"Hello, Hamlet" and "Our Skating Rink'

Hamlet has more children and playgrounds than Bombay.

Hamlet is not as beautiful and peaceful as Bombay.

Hamlet has more stores and restaurants than Bombay.

Hamlet is not as large and busy as Bombay.

"Hamlet, I see, is small and quiet. I am not used to small and quiet. I am used to big and loud." (paragraph 1)

"Instead it, has narrow streets and shady trees. It has a town square with a pizza restaurant, a shoe shop, and a statue of a man on a horse." (paragraph 2)

"We pass an empty brick building with a playground in the back and a sign in the front. The sign reads: Hamlet Elementary School." (paragraph 9)

"The walls are as white as Bape's cotton shirt. The floors are shiny. There is not a speck of dust on the stairs or a single cobweb in the corners." (paragraph 24)

Lowji and his parents are moving from Bombay, India, to Hamlet, Illinois. Lowji's new town and apartment are very different from his old home.

Lowji is upset when his family moves from Bombay, India, to Hamlet, Illinois. Lowji feels better about the move after he meets the new neighbors.

Lowji is curious about his family's new home in Hamlet, Illinois. While Lowji's new school is similar to his old school, his new apartment house is much smaller.

Lowji and his parents are excited to visit Hamlet, Illinois. Unfortunately, Lowji has no children with whom to play during the visit because they are all in school.

Bape is careful not to dirty the walls.

The apartment walls are clean and bright.

Bape can see his reflection on the walls.

The apartment walls are old and need new paint.

He learned it by watching television.

His friend taught him before he left Bombay.

He learned it by reading books.

His mother taught him after they left Bombay.

Landlady Crisp wore a long-sleeve shirt to clean the apartment.

Landlady Crisp got hurt while cleaning the apartment.

Landlady Crisp got especially dirty cleaning the apartment.

Landlady Crisp worked hard to clean the apartment.

"Good afternoon..."

"...Bape says politely."

"...brings his palms together..."

"...the Sanjana family."

People should try to make the best of boring situations.

Friends often hep each other when they get hurt.

People who try new activities too often can become bored.

Friends should not question each other's ideas.

"The children thought it strange of him To pin it up upon the wall;" (lines 9-10)

"We haven't any skates," said Jim; "It isn't any good at all." (lines 11-12)

"He wasn't hurt. "I'm quite all right," He cried, and scrambled up again;" (lines 21-22)

"And on they skated with delight, Forgetting all about the rain!" (lines 23-24)

at the skating rink

in their house

at the train tracks

in the rain

not standing up

moving very smoothly

not jumping around

going too quickly