Books for Independent Reading
VERY EASY
- Dots, Spots, Speckles, and Stripes
- by Tana Hoban
Greenwillow l987 (32p)
Readers discover patterns in unexpected
places.
- Truck
- by Donald Crews
Greenwillow l980 (32p)
Puffin l985
paper
A truckload of tricycles journeys across
the country.
- Shadows and Reflections
- by Tana Hoban
Greenwillow l990 (32p)
Intriguing patterns encourage visual
exploration.
- At the Zoo
- by Douglas Florian
(Science/Health)
Greenwillow l992 (32p)
An outing at the zoo is described in
simple verse.
- Going for a Walk
- by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers
Harper 1993 (24p)
A little girl goes for a walk and finds a
friend.
- The Snowy Day
- by Ezra Jack Keats
(Multicultural)
Viking 1962 (32p) Puffin paper
An African American boy named Peter
plays outside in the snow. Available
in Spanish asUn día de nieve.
- I Read Signs
- by Tana Hoban
Greenwillow 1983 (32p) Mulberry
paper
Words identify familiar scenes.
- Nature Walk
- by Douglas Florian
(Science/Health)
Greenwillow l989 (32p)
A walk in the woods offers unexpected
sights and sounds.
- Like Me and You
- by Raffi
(Multicultural)
Crown 1994 (32p)
This song about children all over the
world emphasizes their similarities.
AVERAGE
- A Day in the Desert
- Willowisp 1994 (22p)
First-grade authors and illustrators
describe the Mojave Desert.
- Houses and Homes
- by Ann Morris
(Multicultural)
Lothrop 1992 (28p)
A photographic look at houses around
the world.
- City Street
- by Douglas Florian
(Multicultural)
Greenwillow l990 (32p)
The city bustles with people and
activity.
- Bus Stops
- by Taro Gomi
Chronicle 1988 (32p)
A bus follows its daily route through
town, picking up and letting off
passengers.
- Elephants Aloft
- by Kathi Appelt
Harcourt l993 (40p)
Two elephants are off on a delightful
balloon adventure.
- The Trek
- by Ann Jonas
(Multicultural)
Greenwillow 1985 (32p); Mulberry
paper
On a walk to school, a girl's
imagination tranforms the ordinary into
the extraordinary. Available in
Spanish asEl trayecto.
- Hoot, Howl, Hiss
- by Michelle Koch
(Science/Health)
Greenwillow 1991 (24p)
Woods, farm, jungle, and mountains
are alive with animal sounds.
- One Smiling Grandma: A Caribbean
Counting Book
- by Ann Marie Linden
(Multicultural)
Dial 1992 (32p)
A girl explores the lush sights and
sounds of her island home.
- Otters Under Water
- by Jim Arnosky
(Science/Health)
Putnam l991 (32p)
Two otters play in the pond while their
mother watches.
- Sing a Song of People
- by Lois Lenski
(Multicultural)
Little l987 (32p)
A tremendous variety of people are
busy in the city.
- The Earth and I
- by Frank Asch
Gulliver 1994 (32p)
A boy details his respect for the world
around him.
- Tools
- by Ann Morris
(Multicultural)
Lothrop l992 (32p)
This photo-essay shows people around
the world using tools in many ways.
- Traffic: A Book of Opposites
- by Betsy and Giulio Maestro
Crown 1991 (32p)
A little car makes a long journey
home.
- The Wild Woods
- by Simon James
Candlewick 1993 (26p)
Jess and her grandfather follow a
squirrel into the woods.
CHALLENGING
- Have You Seen Trees?
- by Joanne Oppenheim
Scholastic 1995 (32p)
A celebration of trees throughout the
seasons.
- I Am Eyes /Ni Macho
- by Lelia Ward
(Multicultural)
Greenwillow l978 (32p); Scholastic
l987 paper
Waking in the morning, a girl in Kenya
names things she sees.
- Squish! A Wetland Walk
- by Nancy Luenn
(Science/Health)
Atheneum 1994 (32p)
A child exhuberantly explores the plant
and animal life of a wetland.
- Mr. Gumpy's Motorcar
- by John Burningham
Crowell 1976 (32p)
Mr. Gumpy and a group of friends go
out for a drive and run into trouble.
- Our Yard Is Full of Birds
- by Anne Rockwell
(Science/Health)
Macmillan 1992 (32p)
A boy observes the different birds in
his yard through the changing seasons.
- It Could Still Be Water
- by Allan Fowler
(Science/Health)
Childrens 1992 (32p)
An exploration of the many forms and
uses of water. Available in Spanish
asY aún podría ser agua.
- The Acorn's Story
- by Valerie Greeley
(Science/Health)
Macmillan 1994 (32p)
In this circular story, an acorn grows
into a mighty oak tree.
- Away From Home
- by Anita Lobel
(Multicultural)
Greenwillow 1994 (32p)
Take a grand journey in this round-the-world alphabet adventure.
- Max Found Two Sticks
- by Brian Pinkney
(Multicultural)
Simon 1994 (32p)
Max taps out the rhythms he hears
around him.
- Taking a Walk: A Book in Two
Languages/ Caminando: un libro en
dos lenguas
- by Rececca Emberley
Little 1990 (32p)
1994 paper
A walk through the neighborhood. In
English and Spanish.
- Wake Up, City
- by Alvin Tresselt
Lothrop 1990 (32p)
Across the city, the morning sky
brightens as the day begins.
BOOKS FOR TEACHERS TO READ ALOUD
- This House Is Made of Mud
- by Ken Buchanan
(Multicultural)
Northland 1994 (32p) paper
A poem celebrates a house and its
surroundings. In English and
Spanish.
- All Eyes on the Pond
- by Michael J. Rosen
(Science/Health)
Hyperion 1994 (32p)
Readers see a pond through the eyes of
the creatures that live there.
- The Little House
- by Virginia Lee Burton
Houghton 1978 paper
A city moves closer and closer to a
little house that was once in the
country.
- Where Are You Going, Manyoni?
- by Catherine Stock
(Multicultural)
Morrow 1993 (32p)
Crossing the African veld on her way
to school, Manyoni sees many
interesting animals.
- Country Fair
- by Gail Gibbons
(Social Studies)
Little 1994 (32p)
A chronicle of the sights, sounds, and
tastes of a country fair.
BOOKS FOR SHARED READING
- Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You
Hear?
- by Bill Martin, Jr.
Holt 1991 (24p)
Zoo animals playfully tell about the
other animal sounds they hear.
- Who Is Tapping at My Window?
- by A. G. Deming
Puffin 1994 (24p) paper
In this poem, Rain asks a variety of
animals a question.
- Does a Mouse Have a House?
- by Anne Miranda
(Science/Health)
Bradbury 1994 (32p)
Rhyming verse tells where different
animals make their homes.