Bibliography

Theme 6: Smart Solutions

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

Below Level

Barn Savers by Linda Oatman High
Boyds Mills 1999 (32p)
A boy and his father take apart a barn board by board for recycling.

Aunt Skilly and the Stranger by Kathleen Stevens
Houghton 1994 (32p)
When a stranger tries to make off with her quilts, Aunt Skilly and her pet goose have a surprise for him.

Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
Aladdin 1987 (48p)
In a town where all the food is hidden, three soldiers begin to make soup from a stone and water.
Classic

Pet Detectives by Betty Ren Wright
Troll 1999 (32p)
Belle the dog and Kitty the cat help Policeman Jack.

* Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Missing Schoolhouse by Eth Clifford
Houghton 1997 (32p)
When Principal Fox can't find his schoolhouse, he turns to Flatfoot Fox for help.

Pepita Thinks Pink/ Pepita y el color rosado by Ofelia Dumas Lachtman
Arte Publico 1993 (32p)
Pepita, who does not like the color pink, eventually changes her mind when a new girl moves next door.
Multicultural

The Mud Flat Mystery by James Stevenson
Greenwillow 1997 (56p)
Duncan's neighbors pry and poke at his special delivery box until they find out what's in it.

Raising Yoder's Barn by Jane Yolen
Little 1998 (32p)
When a barn burns down, Matthew hopes he is old enough to help build a new one.

Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers by Karen Winnick
Boyds Mills 1996 (32p)
A young girl writes to Lincoln suggesting that he grow a beard to enhance his appearance.
Social Studies

Rum-A-Tum-Tum by Angela Shelf Medearis
Holiday 1997 (32p)
The sights and sounds of the French Quarter in New Orleans.
Multicultural

Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto
Penguin 1993 (32p) also paper
Maria fears she has lost her mother's wedding ring making tamales. Available in Spanish as Que monton de tamales.
Multicultural

On Level

Doctor De Soto by William Steig
Farrar 1982 (32p) also paper
Mouse-dentist Doctor De Soto and his wife must find a way to keep from being eaten by one of their large and hungry patients. Available in Spanish.
Classic

The Gardener by Sarah Stewart
Farrar 1997 (32p)
Through her love of gardening, Lydia Grace hopes to cheer up her unsmiling Uncle Jim.

* When Jo Louis Won the Title by Belinda Rochelle
Houghton 1996 (32p)
When Jo Louis worries that the kids at school will make fun of her name, her grandfather knows just what to do.
Multicultural

Meg Mackintosh and the Mystery at the Soccer Match by Barbara Brenner
Secret Passage 1997 (48p)
In this solve-it-yourself mystery, the reader helps Meg find out what happened to the gold medal that disappeared from the awards table.

The Twins Strike Back by Valerie Flournoy
Just Us 1994 (32p) also paper
Natalie and Nicole team up to show people that just because they are twins they don't have to think alike.
Multicultural

Not My Dog by Colby Rodowsky
Farrar 1999 (69p)
Ellie has always wanted a puppy, but instead she gets Preston, her great-aunt's fully grown mutt.

Zero's Slider by Matt Christopher
Little 1996 (63p)
Zero can pitch a perfect slider with a bandage on his finger, but what will the team think when the bandage comes off?

Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Television Dog by David A. Adler
Viking 1998 (64p)
Cam needs her photographic memory to help her find Poochie, the famous television dog who has mysteriously vanished.

Above Level

Seal Island School by Susan Bartlett
Viking 1999 (80p)
Pru and her classmates plan ways to keep their beloved teacher from leaving their one-room school.

Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear by Lensey Namioka
Bantam 1993 (134p)
Yingtao, who loves baseball but must practice the violin, and Matthew, who wants to play the violin instead of baseball, find a solution to their problems.
Multicultural

Ramona and Her Mother by Beverly Cleary
Avon 1999 (160p)
Ramona finds that she doesn't always like being the youngest.
Classic