The focus of this reading is to read the story and talk about new vocabulary. There will be opportunities in this reading to connect the information in the illustrations to the information in the text.
*Read the pages before you ask the questions.
Pages 1 – 11:
~On page 2, now that we know that Laszlo is afraid of the dark, use the look on his face to infer whether the sun is rising or setting. (It must be setting because Laszlo looks afraid.)
~On page 4, Mr. Snickett makes the dark seem to be alive when he writes, “The dark lived in the same house as Laszlo…..”We’ll look for other ways that Mr. Snickett makes the dark seem to be alive, like the dark is a person.
~On pages 5 and 6, how does the dark behave like a person? (hid in closets and sat behind the shower curtain)
~On page 7, why did the dark spend most of its time in the basement? When does the dark leave the basement? Why?
~On Page 10 and 11, Why do you think Laszlo talks to the dark each morning? Does that work to keep the dark in the basement?
Pages 12 – 20:
~On page 15, Mr. Snickett describes the dark’s voice. When you read what the dark says try to make its voice sound as Mr. Snickett describes it.
~Remember the illustrations from the First Reading. What is it that the dark wants to show Laszlo?
Pages 21 – 28:
~On page 24, why had Laszlo never come to the dark’s room at night?
~On page 27, Mr. Snickett talks to the reader. He tells you that the things and places in your house that might make you afraid of the dark are in your house to serve very important jobs. Why does he tell you that we need to value the dark?
Pages 29 – END:
~On page 29 and 30, how does Laszlo find the new bulbs for his nightlight? Does the dark seem mean or polite?
~On page 31 and 32, why is the dark no longer in Laszlo’s room?
~On page 33 and 34, what’s different the next morning when Laszlo comes to say hi to the dark? (Laszlo comes down the stairs.) Why doesn’t the dark answer Laszlo?
~On page 35 and 36, why isn’t Laszlo bothered by the dark any more?