Special Collections
Browse by Lexile: 500L - 590L
- Table View
- List View
The Littles Give a Party
by John PetersonIt's a dangerous life, being smaller than six inches tall so it's truly amazing that Granny will be turning eighty on her Fourth of July birthday. Instead of being excited about it, she's worried that she's too old and has stopped paying attention to anything. Tom and Lucy, her great grandchildren and their family think a big party will cheer her up. The trouble is, most of Granny's favorite people think they are too old to travel to the party and riding in Cousin Dinky's glider is too risky. The Little's have a long list of adventures ahead to pull off the party. They must rig up a swimming pool, smuggle hot dogs, and hardest of all, they have to sneak young Henry's toy airplane out of his room at night to fly the guests to the party. Except for having to hear Dinky's terrible singing, it's all worth it because Granny is so excited to see her friends. Bookshare has many more books about the family who uses thimbles for wastebaskets and finger puppets on cereal boxes for costumes. Some of the Little's books are: The Littles, The Littles Take a Trip, The Littles and the Surprise Thanksgiving Guests, The Littles to the Rescue, Tom Little's Halloween Scare, The Littles and the Trash Tinies, The Littles Go to School, The Littles Get Trapped, and The Littles and the Missing Cat.
The Littles Have a Merry Christmas
by John PetersonThis new addition to the series for beginning readers was adapted from THE LITTLES AND THE TRASH TINIES (Scholastic 1977). It's almost Christmas, and all the Littles are full of good cheer. . . all except Uncle Nick. Uncle Nick just moved in. It was time for him to rest after thirty years of fighting mice in Trash City. Uncle Nick likes his new home, but he misses all his friends in Trash City. So the Littles decide to get Uncle Nick a very special Christmas present. Tom and Lucy travel all the way to Trash City, where they meet many strange and wonderful tiny people. They bring some of Uncle Nick's friends back to visit him -- now all the Littles can have a Merry Christmas!
The Littles Take A Trip
by John PetersonThe Little family takes a trip out from their house and into the woods and encounter many exciting and scary adventures.
The Case of the Missing Monkey
by Cynthia RylantWhile having breakfast at their favorite diner, two detectives, Bunny and Jack, solve a mystery that is not what it seems.
Henry and Mudge and the Long Weekend
by Cynthia RylantHenry and his dog Mudge build an indoor castle in this eleventh Ready-to-Read book of their adventures. Henry and his 180-pound dog Mudge are best friends forever. And on a long weekend, they build a glorious indoor castle, complete with knights and kings! Ready-To-Read Level 2.
Henry and Mudge and the Snowman Plan
by Cynthia RylantBeginning chapter book for grades 2-4. Other books in this series are available from Bookshare.
Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble
by Cynthia RylantFor Henry and his big dog Mudge, spring means admiring the first snow glory, playing in puddles in the rain, and watching the five new kittens next door.
Henry and Mudge in the Sparkle Days
by Cynthia RylantFrom the Book Jacket: Henry and his 180-pound dog Mudge are best friends forever. And in this fifth book of their adventures, they share the joys of winter. Other books in this series are available from Bookshare.
Poppleton in Spring
by Cynthia RylantPoppleton the pig charms young readers with his quirky adventures, whimsical ideas, and engaging community of friends! In these three fun springtime stories, Poppleton tries his hand at spring cleaning, riding a bicycle, and staying up all night in his new tent.
Poppleton in Winter
by Cynthia RylantIn this easy-to-read chapter book, Poppleton the pig charms young readers with his quirky adventures and whimsical ideas! Poppleton grows an icicle garden and ends up with an icicle fence instead. He sculpts a bust of Cherry Sue without explaining his constant visits just to look at her face. And he wonders why he can't find a friend to go on a sleigh ride with. No one can go, because they're all preparing Poppleton's birthday party!
[This text is listed as an example that meets Common Core Standards in English language arts in grades 2-3 at http://www.corestandards.org.]
Alone in His Teacher's House
by Louis SacharThe good thing Marvin has going will take him by surprise and help him to grow up. His teacher has picked him as her most responsible student, the boy she can trust to feed and pay attention to her dog, Waldo, and walk him 3 times a day while she's out of town for a week. He'll earn $25.
Waldo is lovable, Marvin is proud of his first job, its cool looking around at his teacher's things, his older brother admires him, His parents support him, and little sister Lindsey loves playing with Waldo.
This job should be easy but Marvin has problems. Waldo doesn't want to eat; his special care makes Marvin late to school. The sub labels Marvin a trouble maker and picks on him. And Marvin's friends think he's stuck up because he won't let them play in his teacher's house. After he's done his very best, his teacher won't be happy when she gets home. She might even hate Marvin. He cries and can't sleep. No one can help him. He must face his teacher and tell her everything.
This is a quick reading chapter book. Marvin finds that being mature means making decisions by himself; should he let his friends inside their teacher's house to see what she has in there? Should he let them play with Waldo? Should he call his parents or the vet for help? Should he eat dog food? Listen to your child read these short chapters written on second grade level but of interest to kids up to 6th grade.
Enjoy the humor together and help your child understand Marvin's frustration when he learns that being trustworthy sometimes means making his friends mad and that there is joy, worry and sorrow in caring for an old, lovable, pet. 3 other delightful Marvin Redpost books are in the collection. The book also contains a long list of other popular high interest, low vocabulary stepping stone books.
Marvin Redpost
by Louis SacharMarvin Redpost suddenly figures out why he has red hair and blue eyes, when everyone else in his family has brown hair and brown eyes.
He's not really Marvin Redpost at all. He is Robert, the Lost Prince of Shampoon! Soon his friends are treating him like royalty. Now all he has to do is break the news to his "parents."
Marvin Redpost
by Louis SacharDoes anybody like being the new kid at school? The new kid, Joe Normal, doesn't, and since his parents are always moving, he is forced to be the new kid again and again. Joe tries to fit in, but the kids never like him. They talk about him behind his back for kissing the flagpole, they laugh out loud at him in class when he doesn't know what an elephant is because he says there aren't many of them in Chicago where he's from.
At recess they don't want to let him in line to play ball and after school they say if he goes home with them to play, their dog will bite him. Marvin agrees that a kid who shakes hands with everyone he meets is weird, but even if it means Marvin's friends will stop playing with him, Marvin decides to take Joe home. Marvin thinks it's hard being the new kid.
Strange things continue to happen when Joe and Marvin go home. Joe is wild about Jell-O, teaches the family to play a new game where they step on paper plates instead of slimy fish, and eats his pizza with a knife and fork, but everyone, even Marvin's teen aged brother, likes Joe. Marvin and Joe become best friends and suddenly the kids at school like Joe, too.
Then why does Joe come to Marvin's house in a big limo driven by soldiers? What does all of this have to do with a giant flying birthday cake with green frosting?
Marvin Redpost
by Louis SacharMarvin is about to have a lesson in magic...Marvin Redpost is amazed when he finds out that Casey Happleton lives in an old firehouse. But that's not the only amazing thing about Casey.
She's also got a super-secret magic crystal that she's going to share with Marvin. Is it true? Or is Casey putting her own spell on Marvin?
Marvin tells his friends and family and classmates he doesn't like Casey. He likes eating snacks with her, talking to her, making wishes with her, laughing at the same things with her. When he wishes she would shut up and she shuts up for day after day Marvin isn't having as much fun anymore, not even with his best friends.
This is the last book in the Marvin Redpost series. It's another easy to read, funny story that kids can understand. Louis Sachar has written many more children's books that readers in middle grades will enjoy.
Marvin Redpost
by Louis SacharIf you kiss yourself on the elbow, you'll turn into a girl.
When Marvin's lips touch his elbow, he suddenly finds himself acting very strange. Wishing he had pigtails like his sister, Linzy. Asking to play hopscotch at recess. Even dotting his i's with little hearts in class! Sure, he may have figured out the secret difference between girls and boys...but will Marvin Redpost ever return to normal?
Why Pick on Me?
by Louis SacharThis book will help children understand teasing and how to cope when they are being picked on. An argument over the score of a ball game on the playground ends with Marvin being accused of picking his nose.
By the next day all the kids say he's a nose picker, and won't touch anything that might have Marvin's boogers on it. His life gets worse when Marvin's best friends don't want to be seen with him, when his grades go down, and his teacher writes an embarrassing note right on his report card! Even the lunch lady and the principal get on Marvin's case.
Can it be that Marvin's four-year-old sister's very gross, very personal, question could be the key to a plan that can stop the teasing and end Marvin's loneliness? Kids will be amazed that a book this easy to read can be so hilarious! They may even decide to test their friends' and family's honesty and have some laughs with Marvin's little sister's rude, embarrassing, question. By the way, do you...?
Owl Moon
by Jane Yolen and John SchoenherrLate one winter night a child and father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream. Wordlessly the two companions walk along, for when you go owling you don't need words. You don't need anything but hope. Sometimes there isn't an owl, but sometimes there is.
Distinguished author Jane Yolen has created a gentle, poetic story that lovingly depicts the special companionship of a child and father as well as humankind's close relationship to the natural world.
Images and image descriptions available.
Nate the Great and the Crunchy Christmas
by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Craig Sharmat and Marc SimontBeginning readers are introduced to the detective mystery genre in these chapter books. Perfect for the Common Core, kids can problem-solve with Nate, using logical thinking to solve mysteries! Annie's dog is unhappy. When Fang is unhappy, everyone is unhappy. Especially Nate the Great. So Nate agrees to sniff out Fang's mysteriously missing Christmas mail. It's cold and snowy. But Nate the Great and his dog, Sludge, will try to solve this holiday case in time for Fang to have a crunchy, munchy Christmas.Check out the Fun Activities section in the back of the book! Visit Nate the Great and Sludge!NatetheGreatBooks.com"All the usual characters, Sharmat's wry humor, and Simont's lively, appealing watercolors are packed into this easy reader that's sure to be popular all year long."--School Library Journal"Nate uncovers some snowy clues to deliver a lip-smacking holiday greeting to Fang and his owner. Simont's loose, humorous chalk and watercolor spots help turn this beginning reader into a page-turner."--Publishers WeeklyFrom the Trade Paperback edition.
Nate the Great and the Musical Note
by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Craig SharmatNate the Great has to solve the musical riddle to know what Pips mother wants Pip to do at four oclock. Time is running out and its almost four oclock. Will Nate the Great stay stuck in the middle of this musical riddle?
Nate the Great and the Stolen Base
by Marc Simont and Marjorie SharmatRosamund's baseball team has a very unusual second base--Oliver's gloopy purple plastic octopus. But one morning . . . it's gone! "Somebody stole second base," Rosamond tells teammate Nate the Great. With the help of his dog, Sludge, the young detective trails the missing octopus, picking up clues along the way. It's not easy to track down a stolen base, and Nate's hunt leads him to some strange places before he finds himself up at bat once more.
Nate The Great Goes Down In The Dumps
by Marjorie Weinman SharmatRosamond looks into her crystal ball and sees another case for Nate to crack--her money box is missing and she wants Nate to find it.
Nate the Great and Me
by Marjorie Weinman SharmatAnnie's dog Fang is missing! Nate discovers this when his friends throw him a surprise Happy Detective Day party. Includes Detective Tips and Activities.
Nate the Great and the Boring Beach Bag
by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Marc SimontIt's gone! Oliver's boring blue beach bag is gone. Inside are his clothes, shoes, and a special seashell. All he has left is his beach ball.This is a perfect case for Nate the Great and his trusty dog Sludge. But they don't find many clues in the sand and surf. What trail should they follow next? Follow the leader to find out!
Nate the Great and the Fishy Prize
by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Marc SimontNate the Great is about to enter his dog, Sludge, in the smartest pet contest. But when the prize disappears, it looks as if the contest will flop.It's a tough case for Nate and Sludge as they search for clues leading to the missing prize. In more ways than one, it's a very fishy business. Can Nate and Sludge find the prize in time?