Who Was Ben Franklin

of 2 John Henry Julius Lester 1. When John Henry was born who came to see him? Birds, bears, panthers, moose, deer, rabbits, squirrel and a unicorn

2. What happened to John Henry when his Mama and Papa brought him out on the porch to show off their new baby? He jumped out of his Mama’s arms and started to grow until his head and shoulders busted through the roof which was over the porch.

3. When John Henry laughed, who got scared? The sun

4. What did John Henry do the morning after he broke the porch roof? He helped his Papa rebuild the porch, added a wing onto the house with an indoor swimming pool and a Jacuzzi. After lunch he chopped down an acre of trees and cut them into fireplace logs.

5. What was the bet that John Henry made with Ferret-Faced Freddy? They would have a race, Ferret-Faced Freddy on his horse, John Henry on his legs. If John Henry won, Ferret-Faced Freddy would have to be nice to John Henry for a year. If Freddy won, John Henry would work for him for a year.

6. How did the race end? When Ferret-Faced Freddy crossed the finish line, John Henry was already there sitting in a rocking chair and drinking a soda.

7. How did the book describe how fast John Henry ran? He was as fast as the wind out of breath trying to keep up with him.

8. What was Ferret-Faced Freddy’s new name after the race? Frederick the Friendly

9. When John Henry left home, what did his daddy give him? Two 20 pound sledge hammers with 4 foot handles made of whale bone.

10. Who did the sledge hammers belong to before they were given to John Henry? His granddaddy

11. When John Henry saw the road crew trying to build a road, what was their problem and how did he help them? There were boulders in the middle of the path for the road. The crew tried to use dynamite to get rid of the boulders. When that didn’t work John Henry swung his sledge hammers and smashed the boulders.

12. John Henry was swinging the hammers so fast he was making what around himself? A rainbow

13. Where was John Henry going when he stopped to help with the road? To West Virginia to find work building the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Page 2 of 2 John Henry Julius Lester 14. When John Henry got to West Virginia they were trying to build a railroad through a mountain. The boss of the crew challenged John Henry to start at the other side of the mountain and whoever got to the middle first won. Who won? John Henry beat the steam drill.

15. What kind of machine did John Henry have a contest against? A steam drill

16. How far through the mountain did John Henry go? A mile and a quarter

17. How far through the mountain did the steam drill go? A quarter mile

18. What happened to John Henry when he walked out of the tunnel? He raised his arms over his head with a hammer in each hand. The rainbow slid off the mountain and around his shoulders. He smiled, closed his eyes and fell to the ground.

19. How did John Henry die? He hammered so hard and so long and so fast, his big heart burst.

20. Who did some people hear crying? The moon

21. Who did some people see shed a tear? The sun

22. Whether it was a whisper everyone heard or a thought, what did everyone know at the same time? “Dying ain’t important. Everybody does that. What matters is how well you do your living.”

23. According to this story where was John Henry’s body taken? Washington, D.C.

24. Where do some say he is buried? On the White House lawn

25. What was the setting of the story? Allegheny Mountains, Summer County, West Virginia, the Big Bend Tunnel built for the Chesapeake Ohio Railroad, 1870 - 1873