Reading & Literature

The perfect companion to William J. Bennett's number-one bestseller; The Book of Virtues, The Children's Book of Virtues is the ideal storybook for parents and children to enjoy together: With selections from The Book of Virtues, from Aesop and Robert Frost to George Washington's life as well as Native American and African folklore, The Children's Book of Virtues brings together timeless stories and poems from around the world. The stories have been chosen especially for a young audience to help parents introduce to their children the essentials of good character: Courage, Perseverance, Responsibility, Work, Self-discipline, Compassion, Faith, Honesty, Loyalty, and Friendship. Lavishly illustrated by the well-known artist Michael Hague, these wonderful stories and the virtues they illustrate come to life on these pages. The Children's Book of Virtues is an enduring treasury of literature and art that will help lead young minds toward what is noble and gentle and fine. 112 pages. Hardback.

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The Cay By THEODORE TAYLOR.

For fans of Hatchet (#10099) and Island of the Blue Dolphins (#1364) comes Theodore Taylor’s classic bestseller and Lewis Carroll Shelf Award winner, The Cay.

Phillip is excited when the Germans invade the small island of Curaçao. War has always been a game to him, and he’s eager to glimpse it firsthand–until the freighter he and his mother are traveling to the United States on is torpedoed. When Phillip comes to, he is on a small raft in the middle of the sea. Besides Stew Cat, his only companion is an old West Indian, Timothy. Phillip remembers his mother’s warning about black people: “They are different, and they live differently.” But by the time the castaways arrive on a small island, Phillip’s head injury has made him blind and dependent on Timothy.

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With their astonishing diversity of tone and subject matter, The Canterbury Tales have become one of the touchstones of medieval literature. Translated here into modern English, these tales of a motley crowd of pilgrims drawn from all walks of life - from knight to nun, miller to monk - reveal a picture of English life in the fourteenth century that is as robust as it is representative.

Penguin Classics.

Paperback. 528 pages.

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An illustrated retelling of Geoffrey Chaucer's famous work in which a group of pilgrims in fourteenth-century England tell each other stories as they travel on a pilgrimage to the cathedral at Canterbury. Some of the tales are serious and others comical. Religious malpractice is a major theme as well as focusing on the division of the three estates. Most of the tales are interlinked with similar themes running through them and some are told in retaliation for other tales in the form of an argument. The work is incomplete, as it was originally intended that each character would tell four tales. Learn More

This comprehension guide covers both The Call of the Wild and White Fang. It brings together comprehension questions, answers, and projects, including a wolf mask, diamante poems, animal tracking and more, all in one grand adventure. A great way to further enhance the reading of these two books.

64 pages

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ABOUT THE CALL OF THE WILD

Life is good for Buck in Santa Clara Valley, where he spends his days eating and sleeping in the golden sunshine. But one day a treacherous act of betrayal leads to his kidnap, and he is forced into a life of toil and danger. Dragged away to be a sledge dog in the harsh and freezing cold Yukon, Buck must fight for his survivial. Can he rise above his enemies and become the master of his realm once again? With an inspirational introduction by award-winning author Melvyn Burgess, The Call of the Wild is one of the twenty wonderful classic stories being reissued in Puffin Classics in March 2015.

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Written by Jean Fritz. Ann Hamilton was so lonely, until one wonderful evening, when a stranger rode up the hill and stayed to supper. Follow the story of Ann, who tries to overcome the despair and hardships of life as a pioneer in the Pennsylvania wilderness. Softcover, 124 pages. Ages 8-12. Learn More

"An invaluable companion to any child spending a seashore holiday." — New York Herald Tribune

Familiar burgess characters Danny Meadow Mouse, Jimmy Skunk, and Reddy Fox explore every nook and cranny of the shoreline and learn first hand about the habits and habitats of spider crabs, sea cucumbers, sand eels, and that strangest of little fishes — the sea horse.

Veteran storyteller and nature lover Thornton W. Burgess provides fascinating information to young readers as he describes coastal areas along the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way he weaves the area's many life forms into an entertaining tale that's also an illustrated guide to the seashore's natural history.

Unabridged republication of the edition published by Little, Brown, and Company, Boston, 1929.

Grade level Kindergarten - 3 (ages 4 - 8)

Page Count 288

Dimensions 5 1/2 x 8 1/2

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When Jenny Wren learns that Peter Rabbit would like to know more about the four-footed friends who share the Green Meadows and Green Forest with him, she encourages him to speak with Old Mother Nature who is only too happy to help. During their "classroom" chats, she not only teaches Peter about Arctic Hare and Antelope Jack but also tells him about such creatures as Flying Squirrel, Mountain Beaver, Pocket Gopher, Grasshopper Mouse, Silvery Bat, Mule Deer, and Grizzly Bear.

Told with all the warmth and whimsy of Burgess's stories, this engaging book acquaints youngsters with many forms of wildlife and the animals' relationships with one another. The charming collection of entertaining tales is sure to transport today's young readers to the same captivating world of nature that delighted generations of children before them.

Reprint of the Little, Brown, and Company, Boston, 1920 edition

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The Bronze Bow Teacher Guide contains answers to the questions within the Bronze Bow Student Study Guide (#4452) , quizzes, tests, and the answer key. Learn More

A rousing tale told in magnificent style, G. A. Henty's story of medieval life follows the remarkable adventures of young Cuthbert de Lance, a lad who serves as a page to an English nobleman during the Third Crusade. Readers have a ringside seat at a major historical event as they follow the boy to the Holy Land, experience the excitement of battle, and share Cuthbert's dangerous exploits on his return trip across Europe to England. Henty was known for his historical accuracy, and this volume reinforced his reputation; once again, he places his young characters in critical periods of history. Masterfully blending fact with fiction, Henty produced more than 140 books and achieved a reputation as the "Prince of Storytellers." His popular novels continue to ignite youthful imaginations with thrilling tales of reckless courage set in bygone days. Reprint of Winning His Spurs: A Tale of the Crusades, Sampson Low, London, 1891. Learn More

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: An Instructional Guide for Literature supports the instruction of this novel about two boys who befriend each other in a concentration camp. Students will be engaged in reading this heart-wrenching story as they learn to analyze the boys' friendship, their innocence, and the dangers they unknowingly face. Appealing and challenging cross-curricular lessons and activities incorporate research-based literacy skills to help students become thorough readers. These lessons and activities work in conjunction with the text to teach students how to analyze and comprehend story elements in multiple ways, practice close reading and text-based vocabulary, determine meaning through text-dependent questions, and more. Add rigor to your students' explorations of rich, complex literature with this essential resource! Learn More

The Boy In the Striped Pajamas (Movie Tie-in Edition) By JOHN BOYNE.

"Powerful and unsettling. . . . As memorable an introduction to the subject as The Diary of Anne Frank.” —USA Today

Berlin, 1942: When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move to a new house far, far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people in the distance. But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different from his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.

Paperback | Published by Ember Oct 23, 2007 | 224 Pages | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 | Young Adult

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The story of The Borrowers, the tiny (six-inches tall) family (Pod, Hamily, and their daughter, Arrietty) that secretly lives in an old English country house under the kitchen floorboards and borrow from "human beans" that occupy the house. Arrietty is desperate to explore the world above the floorboards. So, Pod finally lets her go along on a borrowing trip. She takes one too many chances and is seen. Their only hope for survival is to trust the most dreaded of creatures - - - a human boy. Learn More

The Book Thief (Anniversary Edition) By MARKUS ZUSAK

The extraordinary #1 New York Times bestseller that is now a major motion picture, Markus Zusak’s unforgettable story is about the ability of books to feed the soul.

Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read.

When Death has a story to tell, you listen.

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak, author of I Am the Messenger, has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.

“The kind of book that can be life-changing.” —The New York Times

“Deserves a place on the same shelf with The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank(#10100).” —USA TodayLearn More

First published in 1941, Walter Farley’s best-selling novel for young readers is the triumphant tale of a boy and a wild horse. From Alec Ramsay and the Black’s first meeting on an ill-fated ship to their adventures on a desert island and their eventual rescue, this beloved story will hold the rapt attention of readers new and old.

AWARDS Pacific Northwest Young Readers Choice Award WINNER 1941

PRODUCT DETAILS

Paperback

Published by Yearling Aug 20, 1991

224 Pages | 5-3/16 x 7-5/8

 Middle Grade (Ages 8-12) 

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Johnny Orchard brings home a playful bear cub that soon becomes huge and a nuisance to the neighbors.

Ages 4-7.

Grades Preschool -3rd

88 pages

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Ariel would love to be in the basket of Lucky Star on the day of the big balloon race against Bernard the Brave. Her mother, Carlotta the Great, is the best lady balloonist in America. But Ariel's parents think she is too young. Little do they know she is asleep in the Odds and Ends box when Carlotta the Great orders "Hands off!" and the balloon race begins. The thrills of Ariel's first ride in a hydrogen balloon come to life in this story based on a real ballooning family of the late 1800's. Carolyn Croll's pictures capture the pageantry and drama of the race, and will have readers rooting to the end for Ariel and her mother. 64 pages. Ages 4-8 Learn More

A Christmas Holiday Book for Kids

By Barbara Robinson, Barbara Robinson

This year’s pageant is definitely like no other, but maybe that’s exactly what makes it so special.

Laughs abound in this bestselling Christmas classic by Barbara Robinson! The Best Christmas Pageant Ever follows the outrageous shenanigans of the Herdman siblings, or “the worst kids in the history of the world.”

The siblings take over the annual Christmas pageant in a hilarious yet heartwarming tale involving the Three Wise Men, a ham, scared shepherds, and six rowdy kids. You and your family will laugh along with this funny story, perfect for independent reading or read-aloud sharing.

Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie, and Gladys Herdman are an awful bunch. They set fire to Fred Shoemaker’s toolshed, blackmailed Wanda Pierce to get her charm bracelet, and smacked Alice Wendelken across the head. And that’s just the start! When the Herdmans show up at church for the free snacks and suddenly take over the Christmas pageant, the other kids are shocked.

It’s obvious that they’re up to no good. But Christmas magic is all around and the Herdmans, who have never heard the Christmas story before, start to reimagine it in their own way.

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There are no bears on Hemlock Mountain, No bears, no bears at all..."

Or so young Jonathan is told by the grown-ups as he sets out alone over Hemlock Mountain. But as Jonathan discovers on that cold winter night, grown-ups don't always know... And there are bears on Hemlock Mountain!

Grade 1-4.

64 pages.

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Follow along as young Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn embark on various adventures together. Students will be eager to analyze this classic story by completing the fun, challenging activities and lessons provided in this instructional guide for literature. This resource will make analyzing this literary piece fun and interesting for students. Exploring story elements in multiple ways, close reading and text-based vocabulary practice, and determining meaning through text-dependent questions are just a few of the many skills students will gain after interacting with these rigorous and appealing cross-curricular lessons and activities. Written to support this classic novel, the activities and lessons work in conjunction with the text to teach students how to analyze and comprehend complex literature. Grades 4-8 From Teacher Created Materials Learn More

Better than hiring a tour guide to the fictional town of St. Pertersburg, Missouri, this comprehension guide takes you chapter by chapter through Tom's shenanigans and includes projects that are much more fun than whitewashing Aunt Polly's fence.

Recommended for grade 4+

86 pages

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The classic boyhood adventure tale, updated with a new introduction by noted Mark Twain scholar R. Kent Rasmussen A consummate prankster with a quick wit, Tom Sawyer dreams of a bigger fate than simply being a “rich boy.” Yet through the novel’s humorous escapades—from the famous episode of the whitewashed fence to the trial of Injun Joe—Mark Twain explores the deeper themes of the adult world, one of dishonesty and superstition, murder and revenge, starvation and slavery. 272 pages. Penguin Classics. Learn More

The Adventures of Robin Hood, by Roger Lancelyn Green. Robin Hood, champion of the poor and opponent of the Sheriff of Nottingham, takes refuge in the Sherwood Forest and outwits his enemies with daring and panache. Complete and unabridged. Paperback. 294 pages. Ages 8-12 Learn More