Grades 3-5

Clarion Books, p2006, c2006
40 pages
Reading Level: Wordless
Fiction: Beaches, photographic story

A boy curiously combs the beach for sea creatures that have been washed ashore. Examining the seashore, the boy finds an old-time camera. It is when he develops the photographs that the fantasy unravels.

Houghton Mifflin, 2006
32 pages
Reading Level: 3.4
Birthdays, Hypnotism, Tricks, Brothers and Sisters

"On his birthday, Calvin and his friend Rodney see a magician perform, then copy him by hypnotizing Calvin's little sister, but the joke is on them when they are unable to snap her out of it." (Titlewave)

Knopf, 2008
26 pages
Reading Level: 3.5
Weasels, Tricks

Sneaky Weasel planned a party, but nobody went to it. A bit upset, he goes door to door to find out why each animal invited didn't attend. In hearing the characters' reasons for not attending, Weasel learns an important lesson to which children can relate.

Tricycle Press, p2008, c2008
32 pages
Reading Level: 3.6
Realistic Fiction: interpersonal relationships, gossip

When Maya realizes one of her friends is spreading hurtful rumors about others, she starts to question the value of her friendship.

Abrams Books for Young Readers, p2007, c2007
32 pages
Reading Level: 4.2
Fiction: libraries, authorship

A shy but creative mouse, Sam, lives in the library. He writes creative stories and places them amidst the shelved library books for the children to enjoy. Enjoying the stories, the children want to know and meet the author! This is a wonderful book to use for launching Writer's Workshop.

Emerald Shamrock Press, 2009
48 pages
Reading Level: 4.7
Environmental Protection Citizen Participation, Climatic Changes, Global Warming, Greenhouse Effect, Ecology

Voyager Vooks; Harcourt, Inc., 2001
Illustrator: Peter Sylvada
32 pages
Reading Level 3.3
Fiction: war, fish

Dutton Children's Books, 2003
32 pages
Reading Level: 3.4
Cats, Dogs, Heroes, Humor

Skippyjon Jones is a cat with a big imagination and a desire to be a chihuahua. When he is sent to his room for his desire to be a dog, his imagination goes wild, and he imagines an adventurous tale about being El-Skippito, a Zorro-like chihuahua who saves others from a bumble bee.

A.A. Levine, p2001, c2001
Illustrator: Benny Andrews
32 pages
Reading Level 3.5
Realistic Fiction: relationships

Louis was born blind. However, he and Gran have such a loving relationship, Louis can almost "see" her. When Gran passes away, she leaves hidden notes for each family member, gifting one of her belongings to each of them. Louis's note, however, is nowhere to be found, and everyone wonders if Gran forgot the person she seemed to love the most.

Greenwillow Books, 1996
32 pages
Reading Level: 3.5
School, Impatience, Regret

Lilly usually loves her teacher. However, he makes Lilly wait for an appropriate time to share her new purse with the class. Impatient, Lilly takes action she later comes to regret.

Boyds Mills Press, Inc., 1999
Illustrator: Andrea Shine
32 pages
Reading Level 5.9
Realistic Fiction: honesty, compassion

Every year, a father tells his daughter about his remorseful actions from his own childhood. When telling his story, the father reveals how he tried to right his wrongdoing. A compassionate story of honesty, The Summer My Father Was Ten is a story that will perhaps cause them to think twice before acting.