The books listed below may be available through publishers, distributors such as bookstores or online retailers, or library systems.
Independent Reading
EASY- All Kinds of Money
- by David A. Adler. Franklin Watts, Inc., 1984
- This book discusses the history of money from the mediums of exchange used by primitive societies to the various currencies used in today's highly complex world.
- Wings, Wheels & Sails
- by Bobbie Kalman. Crabtree Publishing, 1995
- The different ways of traveling on land, in water, and in the sky are explored.
- Canada
- by Elma Schemenauer. Childrens Press, 1994
- This guide gives an overview of the geography, history, peoples, education, holidays, and culture of Canada.
- Internet
- by Lora Koehler. Childrens Press, Inc., 1995
- This helpful guide introduces e-mail and newsgroups; suggests how-to techniques for finding information through Gopher, Archie, Veronica, and World Wide Web; and provides a glossary of computer terms computer buffs should know.
- The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System
- by Joanna Cole. Scholastic Inc., 1990
- This story chronicles a special field trip in the magic school bus when Ms. Frizzle's class goes into outer space and visits each planet in the solar system.
- Sonia Begonia
- by Joanne Rocklin. Macmillan Publishing, 1986
- Eleven-year-old Sonia is determined to become a businesswomen but discovers that success in business isn't everything.
- The Floating House
- by Scott Russell Sanders. Macmillan Books for Young Readers, 1995
- In 1815 the McClures sail their flatboat from Pittsburgh down the Ohio River and settle in what would later become Indiana.
- From Barter to Gold: The Story of Money
- by Solveig Paulson Russell. Rand McNally & Co., 1961
- This book presents the history and development of barter, the articles used in trading, the history of coins and paper money, and methods of minting and printing.
- Nature's Green Umbrella: Tropical Rain Forests
- by Gail Gibbons. William Morrow & Co., 1994
- This book describes the climatic conditions of the rain forest as well as the different layers of plants and animals that comprise the ecosystem.
- Finders Keepers
- by Emily Rodda. Greenwillow Books, 1990
- While playing a computer game, Patrick is transported to a parallel world and invited to participate in a game show.
- Kid Power and Kid Power Strikes Back (two separate books)
- by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Franklin Watts, Inc., 1977 and 1984
- Janie advertises to do odd jobs and receives so much business that she hires her friends and becomes manager of Kid Power Agency. In the sequel, Kid Power hits a slump when school begins but Janie develops new ideas to solve the problem.
- The Talking Earth
- by Jean Craighead George. Harper & Row, Inc., 1983
- Billie Wind ventures out alone into the Florida Everglades to test the legends of her Indian ancestors and learns the importance of listening to the Earth's vital messages.
- Canada (My Country Series)
- by Bernice and Cliff Moon. Marshall Cavendish, 1986
- This book gives an overview of Canada's geography, including first-person accounts that describe ways of life in this country.
- The Computer Nut
- by Betsy Byars. Viking Penguin, 1984
- Kate communicates on the computer with someone claiming to be from outer space and who says he is going to pay a visit to Earth.
- William Gates: From Whiz Kid to Software King
- by Ralph Zickgraf. Garrett Educational Corp., 1992
- A biography of Bill Gates, who met the computer revolution head on.
Read Aloud and Reference Books
READ ALOUD BOOKS- Jack, the Seal and the Sea
- by Gerald Aschenbrenner (adapted by Joanne Fink).Silver Burdett Press, 1988
- Jack, ignoring the polluted condition of the water, spends his days sailing and hauling in nets full of half-dead fish until he finds an ailing seal and receives a message from the sea itself about its sorry state.
- Welcome to the Green House
- by Jane Yolen. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1993
- This book describes the fragile ecology of the tropical rainforest and its plant and animal life and introduces the Indians who look out for its survival.
- Facing the Future: Transportion
- by Ian Graham. Steck-Vaughn Co., 1993
- This book discusses transportation being developed for the future.
- Passport to Mexico
- by Carmen Irizarry. Franklin Watts, 1987
- An overview of the geography, history, people, economy, religion, education, and culture of Mexico.
- The Sierra Club Kid's Guide to Planet Care & Repair
- by Vicki McVey. Sierra Club, 1993
- This guide explains how human activities are destroying the balance of nature and suggests ways to prevent further damage.