1. The Story of the Shell

2. break Service Words

3. Vocabulary Mom and I were at home. We had plans to drive to church. We were meeting friends in the church lobby, right inside the front door. While I was reading in my room, I heard Mom’s excited voice. “Jesse, please come quickly. I need your help!”

4. Vocabulary I hurried to the family room. I saw that our parakeet had gotten out of her cage. I put my book on the coffee table and stood very still. Our parakeet flew and landed on my shoulder.

5. Vocabulary Mom glanced at the birdcage and said quietly, “If you stay calm, I think that Chirpster will let you put her back into her cage.” Soon she was back inside her home!

6. What is the setting of the story?

7. What details help you to learn about Mr. Gray’s new home?

8. Why do Mom, Nick, and Emma go to visit Mr. Gray? Share some details that tell about Mr. Gray’s home at Maple Brook Health Care. How does Emma feel about Mr. Gray? How do you know?

9. hour Service Words minute

10. Vocabulary Andy and Jon know a lot about frogs and are frog experts. Red is my favorite color. She has a happy memory of playing checkers with her grandpa.

11. Vocabulary He was polishing the car with a towel. Mom covered the gift with sheets of tissue paper. The young kitten could not leave its mother yet.

12. What do you think Emma’s gift might be?

13. What was in the box that Emma carried into Mr. Gray’s room?

14. Why did Emma give Mr. Gray a clamshell as a gift? Where does Mr. Gray keep his shells? What do the children remember about Mr. Gray’s shells?

15. What does Mr. Gray want to tell the children about the conch shell?

16. Vocabulary I collect stamps from the cards and letters I receive. Sammy leaned forward to grab the rope in front of him. A piece of land with water all around it is an island.

17. Vocabulary The lady married a soldier who was stationed overseas during the war. The cook wore a uniform while he worked in the kitchen.

18. Why did Emma give her friend Mr. Gray a clamshell as a gift?

19. Who else saw the large shell?

20. What is Mr. Gray’s story about? How did Mr. Gray meet his wife, Doris? What picture does Mr. Gray have in his room? How did Mr. Gray become a Christian?

21. Vocabulary Mom helped Emma and Nick arrange the shells in the basket again. The ocean waves crashed hard on the beach. Mark shoved his hand into his pocket and then pulled out the coins.

22. What do you think Mr. Gray’s gift will be?

23. What does Emma want to do with the shell?

24. What details does the author use to tell about Mr. Gray’s new home? Why do Mom, Emma, and Nick visit Mr. Gray? What story does Mr. Gray tell? Why does he love to tell his story?

25. Why do you think Mr. Gray was glad that Mom, Emma, and Nick came to visit? Mom, Emma, and Nick showed God’s love to Mr. Gray by visiting him. What are some ways that you could show God’s love to an older person?