Special Collections
Scholastic Guided Reading Level S
Description: Guided reading is an instructional approach that involves a teacher working with a small group of students who demonstrate similar reading behaviors and can read similar levels of texts. #Teachers
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Bluish
by Virginia HamiltonAll of the kids at school stay away from "Bluish," but when Dreenie and Tuli learn to see beyond her differences, they discover a true friend
Ten-year-old Natalie is different from the other kids at her New York City magnet school: She is often absent, wears a knit cap, and uses a wheelchair. Her classmates have nicknamed her "Bluish" because her pale skin is tinted blue from chemotherapy. Dreenie is fascinated by and a bit frightened of Bluish--she watches her from afar and writes about her in her journal. As the school year progresses, Dreenie and her friend Tuli learn to see beyond Bluish's differences and discover a fiercely independent, spirited girl who isn't so different from them after all. But it's not easy being friends with someone who's sick, and Dreenie doesn't always know how to act. Hamilton delivers a lesson of compassion and demonstrates the power of friendship to overcome even the most trying of situations.
Butterflies and Moths
by Nic BishopAward-winning author and photographer Nic Bishop brings his vast knowledge of biology to this eye-catching exploration of butterflies and moths. With breathtaking full-page images, Nic introduces young readers to the beauty and diversity of these amazing insects, from the shockingly bright blue morpho butterfly to the nearly transparent glass wing butterfly to the mouthless luna moth. The simple, engaging text presents both basic information and fun, quirky facts about the insects' appearance, habits, and life cycle including a double gatefold spread of a butterfly in flight.
The Cod's Tale
by Mark KurlanskyThis illustrated incredible story, combined with Schindler's stunning watercolors, offers a unique look at a thousand years of human civilization as it relates to the codfish.
Dancing Home
by Gabriel M. Zubizarreta and Alma Flor AdaAmerican-born Margie only sees problems when she thinks of Mexico, her parents' home. By shortening her name and perfecting her unaccented English, she's finally convinced the kids at school that she is one hundred percent American. But when her Mexican cousin Lupe comes to visit, everything changes. Things at home hadn't been the same for Lupe since her father left to find work in the North. But being in a new school in the States doesn't seem to be any easier, and Lupe finds herself in need of a friend. When a special performance puts the two girls onstage, side-by-side, they'll find a new kind of home--in each other. Award-winning author Alma Flor Ada, for the first time with her son, Gabriel M. Zubizarreta, crafts an honest and accessible story about the quintessential immigrant experience: struggling to be a part of something new, while staying true to who you are.
The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins
by Barbara KerleyNot until the mid 1800s were dinosaurs heard of in Victorian England. But when artist Waterhouse Hawkins built the first life-size models of dinosaurs in his native England, and later in America, he dazzled the world with his awe-inspiring creations. The author and illustrator present a story of consuming passion, triumph, loss, and a remarkable legacy that lives on today. Full-color illustrations.
A Dog's Life
by Ann M. MartinNewbery Honor author Ann Martin's "heartwrenching and heartwarming" (Kirkus) dog story, now in paperback, with After Words bonus material. Squirrel and her brother Bone begin their lives in a toolshed behind someone's summer house. Their mother nurtures them and teaches them the many skills they will need to survive as stray dogs. But when their mother is taken from them suddenly and too soon, the puppies are forced to make their own way in the world, facing humans both gentle and brutal, busy highways, other animals, and the changing seasons. When Bone and Squirrel become separated, Squirrel must fend for herself, and in the process makes two friends who in very different ways define her fate.
Electrical Wizard
by Elizabeth Rusch and Oliver DominguezWhen a Serbian boy named Nikola Tesla was three, he stroked his cat and was enchanted by the electrical sparks. By the time he was a teenager, he had made a vow: Someday I will turn the power of Niagara Falls into electricity. Here is the story of the ambitious young man who brought life-changing ideas to America, despite the obstructive efforts of his hero-turned-rival, Thomas Edison. From using alternating current to light up the Chicago World's Fair to harnessing Niagara to electrify New York City and beyond, Nikola Tesla was a revolutionary ahead of his time. Remote controls, fluorescent lights, X-rays, speedometers, cell phones, even the radio -- all resulted from Nikola Tesla's inventions. Established biographer Elizabeth Rusch sheds light on this extraordinary figure, while fine artist Oliver Dominguez brings his life and inventions to vivid color. Back matter includes additional information about Tesla, scientific notes and explanations, source notes, a bibliography, and suggestions for further reading.
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
by E. L. KonigsburgWhen suburban Claudia Kincaid decides to run away, she knows she doesn't just want to run from somewhere, she wants to run to somewhere -- to a place that is comfortable, beautiful, and, preferably, elegant.
She chooses the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Knowing that her younger brother Jamie has money and thus can help her with a serious cash-flow problem, she invites him along.
Once settled into the museum, Claudia and Jamie find themselves caught up in the mystery of an angel statue that the museum purchased at auction for a bargain price of $225. The statue is possibly an early work of the Renaissance master, Michelangelo, and therefore worth millions. Is it? Or isn't it? Claudia is determined to find out. Her quest leads her to Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, the remarkable old woman who sold the statue, and to some equally remarkable discoveries about herself.
Newbery Medal Winner
The Good Dog
by AviIn the Colorado mountain town of Steamboat Springs there must be three hundred dogs.
Jack's malamute, McKinley, is the leader of them all. But Jack, being human, has no way of knowing that. For him, his family's dog is just a great pal. And protector.
Jack cannot know that Redburn, a "leash-licking" Irish setter, is McKinley's rival for the job of head dog. The boy cannot know, with the sudden hillside appearance of a she-wolf, Lupin, that not only McKinley's job -- but his life -- is in danger. Lupin's message: Dogs free yourselves from mankind. Come join us, we who need you to replenish our diminishing wolf pack in the wild. But imagine how a good dog, loyal to his human pup, would hear Lupin's call!
McKinley's thrilling story tells itself, as first he and the boy together encounter Lupin in a canyon perfect for an old-time ambush, and later as they try to save her from both Redburn and a neighbor, a vicious man armed with a gun and a grudge. No one -- not even McKinley -- can foresee the end.
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup
by Sharon CreechBailey, who is usually so nice, Bailey, my neighbor, my friend, my buddy, my pal for my whole life, knowing me better than anybody, that Bailey, that Bailey I am so mad at right now, that Bailey, I hate him today.
Twelve-year-old Rosie and her best friend, Bailey, don't always get along, that's true. But Granny Torrelli seems to know just how to make things right again with her warm words and family recipes. She understands from experience that life's twists and turns can't rattle the unique bond between two lifelong pals.
Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech cooks up a delightfully tender novel, filled with homemade dishes and secret recipes. It's easy to remember what's important about love, life, and friendship while Granny Torrelli makes soup.
The Houdini Box
by Brian SelznickVictor is forever trying to escape from locked trunks, walk through walls, and perform any number of Houdini's astonishing magic tricks. . . without success. Then -- amazingly -- he actually meets his idol, and begs Houdini to explain himself. A mysterious locked box is the magician's only answer, and Victor is left to wonder: Does the box contain the secrets to the most famous magic tricks ever performed?
Let It Begin Here!
by Dennis Brindell Fradin and Larry DayOn April 18th at 9:30 p. m. Paul Revere learned that the British Army was marching toward Lexington and Concord to arrest rebel leaders. At 5:20 the next morning, a shot rang out and the American Revolution had begun.
Told in a step-by-step account of the 24 hours leading up to the battles that sparked a revolution, this tale is sure to both inform and entertain.
Lizards
by Nic BishopAnother fascinating close-up look at the wonders of the natural world from Sibert Honor photographer Nic Bishop.
With breathtaking full-page images, including a double-gatefold spread, Sibert-Honor photographer Nic Bishop introduces the beauty and diversity of lizards. The simple, engaging text presents both basic information and fun, quirky facts about the appearance, habits, and life cycle of these amazing reptiles. An index and glossary are included.
Martin's Big Words
by Doreen RappaportThis picture book biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. brings his life and the profound nature of his message to young children through his own words. Martin Luther King, Jr. , was one of the most influential and gifted speakers of all time. Doreen Rappaport uses quotes from some of his most beloved speeches to tell the story of his life and his work in a simple, direct way. A timeline and a list of additional books and web sites help make this a standout biography of Dr. King.
Winner of the Caldecott Honor
Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Winner
The Million Dollar Shot
by Dan GutmanEddie finds the Finkles poetry contest, a chance to win a million dollars by sinking a foul shot during halftime at the NBA Finals. But someone wants Eddie to shoot an air ball on the big day, and will do anything to sabotage the million dollar shot
The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail
by Richard PeckNewbery Award-winning author Richard Peck is at his very best in this fast-paced mystery adventure. Fans of The Tale of Desperaux, A Little Princess, and Stuart Little will all be captivated by this memorable story of a lovable orphan mouse on an amazing quest. The smallest mouse in London's Royal Mews is such a little mystery that he hasn't even a name. And who were his parents? His Aunt Marigold, Head Needlemouse, sews him a uniform and sends him off to be educated at the Royal Mews Mouse Academy. There he's called "Mouse Minor" (though it's not quite a name), and he doesn't make a success of school. Soon he's running for his life, looking high and low through the grand precincts of Buckingham Palace to find out who he is and who he might become. Queen Victoria ought to be able to help him, if she can communicate with mice. She is all-seeing, after all, and her powers are unexplainable. But from her, Mouse Minor learns only that you do not get all your answers from the first asking. And so his voyage of self-discovery takes him onward, to strange and wonderful places.
Nelson Mandela
by Kadir NelsonThis stunning picture book biography of Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson is a receipient of the Coretta Scott King Honor award. In this picture book biography, award-winning author and illustrator Kadir Nelson tells the story of Mandela, a global icon, in poignant free verse and glorious illustrations. It is the story of a young boy's determination to change South Africa, and of the struggles of a man who eventually became the president of his country by believing in equality for all people, no matter the color of their skin. Readers will be inspired by Mandela's triumph and his lifelong quest to create a more just world. An author's note at the back retells the story of Mandela's fight against apartheid in simple prose, and takes the story further, including Mandela's Nobel Peace Prize. A short bibliography lists additional sources for readers who want to find out more.
Out of Darkness
by Russell FreedmanA biography of the 19th century Frenchman who developed Braille. The book spans Braille's life from childhood through his days at the Royal Institute for Blind Youth and into his final years, when the alphabet he invented was finally gaining acceptance.
Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers
by Gary PaulsenAn experienced Iditarod racer, Gary Paulsen celebrates his lead dog and longtime companion, Cookie, in this intimate essay. Paulsen takes readers inside the kennel as Cookie’s last litter of pups grow and learn to pull sleds across the snowy frontier. Includes an author's note.
Taking Sides
by Gary SotoFourteen-year-old Lincoln Mendoza, an aspiring basketball player, must come to terms with his divided loyalties when he moves from the Hispanic inner city to a white suburban neighborhood.
Tiger in Trouble!
by Kelly Milner HallsFollow the journey of Nitro, a tiger kept in captivity in Kansas. His story starts when the County sheriffs visited the Kansas property and decided to confiscate all big cats from their owner. Lions were sent to Detroit zoo and Nitro and his friend Apache to the Carolina tiger rescue.
As Nitro was adjusting to his new home, things went terribly wrong. Fever broke, and lost his sight. With the help of his rescuers, its friend Apache, and a lot of patience and love, blind Nitro was given a whole new way to "see". Nitro became the keepers and visitors favorite.
Filled with gorgeous photographs, sidebars, and fun facts, Tiger in Trouble! is sure to captivate all big cats lovers. Kids will learn great tips about these fascinating creatures and how to contribute to their conservation.
Meet Ethereal, one of the rarest bats in the world that was in grave danger. Ethereal, an albino micro bat, was an easy target for predators and in poor condition when rescue workers at Bat World sancturay discovered her. Now, she is completely safe and thriving at the sanctuary. Stories in this books also include:Ethereal's survival story: the white albino bat
Susie, Bob, and Caleb: The Three MonkeyteersThis book will capture the hearts of animal lovers everywhere, as they will love reading the true stories of humans saving the lives of amazing animals.
Winter's Tail
by Juliana Hatkoff and Isabella Hatkoff and Craig HatkoffThe authors chronicle the story of a dolphin named Winter, who had been rescued from a crab trap as a baby, and suffered a seriously damaged tail. Winter later had been fitted with a prosthetic tail. Now, the special technology used for Winter's prosthetic tail is being used to develop prosthetics for Iraq war veterans who have especially sensitive injuries.
The Young Man and the Sea
by Rodman PhilbrickA story of determination and survival from the acclaimed author of FREAK THE MIGHTY. "This thrilling and elegant book ... will hold the interest of even the most stalwart landlubber." -- PWTwelve-year-old Skiff Beaman's mom just died, and his fisherman dad is too depressed to drag himself off the couch and go to work. So these days Skiff has to take care of everything himself. But when his dad's boat sinks, Skiff discovers it will cost thousands to buy a new engine. Skiff's lobster traps won't earn him enough, but there are bigger fish in the sea -- bluefin tuna. If he can catch one of those monster fish, Skiff just might save the boat -- and his family.