Table Of Content7/18/11 Page 1 of 1
Meet the Superkids
Books to Read Aloud
Unit 1 (C)
Bee-bim Bop! By Linda Sue Park. Clarion Books, 2005. In this rhyming story, a little girl and
her mother have fun shopping for ingredients and making bee-bim bop, a traditional Korean
rice dish. The book describes steps for making the meal and includes a recipe.
Cook-A-Doodle-Doo! By Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel. Voyager Books, 2005.
In this humorous twist on the classic nursery tale, Little Red Hen’s great-grandson and three
friends, who know little about cooking, work together to make a delicious strawberry shortcake.
The book includes sidebar tips for cooking and measuring and a recipe for strawberry
shortcake.
The Edible Pyramid: Good Eating Every Day by Loreen Leedy. Holiday House, 2007. This
informational book uses animal characters dining at a restaurant to explain the U.S. Department
of Agriculture’s food pyramid. Each spread describes a food group and tells about the
recommended daily servings for each group. After reviewing all the choices, the diners select a
well-balanced meal.
Eight Animals Bake a Cake by Susan Middleton Elya. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2002. Each
animal contributes an ingredient for making a cake, but a mistake almost ruins it. This rhyming
text combines English and Spanish works and includes a glossary and pronunciation guide.
Mr. Putter and Tabby Stir the Soup by Cynthia Rylant. Harcourt Paperbacks, 2004. After
Mr. Putter and Tabby gather their ingredients they need to make soup, they learn their old
stove isn’t working. Their neighbor, Mrs. Teaberry, lets them use her stove, but their efforts are
interrupted by her dog, Zeke, who would much rather play than cook.
Hey Pancakes! by Tamson Weston. Silver Whistle, 2003. The pancakes are flying as three
irrepressible youngsters and their dog “sift, stir, whir, and whisk” their way into kitchen
pandemonium. It looks as if the kitchen will never be the same, but fortunately the clean-up
crew works with the same energy as the cooks.
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Meet the Superkids
Books to Read Aloud
Unit 2 (O)
Chameleon, Chameleon by Joy Cowley. Scholastic, 2005. The chameleons that dwell on the
island of Madagascar converse by changing color. That’s one of a multitude of facts about these
shy, elusive creatures found in this photo essay.
The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash by Trinka Hakes Noble. Puffin Books, 1992. In this
story, a young girl tells her mother a cumulative tale about her class field trip to a farm. A series
of humorous events occur when classmate Jimmy brings his pet boa constrictor to meet the farm
animals.
Gotta Go! Gotta Go! by Sam Swope. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004. A creepy, crawly
creature awakens one morning and says, “I don’t know much, but I know what I know. I gotta
go! I gotta go! I gotta go to Mexico!” And so begins its transformation from caterpillar to
monarch butterfly. The author provides simple explanations of instinctive migratory behaviors
of animals.
Mama’s Wild Child, Papa’s Wild Child by Dianna Hutts Aston. Charlesbridge, 2006. This
fact-filled book teaches the names of baby animals and explains how their parents care for them
in the wild. Information about mothers is shown on one side of a page and, after the book is
flipped over, information about the fathers is on the other side.
The Parrot Tico Tango by Anna Witte. Barefoot Books, 2004. Tico Tango is a selfish, greedy
parrot who steals fruit from all the creatures of the rainforest. This story, told in rhyme,
describes the fruits of the rainforest and many of the animals that live there.
Fiction Informational Text
7/18/11 Page 3 of 3
Meet the Superkids
Books to Read Aloud
Unit 3 (G)
Brave Dogs, Gentle Dogs: How They Guard Sheep by Cat Urbigkit. Boyds Mills Press, 2005.
This photo essay explains how puppies are taught to be guardian dogs that protect sheep from
predators. It includes some challenging vocabulary, but the text is well-supported by
photographs of the puppies bonding with the sheep.
A Day in the Life of Murphy by Alice Provensen. Aladdin Paperbacks, 2006. Murphy, a
scruffy terrier whose full name is “Murphy-stop-that,” spends his day barking, sniffing,
hunting, begging, and going to the vet. This humorous picture book gives a dog’s eye view of
the world.
Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School by Mark Teague. Scholastic, 2002. After
chasing one cat too many, Ike LaRue finds himself enrolled at Igor Brotweiler Canine Academy.
Desperate to leave, he writes letter after letter to his owner begging her to let him come home.
While Ike’s letters detail his woeful experiences, the illustrations lets readers know that Ike
might not being telling the whole story.
Dogs by Seymour Simon. HarperCollins, 2004 . This nonfiction book provides simple facts
describing dogs’ senses, behaviors, and growth. Photographs enhance the text and feature a
variety of dog breeds.
Martha Walks the Dog by Susan Meddaugh. Walter Lorraine Books, 2003. Martha, a well
mannered dog, gains the power of speech by eating alphabet soup. In this story, Martha learns
that positive words and kindness can change bad behavior as she helps “Bad Dog Bob” and his
owner become good neighbors.
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf. Viking Press, 1936: Grosset & Dunlap, 2000. This
classic tale tells what happens when a quiet Spanish bull who enjoys smelling flowers is picked
to fight in the bullring.
The Stray Dog retold by Marc Simont. HarperTrophy, 2003. This book is based on the true
story of a family who rescues a stray dog they found while picnicking in the park.
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7/18/11 Page 4 of 4
Meet the Superkids
Books to Read Aloud
Unit 4 (A)
Dogteam by Gary Paulsen. Dragonfly Books, 1995. A man hitches his dogteam to a sled and
sets out for a nighttime run through the countryside. This realistic story captures the
anticipation and excitement of the dogs and the thrill of racing across a snow-filled landscape.
Hedgie Blasts Off! by Jan Brett. Putnam Juvenile, 2006. Hedgie the hedgehog dreams of
becoming an astronaut. He gets his big change when the Big Sparkler, a popular erupting crater
on the planet Mikkop, becomes plugged. The Star Lab’s robot malfunctions and only Hedgie fits
in the small rocket. Zoom! Off he goes to the rescue!
The Polar Bear Son: An Inuit Tale retold by Lydia Dabcovich. Clarion Books, 1999. An old
woman raises a polar bear cub as a son, and he treats her as his mother. But when the men of
the village become jealous of the bear’s hunting skills, the woman is forced to send the bear
away.
Recess at 20 Below by Cindy Lou Aillaud. Alaska Northwest Brooks, 2005. For Alaskan
school children, going outside for recess when it is twenty degrees below zero can be quite an
adventure. This nonfiction book shows the challenges these children face getting dressed in
mounds of clothing, playing games with frozen eyelashes, and having a moose visit their play
ground.
Stargazers by Gail Gibbons. Holiday House, 1992. This informational book teaches basic
concepts and vocabulary about the stars scattered across the night sky. It explains how people
have observed stars from ancient to modern times.
We’re Going On A Lion Hunt by David Axtell. Henry Holt and Company, 2000. Tracking
down a lion takes two brave sisters through the swamps, caves, and jungles of Africa. While on
their adventure, they see many different animals in their natural habitat.
Yikes!!! by Robert Florczak. The Blue Sky Press, 2003. A young adventurer and explorer
finds more excitement than he expects on his journey through wild and dangerous places. Big,
detailed, double-page illustrations take readers to distant surprising lands.
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7/18/11 Page 5 of 5
Meet the Superkids
Books to Read Aloud
Unit 5 (D)
Fix-It Duck by Jez Alborough. HarperCollins, 2002. A leaky roof sends Duck into a frenzy
of repair tasks. Unfortunately, Duck’s clever solutions don’t work quite the way he intends.
This humorous adventure story is told in rhyming couplets.
The House in the Meadow by Shutta Crum. Albert Whitman & Company, 2003. Inspired by
Olive A. Wadsworth’s classic poem Over in the Meadow, this counting book highlights the
workers needed to build a house from 9 diggers, 8 masons, 7 carpenters, down to the 1
inspector. Colorful illustrations show men and women of various ages and ethnicities working
together.
Next Please by Ernst Jandl and Norman Junge. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2003. Five hurt and
broken toys wait anxiously for a doctor to fix them up. Readers must wait for the last toy to be
fixed to find out what the mysterious toy doctor is really like.
Sky Dancers by Connie Ann Kirk. Lee & Low Books, 2004. This historical fiction story, set in
the 1930s, is based on the labors of Mohawk steel workers who helped build many of New York
City’s landmark skyscrapers. John Cloud’s father had gone to work in the city. John Cloud
misses his father, but is filled with pride when he sees Papa working high above the ground on
the Empire State Building.
The Wonderful Towers of Watts by Patricia Zelver. Boyds Mill Press, 2005. This biography
tells how Simon Rodia, an Italian immigrant, spent thirty years turning broken tiles and other
discarded items into towering works of art. Using simple text, it explains how Rodia’s dream of
beauty brought wonder and delight to his neighbors in the impoverished Watts community and
to people around the world.
Workshop by Andrew Clements. Clarion Books, 1999. Each spread in this book focuses on a
hand tool used to construct a carousel. The book’s rhyming text captures the actions and sounds
of the tools, including the thud of a swinging hammer, the spin of a drill, and the bite of a saw.
Fiction Informational Text
7/18/11 Page 6 of 6
Meet the Superkids
Books to Read Aloud
Unit 6 (S)
Girl Wonder: A Baseball Story in Nine Innings by Deborah Hopkinson. Atheneum Books
for Young Readers, 2003. This historical fiction story, set in the early 1900s is based on the life of
Alta Weiss. Alta loves playing baseball. At 17, she convinces the coach of a men’s semi-
professional team to let her pitch and crowds come from all over to watch the “girl wonder.”
This book includes a timeline of women in baseball.
Hunter & Stripe and the Soccer Showdown by Laura Malone Elliott. Katherine Tegen Books,
2005. Hunter and Stripe are raccoons and the best of friends but their friendship is tested when
they wind up on the opposing soccer teams playing in the championship game. Although only
one team can win, both friends learn an important lesson about good sportsmanship.
My Soccer Book by Gail Gibbons. HarperCollins, 2000. This nonfiction book explains how to
play one of Sal’s favorite sports—soccer. It includes a diagram of a soccer field and labeled
illustrations that identify players’ positions and equipment.
Sing a Song of Piglets: A Calendar in Verse by Eve Bunting. Clarion Books, 2002. This book
of simple rhymes features the adventures of two piglets as they enjoy sports and other activities
throughout the year. It includes a seasonal rhyme for each month of the year.
Sophie Skates by Rachel Isadora. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1999. Sophie wants to be a
professional ice skater when she grows up, so she practices hard each day. This fictional story
focuses on Sophie’s preparation for a competition and includes sidebars with facts about ice
skating.
Zachary’s Ball by Matt Tavares. Candlewick Press, 2000. In this baseball fantasy, a young
boy is transformed from a fan into a star player after his dad hands him a ball caught from a
pop fly. Each night Zachary sleeps with the ball under his pillow and dreams of the amazing
athletic feats he can do with it.
Fiction Informational Text Poetry
7/18/11 Page 7 of 7
Meet the Superkids
Books to Read Aloud
Unit 7 (L)
Blue Horse by Helen Stephens. Scholastic, 2003. Tilly moves to a new town and is too shy to
meet people, so her stuffed toy, Blue Horse, becomes her playmate. Blue Horse helps Tilly reach
out to other children and soon Tilly has many friends who also happen to have imaginary
playmates.
Dim Sum for Everyone! by Grace Lin. Dragonfly Books, 2003. In this story, a family enjoys
eating dim sum, little dishes of food, in a Chinatown restaurant. Information at the back of the
book explains the origins of this Chinese tradition. Illustrations with labels show different types
of dim sum and the ingredients used to make them.
I Love You, Blue Kangaroo! by Emma Chichester Clark. Dragonfly Books, 2001. When
Emily gets too many stuffed animals, her old favorite, Blue Kangaroo, decides to move in with
Emily’s little brother. Now Emily must find a clever way to get her beloved Blue Kangaroo to
come back to her.
I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child. Candlewick Press, 2003. Charlie has
to make supper for his little sister, Lola, who is a very picky eater. Although Lola refuses to eat
carrots, she can’t resist trying “orange twiglets from Jupiter.” Thanks to Charlie’s imagination,
Lola discovers a new world of tasty foods.
Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen. Candlewick Press, 2006. Libraries have rules about
using quiet voices and not running inside, but the rules don’t say what to do when a lion comes
to story time and roars when it is over. Eventually, Lion learns to be quiet and even becomes a
helpful fixture at the library. But things get complicated when he has to break the rules to help
his librarian friend when she gets hurt.
Lions by Jill Anderson. North Word, 2006. This nonfiction book uses simple facts and close-
up photographs to show how lions live in the plains of Africa. It explains the roles males and
females play in the pride as they raise their young cubs.
Neil’s Castle by Alissa Imre Geis. Viking, 2004. Neil tries to re-create his dream castle, first
with sand, then blocks, and even a blanket over chairs. But nothing seems as wonderful as his
dream. With his father’s help, Neil finally finds a way to bring his dream castle to life.
Fiction Informational Text
7/18/11 Page 8 of 8
Meet the Superkids
Books to Read Aloud
Unit 8 (I)
Alphabet Adventure by Audrey Wood. The Blue Sky Press, 2001. The lowercase letters are
excited about their first day in the classroom. But on the way, lowercase i loses her dot. Now the
letters must race to find the missing dot or a good substitute before school begins.
Beverly Billingsly Takes a Bow by Alexander Stadler. Voyager Books, 2007. Beverly loves
to act. But when she tries out for the school play, stage fright keeps her from giving her best
performance. Beverly is disappointed when she gets cast as a shrub and a wall, until her father
helps her see that they are no small parts.
Bugs are Insects by Anne Rockwell. HarperTrophy, 2001. In this nonfiction book, children
find out what makes a bug a bug and the differences between insects and spiders. It includes an
index that identifies types of insects and activity suggestions for making an insect calendar and
planting a butterfly garden.
Building an Igloo by Ulli Steltzer. Henry Holt and Company, 1991. This nonfiction book
explains how an Inuit father and son build an igloo for shelter on a hunting trip in northern
Canada. Photographs show the sequence of steps the men take, from cutting and stacking
blocks of snow to a chimney, door, window, and porch.
Hotdog on TV by Karen T. Taha. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2005. Hotdog, a little brown
dachshund, auditions for a TV commercial selling Doggy Yums. Hotdog may not have long legs
or run fast like other TV dogs, but he is definitely a good eater.
Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann. Putnam Juvenile, 1995. Officer Buckle is
passionate about teaching safety to children, but they tend to fall asleep whenever he speaks—
until they meet Gloria, a police dog. Children love watching as Gloria, behind Officer Buckle’s
back, acts out each safety tip. The two become so popular that they are asked to be on TV and
then Officer Buckle discovers Gloria’s trick.
Song and Dance Man by Karen Ackerman. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2003. This
realistic story gives children a glimpse of what entertainment was like in the days before
television. Grandpa opens a trunk full of props from his old vaudeville act and delights his
grandchildren with banjo playing, magic tricks, bad jokes, and tap dancing.
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7/18/11 Page 9 of 9
Meet the Superkids
Books to Read Aloud
Unit 9 (T)
Cat on the Mat by Susan Schade and Jon Buller. Golden Books, 1999. Cat dreams of making
the gymnastics team, so she spends the summer flipping and slipping as she learns to tumble.
She hopes her hard work and perseverance will pay off.
Charlie Parker Played Be Bop by Christopher Raschka. Scholastic, 1997. This imaginative
biography of jazz legend Charlie Parker uses rhythm, repetition, and onomatopoeia to convey
the toe-tapping energy of Parker’s swinging saxophone.
Click, Clack, Moos: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin. Simon & Schuster Books for Young
Readers, 2000. Tic isn’t the only one who likes to type. In this humorous tale, Farmer Brown’s
cows finds a typewriter and use it to ask the farmer to improve conditions on the farm. When
Farmer Brown denies their request, the cows stick together and go on strike.
Eight Animals Play Ball by Susan Middleton Elya. Putnam Juvenile, 2003. Friendships get
tested when eight animal pals play a game of baseball that turns competitive. This rhyming
story seamlessly blends Spanish and English to teach baseball terminology and describe the
characters’ emotions as they play the game.
Oliver the Mighty Pig by Jean Van Leeuwen. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2004. Wearing
his Mighty Pig cape, Oliver becomes a superhero ready for action. When Oliver gets too busy to
clean his room or set the table, his clever mother transforms each chore into a way for Oliver to
fight enemies such as the villainous googleheads that live in the trash basket.
Violet’s Music by Angela Johnson. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2004. Ever since Violet
was a small baby, she loved making music. As she grows, she plays every chance she gets and
searches for others who love music as much as she does. When she finally finds some music-
loving friends, they form a band—twang, plink, pluck, whah, woo, yeah!
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Meet the Superkids
Books to Read Aloud
Unit 10 (F)
Amazing Whales! By Sarah L. Thomson. HarperCollins, 2005. This nonfiction book provides
facts and photographs about the physical characteristics and habits of whales, dolphins, and
porpoises. Sizes are conveyed through comparisons to familiar objects—for example, “A blue
whale is as long as a basketball court.” Scientific terms are defined within the text.
Fishing in the Air by Sharon Creech. Joanna Cotler Books, 2003. A father shares his fanciful
thoughts and wistful memories while spending the day fishing with his son. The two bond as
they enjoy nature and go on an imaginative journey together.
Frog in a Bog by John Himmelman. Charlesbridge, 2004. This nonfiction book introduces
plants and animals that make their home in North American bogs and illustrates how they
interact with one another. Includes a field guide with labeled pictures.
Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle. Philomel Books, 2004. As Mister Seahorse goes swimming,
carefully carrying eggs in his pouch, he meets other fish fathers and learns how they each care
for their eggs and young. Hidden images in the illustrations show the importance of
camouflage.
Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems by Joyce Sidman. Houghton Mifflin
Company, 2005. This collection of poems focuses on the animal and plant life found in ponds,
from small insects like the water boatman and tall cattails. It also includes informational text
about each poem’s subject and award-winning illustrations.
Summer Sun Risin’ by W. Nikola-Lisa. Lee & Low Books, 2002. This rhyming text depicts a
day on a Texas farm in the 1950’s. From sunrise to sundown, an African American boy helps his
family by milking cows, feeding pigs, helping out in the fields, and fishing for supper.
What’s It Like to be a Fish? by Wendy Pfeffer. HarperTrophy, 1996. This informational
book explains how a fish uses its body, fins, scales, and gills to live underwater. Includes
instructions for setting up a goldfish bowl.
Fiction Informational Text Poetry
Description:friends, who know little about cooking, work together to make a delicious strawberry shortcake. The book includes sidebar tips for cooking and
