Officer Buckle and Gloria: questions to ask and activities to try
Officer Buckle's safety talks are boring, until his police dog Gloria starts acting them out behind his back. A funny Caldecott Medal book about teamwork and sharing the credit.
What age is Officer Buckle and Gloria for?
Officer Buckle and Gloria is best for ages 4–8.
Officer Buckle and Gloria (Peggy Rathmann)
- Age
- 4-8
- Best for
- Teamwork, sharing credit, and staying safe
Only 50pOfficer Buckle and Gloria 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 ↓
Look closely at what Gloria is doing behind Officer Buckle. Talk about how he felt when he found out, and why they did better together.
Is this book right for your child?
- Age
- 4–8 (Reception to Year 3)
- What they'll enjoy
- Officer Buckle's safety talks are boring, until his police dog Gloria starts acting them out behind his back. A funny Caldecott Medal book about teamwork and sharing the credit.
- Helps with
- Teamwork, sharing credit, and staying safe
- 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
- Teamwork
- Feeling left out or upstaged
- Sharing credit
- Safety rules
Comprehension and discussion questions for Officer Buckle and Gloria
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.
- “Why didn’t the children listen to Officer Buckle at first?”
- “What was Gloria doing behind his back?”
- “How did Officer Buckle feel when he saw the video?”
- “What happened when they gave talks apart?”
- “What was his best safety tip at the end?”
- “Who is your buddy?”
For the full list of questions and more, download the PDF below.
Print these questions: free question card for Officer Buckle and Gloria
All 6 questions for Officer Buckle and Gloria 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
Safety star
Make a safety-tip poster together for your home, with a picture for each tip.
Act it out
One person reads a safety tip while the other acts it out, Gloria style. Then swap.
Officer Buckle and Gloria 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.
Friendship & Kindness bundle15 activity sheets for books on the same themeThe 15 books:The Smartest Giant in TownSuperwormThe Day the Crayons QuitOi Frog!A Splendid Friend, IndeedAaaarrgghh, Spider!Big Box Little BoxBiscuit BearBlue ChameleonBlue PenguinColin and Lee, Carrot and PeaHanda's SurpriseHappy Birthday, MaisyHello, Friend!Iris and Isaac£4.99 3 sheets for £1.25Officer Buckle and Gloria + The Smartest Giant in Town + SuperwormThe 3 books:Officer Buckle and GloriaThe Smartest Giant in TownSuperworm£1.25 Pick your own books: build a bundle with this one, up to 15% off →
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Use it as a lesson plan
Children can listen to Officer Buckle and Gloria, answer questions about it and give a reason for their ideas, and talk about teamwork.
A 20-minute session for ages 4–8 (Reception to Year 3), 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: Look closely at what Gloria is doing behind Officer Buckle. Talk about how he felt when he found out, and why they did better together.
- Talk about it (4 minutes). Pick two or three of the comprehension and discussion questions above. “Why didn’t the children listen to Officer Buckle at first?” works well to start.
- Activity (6 minutes). Do Safety star. Make a safety-tip poster together for your home, with a picture for each tip. Children who finish early can try Act it out.
- Wrap up (2 minutes). Ask each child for one thing they will remember from the story, and why.
Want to go further? The Officer Buckle and Gloria 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
A Friend for Henry (Jenn Bailey)
- Best for
- Autism, friendship and sensory/social differences
- Age
- 4-8
The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon (Mini Grey)
- Best for
- What happened after the Dish ran away with the Spoon
- Age
- 4-8
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? (Carol McCloud and David Messing)
- Best for
- Kindness, and understanding how our words make others feel
- Age
- 4-8
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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.