Bibliography

Theme 3: Incredible Stories

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

The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord
Houghton 1973 (32p) also paper
When wasps invade Itching Down, the villagers trap them in a giant sandwich.

Those Can-Do Pigs by David McPhail
Puffin 1999 (32p)
Those can-do pigs can do it all, from baking cakes to charming snakes.

Tuesday by David Wiesner
Clarion 1991 (32p) also paper
Frogs soar around town on airborne lily pads.

George Shrinks by William Joyce
Harper 1995 (32p) also paper
After shrinking, George finds ordinary tasks to be quite difficult.

Over the Moon by Rachel Vail
Orchard 1998 (32p)
The cow who is supposed to jump over the moon just can't seem to get it right.

Easy

* June 29, 1999 by David Wiesner
Clarion 1992 (32p) also paper
Holly Evans's science experiment causes giant vegetables to appear.

The Gullywasher by Joyce Rossi
Rising Moon 1995 (32p)
A little girl's vaquero grandfather offers fanciful explanations for how he got his wrinkles and white hair.
Multicultural

Sector 7 by David Wiesner
Clarion 1999 (48p)
A boy creates new shapes for clouds.

Swine Lake by James Marshall
Harper 1999 (40p)
When a lean and hungry wolf stumbles onto a stage of dancing pigs, he is in for a big surprise.

Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm by Jerdine Nolen
Lothrop 1994 (32p) also paper
A neighbor girl is curious about how Harvey Potter manages to grow balloons on his farm.
Multicultural

* The Best Place by Susan Meddaugh
Houghton 1999 (32p)
A wolf wonders if his porch really is the best place in the world.

On Level

Kat Kong by Dav Pilkey
Harcourt 1993 (32p)
The dreaded Kat Kong is captured and brought back to Mousopolis.

Aunt Nancy and Cousin Lazybones by Phyllis Root
Candlewick 1998 (32p)
Aunt Nancy finds a way to get rid of her freeloading cousin.

Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown
Harper 1964 (64p) also paper
A bulletin board falls on Stanley Lambchop and suddenly he's only half-an-inch thick—or thin.

Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
Houghton 1981 (32p)
Two children get more than they bargain for in a mysterious jungle-adventure board game. Also available in Spanish.
Classic

The Shrinking of Treehorn by Florence Parry Heide
Holiday 1972 (64p) also paper
Treehorn is shrinking and he's the only one who seems to notice.
Classic

Irene's Wish by Jerdine Nolen
Harcourt 2000 (32p)
When Irene's father swallows some seeds, he turns into a tree.
Multicultural

Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures with the Family Lazardo by William Joyce
Harper 1995 (48p)
The Lazardo family returns from Africa with a dinosaur who becomes a baseball hero.

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
Viking 1989 (32p) also paper
A. Wolf, claiming he was framed, wants to set the record straight. Available in Spanish as La verdadera historia de los tres cerditos.

* Martha Blah Blah by Susan Meddaugh
Houghton 1996 (32p)
When Martha starts losing her ability to speak, drastic measures are called for.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
Atheneum 1978 (32p)
Delicious food rains from the sky in the town of Chewandswallow.
Classic

Challenge

The Great Quillow by James Thurber
Harcourt 1994 (56p)
A little toymaker outwits a giant who threatens the town.
Classic

Black and White by David Macaulay
Houghton 1990 (32p)
Macaulay tells four stories at once, or is it really just one story?

* A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
Houghton 1960 (128p)
The bear found by Mr. and Mrs. Brown has a talent for getting into trouble.
Classic

The School Mouse by Dick King-Smith
Hyperion 1995 (124p) paper
As students learn to read, so does Flora, the school mouse.