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Browse by Lexile: 500L - 590L
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Scream for Ice Cream
by Carolyn KeeneHow can a contest this sweet turn so sticky? Nancy and her friends think there is nothing more fun than ice cream in the summer. So when they find out that the owners of the local ice-cream factory are hosting a contest, the Clue Crew can't wait to enter! Contestants must come up with brand-new flavors. And they can use whatever ingredients they want! Nancy is sure that her entry -- Clue Berry -- will win! But when a friend's secret recipe goes missing, Nancy suspects that someone not-so-sweet is up to no good.
Sam and the Tigers
by Julius LesterLittle Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman is re-created in a black southern storytelling voice in which the storyteller is involved--a voice readers may recognize from his retellings of The Tales of Uncle Remus, among others. He turns Sam's deals with hungry tigers into an exuberant battle of wits, and transforms his pancake dinner into a glorious feast for the whole community.
Princess Mix-up Mystery
by Carolyn Keene and Macky PamintuanNancy, Bess, and George have won the contest of a lifetime - a day of royal treatments at Prissy Princess Parlor! They couldn't be more thrilled.
But some of their classmates are jealous, and the owner of the local yoga studio, located above the parlor, thinks the new salon will disrupt his calm atmosphere.
When their makeovers are sabotaged, who is to blame? With so many potential suspects, the Clue Crew has their work cut out for them. It's time to put down the hair spray and crack this case!
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.]
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.
The Pet War
by Allan WoodrowTHE PET WAR is a hilarious story about the timeless battles of dog vs. cat, brother vs. sister, know-it-all vs. know-nothing. Eleven-year-old Otto wants a dog. His twelve-year-old perfect sister, Lexi, wants a cat. Their mother, who works very long hours as a nurse, wants neither. Pets are expensive so who's going to pay for everything? And what happens to the pet when the siblings are at their dad's for the weekend? Otto has an idea. What if he got a job and earned enough money to pay for the dog? Then Lexi has to open her big mouth. She proposes that whichever sibling can raise enough money first will decide which pet they get. Oddly enough, their mom and dad agree. With Otto and Lexi each out to defeat the other, their business plans become more elaborate and involved. As the competition gets fiercer, the stakes get higher, and the battle lines have been drawn, so let the Pet War begin. . . .
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.
Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great
by Judy BlumeSheila Tubman sometimes wonders who she really is: the outgoing, witty, and capable Sheila the Great, or the secret Sheila, who's afraid of the dark, spiders, swimming, and dogs.When her family spends the summer in Tarrytown, Sheila has to face some of her worst fears. Not only does a dog come with the rented house, but her parents expect Sheila to take swimming lessons! Sheila does her best to pretend she's an expert at everything, but she knows she isn't fooling her new best friend, Mouse Ellis, who happens to be a crackerjack swimmer and a dog lover.What will it take for Sheila to admit to the Tarrytown kids -- and to herself -- that she's only human?
One True Way
by Shannon HitchcockWelcome to Daniel Boone Middle School in the 1970s, where teachers and coaches must hide who they are, and girls who like girls are forced to question their own choices.
Presented in the voice of a premier storyteller, One True Way sheds exquisite light on what it means to be different, while at the same time being wholly true to oneself. Through the lives and influences of two girls, readers come to see that love is love is love.
Set against the backdrop of history and politics that surrounded gay rights in the 1970s South, this novel is a thoughtful, eye-opening look at tolerance, acceptance, and change, and will widen the hearts of all readers.
The One and Only Ivan
by Katherine Applegate and Patricia CastelaoIvan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all.
Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he's seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line.
Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home-and his own art-through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it's up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.
Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan's unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope.
Newbery Medal Winner
Nate the Great Stalks Stupidweed
by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Marc SimontWhen Oliver asks his friend Nate the Great to find his lost weed, Nate can't say no. This isn't just any weed. It's a Superweed that Oliver bought from Rosamond's Adopt-A-Weed sale.First Nate must figure out where to look for the weed. Together with his trusty dog Sludge, they search for clues in the woods, the park and even the library! But is the biggest clue right under Nate's nose?
Nate the Great Saves the King of Sweden
by Marjorie Weinman SharmatRosamond is visiting Scandinavia when she loses something. She wants Nate the Great to find it, even though he doesn't know what she lost or what country she lost it in or when she lost it. And he's thousands of miles away. But if Nate doesn't take the case, Rosamond plans to hire the King of Sweden.
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 and the Sticky Case
by Marjorie Weinman SharmatA stegosaurus stamp belonging to Nate's friend Claude disappears, and the indomitable Nate the Great is called in on the case. At first, even Nate is stumped -- the stamp has just vanished without a trace! But with clues from the weather and his ever-faithful dog, Sludge, Nate is soon on his way to wrapping up his stickiest case yet.
Nate the Great and the Snowy Trail
by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Marc SimontNate the Great, super sleuth, has his work cut out for him when Rosamond loses his birthday present. He and his faithful dog Sludge must face snow, ice, and ferocious-looking Fang, Annie's dog, to solve the case. But how can Nate find his missing present when Rosamond won't tell him what it is?
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 Missing Key
by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Marc SimontNate the Great doesn't especially want to go to a birthday party for Annie's ferocious dog, Fang. But he can't resist a mystery--and when Annie loses her house key and can't get inside to set up the party, Nate and his trusty dog, Sludge, are hot on the trial.
Nate the Great and the Halloween Hunt
by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Marc SimontIt is Halloween night and all the kids are dressed in scary and funny costumes. Their Trick or Treat bags are getting heavier.Nate's good friend Rosamond needs his help. Her cat, Little Hex, is missing. Little Hex hates Halloween, so maybe he's hiding. Or is he lost? Nate and his trusty dog Sludge take the case and hunt in the night for Little Hex. They pass robots, pirates, and witches. But where will they find Little Hex?
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?
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 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 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 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.
Mysteries According to Humphrey
by Betty G. BirneyMrs. Brisbane is missing! She just didn't show up in Room 26 one morning and no one told Humphrey why.
The class has a substitute teacher, called Mr. E., but he's no Mrs. Brisbane.
Humphrey has just learned about Sherlock Holmes, so he vows to be just as SMART-SMART-SMART about collecting clues and following leads to solve the mystery of Mrs. Brisbane (and a few others along the way).
Nominated for twenty-four state awards and the winner of seven, the Humphrey series is a hit across the country.