Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window

What did Totto-chan want to be when she grows up?

• Railroad ticket seller

• Spy

• Street musician

• Teacher

• Train driver

What was Totto-chan's mother worried about?

• Totto-chan's bad behaviour

• The new school accepting Totto-chan

• Reaching the new school on time

There was a touch of despair in Mother's voice as she said, "Come on, we'll be late. We mustn't keep the headmaster waiting. No more chatter. Look where you're going and walk properly". (Page 11)

What was Mother distressed about?

• Totto-chan lively and chatty nature worried her

• She was worried about being late

• Totto-chan was not walking properly

Totto-chan's homeroom teacher told Mother that Totto-chan disrupted lessons. What were the examples of disruptive behaviour that her teacher gave?

• She opens and shuts her desk loudly many times.

• She stands at the front of the class for the whole lesson.

• She calls the street musicians over to her classroom window.

• She talks to the people passing by the window.

• She drew the navy flag instead of the Japanese flag.

The pretty young teacher sighed. "I'm really at the end of my tether." (Page 11)

What does 'at the end of my tether' mean?

• A state in which one is able to deal with a problem, difficult situation, etc.

• A state in which one is not able to deal with a problem, difficult situation, etc.

"...she suddenly called out to somebody,'What are you doing?'" (Page 15)

Who/What was Totto-chan talking to?

• Street musicians

• People passing by

• Cats lounging by

• A pair of swallows

It wasn't fair to the other pupils. (Page 16)

What does the 'it' refer to?

• The teacher's behaviour

• Totto-chan's disruptive behaviour

• Performances by the street musicians

What kind of school was Mother looking for for Totto-chan?

• Where teachers were disciplinarians

• Where teachers were understanding

• Where Totto-chan can learn how to interact with other people

• Where Totto-chan can score high marks for her subjects

Why didn't Mother tell Totto-chan that she was expelled?

• She was embarrassed by that fact.

• She did not want to deal with the questions that Totto-chan were going to ask if she knew.

• She felt that Totto-chan did not understand what she did wrong and did not want her to have any complexes.

State the concern Totto-chan had about her new school.

• She was worried that the teacher would not like her.

• She was worried that the students would not want to be friends with her.

• She wondered if the swallows were going to follow her there.

• She wondered if the street musicians would come to the new school.