Mortimer: questions to ask and activities to try
Every night Mortimer sings at bedtime, and everyone from his parents to the police comes upstairs to tell him to be quiet. A noisy, funny Robert Munsch bedtime story.
What age is Mortimer for?
Mortimer is best for ages 3–6.
Mortimer (Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko)
- Age
- 3-6
- Best for
- Bedtime battles, with lots of noise and laughter
Only 50pMortimer activity sheet3 printable pages: questions to talk about, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the grown-up. Instant PDF.
Just want the questions? Get the free question card ↓
Sing Mortimer’s song loudly together, then get quieter each time. Talk about what helps your child wind down at bedtime.
Is this book right for your child?
- Age
- 3–6 (nursery to Year 1)
- What they'll enjoy
- Every night Mortimer sings at bedtime, and everyone from his parents to the police comes upstairs to tell him to be quiet. A noisy, funny Robert Munsch bedtime story.
- Helps with
- Bedtime battles, with lots of noise and laughter
- Buy or borrow?
- Borrow it from the library first if you can. If your child asks for it again and again, it’s one worth owning, and the questions and activities on this page work best with the book open next to you.
What it helps with
- Bedtime battles
- Winding down to sleep
- Laughing about tricky routines
- Noisy and quiet voices
Comprehension and discussion questions for Mortimer
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “What did Mortimer sing at bedtime?”
- “Who came upstairs to tell him to be quiet?”
- “Why did everyone end up arguing?”
- “How did Mortimer finally fall asleep?”
- “What helps you get sleepy at night?”
- “Is it easier to be loud or quiet?”
For the full list of questions and more, download the PDF below.
Print these questions: free question card for Mortimer
All 6 questions for Mortimer on one printable page, each marked with the reading skill it practises. Enter your email and download it straight away.
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5-minute activities to try together
Loud to quiet
Sing Mortimer’s song together, a little quieter each time, until you’re whispering.
Wind-down routine
Draw your bedtime routine as a picture list, ending with sleep.
Mortimer activity sheet: printable worksheet and questions
All the questions and activities above on a ready-to-print activity sheet: questions tagged by reading skill with space to answer, a drawing and writing page with a self-check, and notes for the adult with curriculum links and a 20-minute session plan. Pay by card, PayPal or Payhip and download straight away.
- Page 1, talk about it: questions about the story, each tagged with the reading skill it practises, with space to answer or tick
- Page 2, my favourite part: a drawing box, a sentence starter and a “how did I do?” self-check
- Page 3, notes for the adult: curriculum links, a 20-minute session plan, extension activities, and support and challenge ideas
- Read it togetherEnjoy the story first.
- Ask 2 or 3 questionsFrom the list above, while everyone is calm.
- Print the activity sheetAn activity sheet with questions, a drawing page and notes for you.
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Use it as a lesson plan
Children can listen to Mortimer, answer questions about it and give a reason for their ideas, and talk about bedtime battles.
A 20-minute session for ages 3–6 (nursery to Year 1), for a class, a small group or one child at home.
- Warm up (2 minutes). Show the cover and read the title. Ask: “What do you think this story will be about?”
- Read aloud (6 minutes). Read it all the way through. Tip: Sing Mortimer’s song loudly together, then get quieter each time. Talk about what helps your child wind down at bedtime.
- Talk about it (4 minutes). Pick two or three of the comprehension and discussion questions above. “What did Mortimer sing at bedtime?” works well to start.
- Activity (6 minutes). Do Loud to quiet. Sing Mortimer’s song together, a little quieter each time, until you’re whispering. Children who finish early can try Wind-down routine.
- Wrap up (2 minutes). Ask each child for one thing they will remember from the story, and why.
Want to go further? The Mortimer activity sheet has these questions with space to answer, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the adult.
If your child liked this, try
The Paper Bag Princess (Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko)
- Best for
- A clever princess who rescues the prince
- Age
- 4-7
Bedtime for Monsters (Ed Vere)
- Best for
- Bedtime fears, with a funny twist
- Age
- 3-6
A Dark, Dark Tale (Ruth Brown)
- Best for
- A spooky story with a gentle surprise
- Age
- 3-6
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 25 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.