A Dog's Tale
Level O,
fiction
A Dog's Tale is a retelling of a folktale from Argentina and Paraguay. In this folktale, readers learn that a joke played on dogs by cats long ago is the reason why dogs chase cats today. Illustrations support the story.
Anansi and the Talking Watermelon
Level O,
fiction
Anansi is a clever spider who often tricks his friends with his clever tongue. In this retelling, while Anansi is trapped inside a watermelon, he tricks Possum into believing that the watermelon can talk. Possum proceeds to bring the watermelon to King Bear, who is outraged and throws the fruit, which frees Anansi when it lands and cracks open. Illustrations support the text.
Li's Tangram Animals
Level O,
fiction
Li's Tangram Animals is about an eight-year-old boy from China who has recently moved to the United States. He is worried about fitting in with his second grade classmates. When Li gives his teacher a tangram, the students become interested in how it works and friendships blossom. Illustrations and diagrams support the text and introduce readers to basic geometry concepts.
Bats
Level O,
nonfiction
Bats are fascinating, but often misunderstood, creatures of the night. This book dispels myths and sheds light on the true nature of bats. It provides an overview of the many types of bats, as well as discussing their habitat, how they fly, feed, and raise their young, and special features that make bats unique. The book even gives detailed directions for building a bat house.
Irma's Sandwich Shop
Level O,
fiction
Who can resist a customized sandwich? This book takes the reader to Irma's Sandwich Shop, where Irma will make any kind of sandwich that is ordered for anyone--from little boys to vultures. Humorous illustrations support the text.
Rainy-Day Savings
Level O,
fiction
In this piece of realistic fiction, Anita learns the value of saving her money and watching it grow with interest. Her parents lead by example, explaining to her how they save money each month for times when they need an emergency fund. Since Anita earns money walking dogs after school, she decides that it is time she open her own "rainy-day" savings account. When her father loses his job, it seems like the right thing to do to offer her savings to her parents. But they help her understand that she, too, may have an emergency for which she needs money.
Jenny Loves Yoga
Level O,
nonfiction
Jenny Loves Yoga is about Jenny and the different yoga poses she does each day to help her grow strong, flexible, and healthy. This introductory text touches on some of the reasons people practice yoga. Photographs show Jenny doing a variety of yoga poses.
Sally Ride
Level O,
nonfiction
Sally Ride tells the story of the first American woman, and the youngest person, male or female, in space. The text includes information on Sally's life, education, and space travel. It also tells the reader what she is doing now that she is no longer an astronaut.
You're a Jellyfish!
Level O,
nonfiction
What would it feel like to float weightless through the ocean? Or what it might be like to have no bones in your body? Students will know after they read You're a Jellyfish! Through easy-to-understand text and detailed photographs, they might begin to feel that they really are jellyfish!
The Beekeeper
Level O,
nonfiction
This book is an interview with a working beekeeper. He describes the different types of bees, their role in the hive, and how honey is made.
Three Little Pigs: The Wolf's Story
Level O,
fiction
This retelling of the The Three Little Pigs is told from the wolf's point of view. Readers will sympathize with the homeless, freezing wolf as he suffers a cold and can't stop sneezing. Charming illustrations support the text.
Whales
Level O,
nonfiction
Whales is a factual text with photos that includes types of whales, feeding habits, sounds, reproduction, and migration. The author points out that many whales are endangered and in need of our respect and protection.
