Reading Comprehension - Literature: "Sarah, Plain and Tall"

Contributed by:
Ivan
A children's book written by Patricia MacLachlan, first published in 1985. It is about a farming family and the children's wish for a mother. Serious themes are addressed in the book, such as loneliness, abandonment, and coping with change.
1. Sarah, Plain and Tall
by Patricia MacLachlan

2. Chapters 1-2
Caleb and Anna’s mama died the day after Caleb was born.
Their mama and papa used to sing every day. Papa doesn’t
sing anymore. Caleb and Anna wished they had a mother.


3. Papa wrote in the newspaper asking for a wife. A woman
named Sarah wrote him a letter. She lived by the sea. She
wanted to be his wife and the children’s mother. Caleb and
Anna wished they had a mother.
E —

4. Sarah wrote that she was plain and tall. Anna and Caleb wrote
her back. Anna asked if Sarah could braid hair. Caleb asked if
she snored. Sarah decided to stay with them for a month in
the country. Caleb and Anna wished they had a mother.

5. Chapters 3-4
Sarah arrived in a wagon. She brought her cat. Sarah brought
seashells for Caleb and Anna. They picked flowers together.
Sarah talked about her brother, the fisherman. The children were
happy to meet Sarah.

6. The children had sheep on their farm. Sarah wanted to pet them.
Sarah had seals by the sea. Caleb and Anna wished that they could
pet seals. T! to meet Sarah.

7. Chapters 5-6
Sarah told the children about the sand dunes in Maine. She used
to slide down the dunes with her brother. Papa made a dune out
of hay. Everyone slid down the pile of hay. Sarah and the children
had fun together.

8. It was a hot summer day. Sarah swam in the pond. She
taught the children how to float on their backs. Sarah
and the children had fun together.

9. Chapters 7-9
Sarah was lonely. She
missed the sea and her
family. The neighbors
brought chickens and
plants. Sarah kept the
chickens as pets. She
started a garden. The
garden reminded her of
home. Sarah started to
like the country.

10.
Sarah wanted to visit the neighbors. She needed to drive the
wagon to visit them: She had to wait to learn because a storm
was _— | rah, papa, and the children stayed the night in’
laa cto the storm from the window. Sarah
looked li ama and papa. Sarah started to like the


11. After the storm, Sarah learned how to drive the wagon. The
children thought Sarah was going to drive away and leave
them. They started to cry. Sarah said goodbye to papa and the
children. She drove into town. Sarah came back with presents.
She didn’t want to leave them. Sarah, papa, and the children
became a famil like the country.

12.