This wonderful book is natural science - in this case, about desert animals - with a flair. A boy walks up to an impressive saguaro cactus and wonders who could be living on this arid ground? As night falls, he walks away. And then the place comes alive! A haven for creatures in a waterless land. The entertaining, repetitive rhyme is an attention-grabbing read-aloud that culminates in successful learning. Field Notes at the end of the book describe the animals in detail and include an unusual fact.
This collection of true stories of animal behavior is not only captivating and thought-provoking, but also a terrific way for teachers and parents to have children to consider feelings--whether animal or human. A young antelope was being dragged into a river by a crocodile. A nearby hippopotamus saw what was happening and charged the croc, which released the antelope. The hippo gently pulled the antelope up the riverbank, comforting and protecting it until it died. Was this compassion? A zoo monkey routinely used a banana to bribe a moose to carry him across a moat designed to keep him confined to a small island. Was this cleverness?
A simple, small act of kindness may go much farther than you think. Brian wasn't looking for anything in return when he gave his mother a great big hug. Brian's hug set in motion a series of unselfish acts that reached more people (and even animals) than he could ever know. This is a story that happens every day, with infinite variation, among good-hearted people everywhere. After all, kindness IS contagious.
This book is a year-after-year favorite with teachers. It engagingly leads readers around the world following a drop of water--whether as steam or snow, inside a plant or animal, or underground--teaching the wonders and importance of the water cycle. (There is lots of geography, too.) Four pages of science about the qualities of water are included.
Years after a great oak tree tumbled to the ground, a whole community of animals made it their home. Roly-polies and daddy longlegs prowled here and there, while chipmunks and salamanders dashed everywhere. Question: Is the old tree alive? Or is it now dead? This lighthearted book offers a marvelous insight into a unique and easily-accessible community of forest animals. Jennifer DiRubbio's vivid close-up illustrations bring these fascinating creatures to life. Parents and teachers: the author offers over a dozen "activities, projects, and lots of cool ideas" ranging from suggestions for an animal diary, readers theatre, finger play, and much more that will help make learning fun.
Arrow-shaped footprints lead a young backyard naturalist to a flock of funny-looking birds with big strong feet - Wild Turkeys! Once nearly extinct, these comical critters now gobble their way across North America. Follow Jenny through a year of enchantment as she shares her discovery of these wonderful birds. Gobble, gobble! Jenny wrote a journal, too, with lots of fascinating stuff about a distinctly American bird. Although it once numbered in the millions, wild turkeys nearly disappeared with overhunting and habitat destruction, but are now making a comeback. The illustrations are block prints over collages. The collages are made from cut and torn paper plus all sorts of things from nature--bark, leaves, feathers, even wasp nests! The author also offers tips for children to make their own cut-paper pictures and how to keep a nature journal.
Miss Ett does the laundry on wash day while Grandpa tells stories. As he plays his trumpet, the children march around and sing to the music. This is a touching story about friendship and overcoming the barriers of age and race.
Using animal behavior as an example, this book proves that everyone is afraid sometimes.
When a rat moves into Benito's store, his customers go elsewhere. Benito needs a boa constrictor to get rid of his problem, but how will he find the right one?
Miss Prudence's attempt to save her prized pansies from a hungry pig leads her on a mad ride--on piggy back--through the city.
When the class finds out that the new boy, Alex, exaggerates and even lies, no one wants anything to do with him. But when Alex helps Jim, he decides to befriend him, and soon Alex learns that to be accepted, you just need to be yourself.
The narrator of this story idolizes his older brother. But when big brother leaves for the army, the narrator tries his best to fill big brother's shoes for his younger brother.
Ninny Nanny and Gram decide to catch a leprechaun and use his pot of gold to solve their problems. But finding the fortune is a lot of work! Told in a sweet lilting Irish brogue.
A modern day version of King Midas' Touch. When the gumball machine delivers a ring instead of bubble gum, Peggy can't hide her disappointment. After turning the ring round and round on her finger, a genie appears and grants her one wish for the "sweet touch."
Every year Groundhog gets to eat most of the O'Leary's garden. They decide to plant a garden just for him in the hope that he will be satisfied. But Groundhog has other ideas!
Cyril is shunned by other animals in the zoo because he looks so different from them. However, when winter comes Cyril's colors and stories remind them of the beauty of the natural world and that spring will soon return.
All of the elements of a classic fairy-tale are present in this simple retelling of the Mozart opera.
Four easy-to-read stories in one book featuring Pinwheel, the donkey, and many of his friends will engage beginning readers from cover to cover.
Jim's "Strongest Man in the World!" costume gives him the confidence he needs to stand up to a third-grade bully and save the day.
The Socksnatcher family is secretly living in the Perkins family's cellar. They rely upon the Perkin's smelly socks to add flavor to their soup. But the cat has discovered their secret hiding place!
A fanciful adaptation of a Turkish folktale that tells the story of a poor villager, a donkey, and a wise man whose clever plan outwits a tyrannical Mongol ruler.
After wondering about the new girl's hijab, the class learns just how much they all have in common.
When Jim returns to school after his dog, Muffins, has died, his friends try to comfort him, but Jim wants to be left alone. His classmates are hurt by his rejection, but their teacher explains that Jim needs time to himself. An excellent book for a child who has lost a pet.
Although the children are told to send a card to everyone in their class, George gets fewer cards than everyone else. But his classmates quickly rally round and successfully cheer him up.
At least one sibling in each family shown in this book has a disability. And like all siblings they play, squablle, and work together to solve their differences.
