Explain both the connection and one difference.
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Chapter 20
Whose feelings do you understand best so far? Describe what the author has shown that helps you understand that person.
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Chapter 21
Which small detail from this chapter might matter later? Explain why it caught your attention.
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Chapter 22
Has this chapter strengthened or changed one of your predictions? Describe the clue that affected your thinking.
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Chapter 23
Mayowa's family is unusual in some ways. What does your reading suggest about judging people who seem different?
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Chapter 24
What responsibility do you think Mayowa should have if she can affect other people's feelings? Connect your answer to what you know so far.
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Chapter 25
If you could ask Mayowa one question at this point, what would you ask? Explain how her answer might help you understand the story.
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Chapter 26
Which feeling would you want to receive from a book, and why? Explain how Mayowa's story helped you think of your answer.
Example answer: I would want to receive courage from a book. Sometimes I know what I want to say, but I feel too nervous to speak. Mayowa's book-jumping power makes me imagine borrowing a brave character's feelings for a little while. I would still want to make my own decisions about what to do.
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Chapter 27
Choose a line of dialogue from this chapter. What does it reveal about the speaker or the speaker's relationship with someone else?
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Chapter 28
Where do you notice fairness or unfairness in the story so far? Explain how a character responds, or how you think someone should respond.
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Chapter 29
What similarities or differences have you noticed between Mayowa and Grandpa Edward so far? Explain what those details make you wonder about them.
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Chapter 30
If you illustrated one moment from this chapter, what would you draw? Describe the details you would include to show why that moment matters.
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Chapter 31
What message about words, feelings, or helping others seems to be developing? Support your idea with something you have read so far.
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Chapter 32
As you pause your reading, what do you most hope Mayowa will learn or do next? Explain how the story so far led to that hope.
Discussion questions for after Mayowa and the Sea of Words
Bigger questions for when the book is finished, each printed on its own ruled page at the end of the booklet.
- How does Mayowa change from the beginning of the book to the end? Describe what she learns about herself, her family, or her power. Use moments from different parts of the story to explain what causes those changes and why they matter.
- How does this story connect the magic of books with the real needs of refugees? Explain what you think the author wants readers to understand about feelings and helping others. Use details from the whole book, and discuss whether understanding someone's feelings is enough or whether people also need to act.
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How to use this Mayowa and the Sea of Words reading journal
At home, as a discussion guide
After each chapter your reader writes a few lines on that chapter’s question. Read the answer together at bedtime: it shows what they understood and gives you something real to talk about, without a quiz.
In class, as a novel study
Print a class set (booklets fold from plain letter paper) and use one question per chapter as the reading-response or literature-circle prompt. The example answers at the front show what a full answer looks like.
Homeschool
One booklet covers the whole book, 32 chapters, so it doubles as the reading log for Mayowa and the Sea of Words. Reword any question before printing to match your reader.
Printing
The booklet PDF prints on ordinary 8.5 × 11 paper: print double-sided (flip on the short edge) at 100%, fold the stack in half and staple on the fold. There is also a one-page-per-sheet PDF and A5 binder pages.
Where the questions come from
Questions about this story, good after any chapter. We know the book, its characters, setting and story, but not what happens in each chapter. So every question is written for this book, and any of them works wherever your reader has just stopped. The questions were drafted with AI from what is known about the book and checked before publishing; every one is editable before you print.
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