Readability

Mr. Putter has a cold. Though his cat, Tabby, tries to comfort him, he finds that it’s no fun to be old with a cold. Fortunately, his neighbor, Mrs. Teaberry, tries to nurse him back to health by sending her dog, Zeke, over with thermoses of chicken soup and tea — and even an adventure book strapped to his back. Mr. Putter knows he’s on his way back to health as he curls up with Tabby and Zeke for a good read. This gentle story and others in the Mr. Putter series offer a dose of coziness in an easy-to-read format.

Extraordinary art and short, poetic phrases in this picture book for older readers show how a young soldier feels as he waits for battle in a forest in Vietnam. Readers’ hearts will beat quickly as the soldier anticipates an encounter with the enemy. Is the enemy the old man? the young woman? the farmer? the crying baby? When he is finally face-to-face with the enemy, they stare at each other in surprise and fright. Grifalconi’s collages enhance this poignant story that readers will find hard to forget.

Nonfiction can often be a turning point for students who struggle with reading. This new beginning-to-read series, written by award-winning science writer, Seymour Simon, introduces nonfiction topics with colorful photographs and engaging text. These leveled readers progress from two or three simple sentences on two-page spreads to full paragraphs that introduce more challenging concepts. Titles include:

Level 1 (Beginning Readers, grades pre-K-1) Fighting Fires, Killer Whales, Giant Machines

Level 2 (Growing Readers, grades 1-3) Amazing Aircraft, Super Storms, Danger! Earthquakes

Level 3 (Independent Readers, grades 2-4) In fall, 2003, a few titles for this level will be available, including books on pyramids and space travelers.

Millions of Americans remember Dick and Jane (and Sally and Spot, too!). Now Dick and Jane and all their pals are back with revised editions of these classic readers for a whole new generation of readers to enjoy! Something Funny — Look, Dick. Look, look. I see something funny. Come and see. Come and see Spot.

The book is intended for young children, and it seeks to convey the concept of opposites through depictions of different kinds of feet. The text of The Foot Book is highly stylized, containing the rhymes, repetitions, and cadences typical of Dr. Seuss’s work.

With this moving and suspenseful picture book, “readers” will experience the joy of a story without the struggle of deciphering words. This wordless chapter book has beautifully crafted black-and-white illustrations that tell the tale of a farm boy’s daring adventures with a powerful winged horse. Your students will also enjoy comparing their interpretations of the story.

Our second Dick and Jane treasury is here! The World of Dick and Jane and Friends is acompilation of some of the best-loved Dick and Jane titles. The treasury includes stories parents and grandparents will remember from Guess Who, The New We Come and Go, and The New We Look and See. Share a classic treasury with a new generation of Dick and Jane readers, who will love the Dick and Jane stories as much as you did!

Parents will love revisiting a fond part of their childhoods when they share these classicDick and Jane readers with their children. With charmingly innocent exploits and simple, repetitive declarations, these beloved characters helped entire generations work, play, look, see—and learn! And now they’re available for a whole new generation to enjoy.