Wordless books hold a special place for children in early literacy and in early writing. By "reading" a wordless book with a young child you open their imagination to the description and allow them to use their own words, building their vocabulary. For older children just exploring the idea of putting words to page, a wordless book can spark a creative project.


In this fable the lively grasshopper is always ready with a song and some fun while the ants are busy preparing for winter. Be sure to find the pages with the ants underground and the grasshopper, outside in the snow.

The next title, Sequoia, honors Arbor Day and Poetry Month, with words by Tony Johnston and paintings by Wendell Minor. Simple verse gives life to this great tree and follows it throughout the year. Additional information on the tree is given at the end with thanks to Stephen C. Sillett and Marie E. Antoine of Humboldt State University, researchers whose photos were used by the artist for illustrations.


Tall trees inspire tall structures and engineers are constantly trying to top the tallest buildings around the world. In 1889 the Eiffel Tower was the world's tallest building. George Ferris, a mechanical engineer from Pittsburgh, was determined to build a taller structure for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. Mr. Ferris and His Wheel tells the story of this project and its success.
Sidebars give details to the project and the new inventions of the time, including the use of electricity. Read this book and imagine the excitement as a new century was about to begin.
Yes, guys do read!

Often a short story is all you need, if time is limited or you don't want to get into a longer novel. Jon Scieszka is well know know for his earlier picture books, including The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, the Time Warp Trio series for older readers, and the beginning reader Trucktown series.
Scieszka has championed reluctant readers with an emphasis on boys on his website Guys Read. He is now editing a series of books that collect short stories by well known authors, including M.T. Anderson, Walter Dean Myers, Anthony Horowitz, Steve Sheinkin and Candace Fleming, to name a few.


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