Bibliography

Theme 3: That's Amazing!

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

Sector 7 by David Wiesner
Houghton 1999 (48p)
This almost wordless book follows the adventures of a boy who creates new shapes for clouds.

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

Secrets from the Dollhouse by Ann Turner
Harper 2000 (32p)
In a series of poems, Emma, a doll, tells of her family's life.

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.

The Best Place by Susan Meddaugh
Houghton 1999 (32p)
A wolf who loves his screened-in porch suddenly wonders if it is the best place in the world.

Gracias the Thanksgiving Turkey by Joy Cowley
Scholastic 1996 (32p)
Miguel befriends Gracias, who is supposed to be Thanksgiving dinner.
Multicultural

A Day with Wilbur Robinson by William Joyce
Harper 1990 (32p) also paper
A visitor finds that a day at Wilbur Robinson's house is filled with strange and wonderful adventures.

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.

* Hog-Eye by Susan Meddaugh
Houghton 1995 (32p)
A young piglet, captured by a wolf, uses her smarts to get away and regale her family with her story.

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.

On Level

Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China by Ai-Ling Louie
Putnam 1993 (32p)
A fish helps Yeh-Shen become the bride of the prince.
Multicultural

Squids Will Be Squids by Jon Scieszka
Viking 1998 (48p)
Both familiar and unfamiliar fables get a zany twist.

* 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 Way Meat Loves Salt by Nina Jaffe
Holt 1998 (32p)
The author retells a Cinderella story from the Eastern European Jewish tradition.

The Irish Cinderlad by Shirley Climo
Harper 1996 (32p) also paper
Becan rescues Princess Finola, his future bride.

A Big Cheese for the White House by Candace Fleming
DK Ink 1999 (32p)
In this strange-but-true story, the citizens of Cheshire, Massachusetts, present Thomas Jefferson with a 1,235-pound cheese.

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

My Nine Lives by Clio by Marjorie Priceman
Atheneum 1998 (48p)
Clio, now in her ninth life, describes all the contributions she's made to civilization.

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

* The Orphan Boy by Tololwa Mollel
Clarion 1990 (32p)
An old man becomes curious about the mysterious powers of an orphan boy.
Multicultural

* The Wreck of the Zephyr by Chris Van Allsburg
Houghton 1983 (32p)
An old sailor relates a very strange story.

Above Level

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Knopf 1961 (120p) also paper
Inside a peach, James sets off on splendid adventures.
Classic

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Random 1961 (256p) also paper
Driving his small electric car through a miniature tollbooth, Milo enters The Lands Beyond.
Classic

Poppy by Avi
Orchard 1995 (160p) also paper
With unfortunate results, Poppy, a deer mouse, defies Mr. Ocax, a great horned owl who rules Dimwood Forest.