Special Collections
Scholastic Guided Reading Level Q
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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The Tree Lady
by H. Joseph HopkinsWhen Kate Sessions came to San Diego in 1883, she discovered drought-resistant native plants flourishing in the region's Mediterranean climate. She also found nonnative tropical plants, such as poinsettia and bougainvillea, growing outdoors under the city's sunny skies. Kate saw that the landscape, running as it does from the seashore to the mountains and farther east into the desert, included many subclimates. This made the area perfect for growing a great variety of trees and plants. Yet San Diego's City Park was dry, dusty, and all but barren. Kate wanted to change that.
Testing the Ice
by Sharon RobinsonAs a testament to his courage, Jackie Robinson's daughter shares memories of him, from his baseball career to the day he tests the ice for her, her brothers, and their friends.
Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi
by Cindy NeuschwanderFor fans of the Sir Cumference series with Pi on their mind, here is the second installment in this fun look at math and language. This time the math adventure is centered around a potion that changes Sir Cumference into a fire-breathing dragon. Can Radius change him back? Join Radius on his quest through the castle to solve a riddle that will reveal the cure. It lies in discovering the magic number that is the same for all circles. Perfect for parent and teachers who are looking to make math fun and accessible for everyone.
Shrek!
by William SteigRead the book that inspired the famous film franchise in this wonderfully funny picture book. Before Shrek made it big on the silver screen, there was William Steig's SHREK!, a book about an ordinary ogre who leaves his swampy childhood home to go out and see the world. Ordinary, that is, if a foul and hideous being who ends up marrying the most stunningly ugly princess on the planet is what you consider ordinary.
LaRue Across America
by Mark TeagueBestselling, award-winning author/illustrator Mark Teague makes readers laugh aloud when LaRue goes on vacation with Mrs. Hibbins's cats! Ike's plans for a peaceful cruise with Mrs. LaRue are thwarted when their neighbor, Mrs. Hibbins, falls suddenly ill from heat stroke. Mrs. LaRue suggests that she and Ike care for her cats while Mrs. Hibbins is in the hospital, inviting them along on the cruise. But cats aren't allowed, and Mrs. LaRue decides to take them all on a week's vacation of road-tripping. Ike begs and begs for bus fare in his letters to Mrs. Hibbins, but why does she not respond? Image descriptions present.
Punished
by David LubarLogan and his friend Benedict are playing tag in the library. Logan gets caught when he runs into a mysterious man. When Logan doesn't apologize sincerely, the mysterious gentleman punishes him by causing him to speak in puns. Only finding seven examples each of oxymorons, anagrams, and palindromes within the time limits will return Logan to normal.
I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005
by Lauren Tarshis and Scott DawsonThe horror of Hurricane Katrina is brought vividly to life in this fictional account of a boy, a dog, and the storm of the century.
Barry's family tries to evacuate before Hurricane Katrina hits their home in New Orleans. But when Barry's little sister gets terribly sick, they're forced to stay home and wait out the storm.
At first, Katrina doesn't seem to be as bad as predicted. But overnight the levees break, and Barry's world is literally torn apart. He's swept away by the floodwaters, away from his family. Can he survive the storm of the century -- alone?
Away West
by Patricia C. MckissackBefore Pa died, he told Everett--the only one of his sons born free--always to "dream big." To Everett, now thirteen, that means starting a new life out West, far away from the Tennessee farm where nothing grows but dirt. Out West, black pioneers are building new towns, safe from the Ku Klux Klan. Out West, freedom means something better than just not being a slave. Through their grandmother, the Webster cousins hear the story of their daring great-great-grandfather, a brave but headstrong boy, and the horse who helps him get "away West." For ages 8 and up, grades 3 and up.
Abby Takes A Stand (Scraps of Time Series)
by Gordon C. James and Patricia C. MckissackWhy has their grandmother bothered keeping a menu from a restaurant that closed years ago, a restaurant that never served very good food in the first place? Three cousins listen to Gee's own story, set in the early days of lunch counter sit-ins in Nashville, a time when a black child could sit up front in a city bus but still could not get a milkshake at a downtown restaurant. Through the eyes of ten-year-old Abby, young readers see what it was like to live through those days and they'll come to understand that, like a menu, freedom is about having choices. Each book in the series tells the story behind a different 'scrap of time;' together they form a patchwork quilt of one black family's past that stretches back for generations. Although this book is historical fiction, only the family characters are fictional; all locations and events are historically correct. The primary civil rights people that are mentioned are actual people in the civil rights movement. Picture descriptions included.
...If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620
by Ann McgovernThis book tells you what life was like among the Pilgrims who sailed to the New World in 1620 on the Mayflower.
...If You Lived at the Time of Martin Luther King
by Ellen LevineThis book focuses on the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. An engaging question-and-answer format helps children learn what it was like to participate in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, stage a sit-in at a lunch counter, join the famous March on Washington, and more.
Why Puppies Do That
by Tom DavisWhy do puppies sometimes lie on their backs when approached? Why do they sleep in a pile? Why do puppies have that special puppy smell? Why are some puppies runts?Few things can cause as much head scratching as the peculiar behavior and characteristics of a new puppy, and this book aims to answer all of the questions new dog owners wonder about their new little charge.Illustrated with pencil drawings, Why Puppies Do That is lighthearted, informative, and as fun as a new puppy.
A Medieval Feast
by AlikiDescribes the preparation and celebration of a medieval feast held at an English manor house entertaining royal guests.
[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.]
The Camping Trip that Changed America
by Barbara Rosenstock and Mordecai GersteinCaldecott medalist Mordicai Gerstein captures the majestic redwoods of Yosemite in this little-known but important story from our nation's history. In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt joined naturalist John Muir on a trip to Yosemite. Camping by themselves in the uncharted woods, the two men saw sights and held discussions that would ultimately lead to the establishment of our National Parks.
Finding the Titanic
by Robert D. BallardThe story of the Titanic right up to its rediscovery is told for more advanced, independent young readers by the man who discovered the great sunken ship.
Mummies, Pyramids, and Pharaohs
by Gail GibbonsThis children's book provides insights into the lives of the people in ancient Egypt including the pharaoh.
Stallion in Spooky Hollow
by Ben M. BaglioAt Animal Ark, Mandy Hope helps her parents treat animals of all shapes and sizes. Even outside the clinic, Mandy can't resist helping any animal in need. But now Mandy has set off for Dorset where there's a mysterious horse being seen. Will Mandy be able to solve this mystery?
The Clue at the Bottom of the Lake (Cabin Creek Mysteries)
by Kristiana GregoryAction! Intrigue! Cliffhangers! With a riveting overarching series storyline and a mini-mystery in each title, Cabin Creek gives readers what they crave: immediate answers AND ongoing suspense. Every book reveals clues, adds layers, and finds the characters investigating, plotting, and unraveling clues. They'll need their wits, their courage, and their gadgets to get to the bottom of the many mysteries of Lost Island and Grizzly Paw Wilderness.
Bunnicula
by James Howe and Deborah Howe and Alan DanielThis book is written by Harold. His fulltime occupation is dog. He lives with Mr. and Mrs. Monroe and their sons Toby and Pete. Also sharing the home are a cat named Chester and a rabbit named Bunnicula. It is because of Bunnicula that Harold turned to writing. Someone had to tell the full story of what happened in the Monroe household after the rabbit arrived.Was Bunnicula really a vampire? Only Bunnicula knows for sure. But the story of Chester's suspicions and their consequences makes uproarious reading.Since its first appearance in 1979, Bunnicula has been a hit with kids and their parents everywhere, selling over 8 million copies and winning numerous awards.
Owl in the Office
by Ben M. BaglioThe Welford Animal Shelter has always been a place for homeless and hurt animals. What will happen to the animals if the shelter has to close? Mandy and James organize a huge pet show to raise enough money to keep the shelter open.
Nothing Ever Happens On 90th Street
by Roni Schotter and Kyrsten BrookerWhen Eva sits on her stoop trying to complete a school assignment by writing about what happens in her neighborhood, she gets a great deal of advice and action.
Champ
by Ellen MilesCharles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. Their family fosters these young dogs, giving them love and proper care, until they can find the perfect forever home. When Charles goes to his father's annual softball game, the last thing he expects is to find a puppy to foster. But when he meets Champ, a German shepherd with a big heart, Charles knows that he just has to take care of the dog. Can the Petersons find this talented pup a forever home?
Oggie Cooder
by Sarah WeeksFrom the author of So B. It—now a major motion picture. “A loveable character . . . Fans of Jeff Kinney’s Wimpy Kid titles will be drawn to Oggie.” —School Library JournalOggie Cooder has a talent—he can charve better than anyone else in Truman Elementary School. (Charving, for the uninitiated, is the carving of a piece of cheese with one’s teeth.) Oggie doesn’t think this is anything special—but his whole school will soon be disagreeing with him. Because after he inadvertently charves during a nationwide hunt for unusual talents, his charving puts him on the path to fame and fortune. Suddenly, he’s the star of the school . . . but he’s not sure that he wants to shine that way. This is Sarah Weeks at her best—funny, clever, and kid-friendly.“Oggie’s adventure delivers a message about staying true to oneself, but the lesson is never cheesy; it is as light-hearted and tasty as Oggie’s charving lessons.” —Kidsreads.com“What is refreshing is that Oggie doesn’t have to change his nature to change his social status. Gentle humor with a satisfying message for middle-grade readers.” —Kirkus Reviews
Just Juice
by Karen HesseJuice lives with her Pa and Ma and her four sisters way out in the hills. Pa gets a letter saying the town has sold their house. But family has one last chance to pay back taxes they owe. Where will they ever find the money to get their house back?