Bibliography

Theme 1: Off to Adventure!

The books listed below may be available through publishers, distributors such as bookstores or online retailers, or library systems.

Recommended Leveled Books for Independent Reading

Very Easy

You Can't Take a Balloon into the Metropolitan Museum by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzmann
Dial 1998 (37p)
A young girl and her balloon both have an adventure.
Art

* The Great Pig Escape by Eileen Christelow
Houghton 1996 (32p) paper
Pigs on their way to market have a better idea.

Paris Cat by Leslie Baker
Little 1999 (32p)
A runaway cat has wonderful adventures in Paris.

Stella and Roy Go Camping by Ashley Wolff
Dutton 1999 (40p)
Stella and Roy study animal tracks while on an overnight camping trip.

Easy

* Shortcut by David Macaulay
Houghton 1995 (64p)
Visual clues help tell this series of brief stories.

Lewis & Papa by Barbara Joosse
Chronicle 1998 (40p)
Lewis and his father travel the Santa Fe Trail.
Social Studies

* Two Bad Ants by Chris Van Allsburg
Houghton 1988 (32p)
Two ants set off on an adventure in a danger-filled kitchen.

Hurricane! by Jonathan London
Lothrop 1998 (32p)
A family heads for a shelter when a hurricane strikes Puerto Rico.
Multicultural

* Alice Ramsey's Grand Adventure by Don Brown
Houghton 1997 (32p)
Alice Ramsey becomes the first woman to drive across America.
Social Studies

The Secret Shortcut by Mark Teague
Scholastic 1996 (32p) also paper
Wendell and Floyd can't seem to get to school on time.

Tom's Rabbit: A Surprise on the Way to Antarctica by Meredith Hooper
Nat'l Geo 1998 (32p)
A sailor takes his pet rabbit on board a ship bound for Antarctica.
Social Studies

On Level

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Viking 1958 (also paper)
The adventures of the Paris orphan have remained popular since 1939. Also available in Spanish.
Classic

The Adventures of Sparrowboy by Brian Pinkney
Simon 1997 (32p)
Henry the paperboy suddenly finds that he is a flying superhero, just like his comic strip idol.
Multicultural

Amy Elizabeth Explores Bloomingdale's by E. L. Konigsburg
Atheneum 1992 (32p)
Amy and her grandmother share many adventures.

Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Scholastic 1999 (32p)
Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt leave a White House dinner and take a plane ride.
Social Studies

Sable by Karen Hesse
Holt 1994 (81p) also paper
Tate must find a way to keep her dog out of trouble.

Third Grade Pet by Judy Cox
Holiday 1998 (93p)
Rosemary takes the class pet rat home.

The Drums of Noto Hanto by J. Allison James
DK Ink 1999 (40p)
The people of an ancient Japanese village drive off the forces of a warlord.
Multicultural

Rescue at Sea by Wolfram Hanel
North-South 1999 (60p)
Paul rescues a dog from a wrecked ship.

In Aunt Lucy's Kitchen by Cynthia Rylant
Simon 1998 (64p)
The Cobble Street Cousins embark on a cooking-selling enterprise.

Challenge

Rachel Field's Hitty: Her First Hundred Years adapted by Rosemary Wells
Simon 1999 (112p)
The doll Hitty recalls her adventures.
Classic

The Boxcar Children and the Mystery in San Francisco by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Whitman 1997 (128p)
The Alden children solve a mystery when they visit their Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy.

Gloria's Way by Ann Cameron
Farrar 2000 (112p)
Gloria shares adventures with her friends and parents.
Multicultural

The Adventures of Ali Baba Bernstein by Johanna Hurwitz
Harper 1995 (96p) paper
Ali Baba finds ways to make his ordinary life more interesting.