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Mrs. Welko's Book Talk Selections January 2019
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A different pond
by Bao Phi
"As a young boy, Bao Phi awoke early, hours before his father's long workday began, to fish on the shores of a small pond in Minneapolis. Unlike many other anglers, Bao and his father fished for food, not recreation. Between hope-filled casts, Bao's father told him about a different pond in their homeland of Vietnam."
Lexile: 620 Grade Level: K-2
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Dragons and marshmallows
by Asia Citro
Learning an amazing secret while discovering a glowing photo, young Zoey assists injured magical animals that begin showing up in her family's backyard barn, an effort that includes caring for a particularly challenging baby dragon.
Lexile: 640 Grade Level: 1-3
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Counting Thyme
by Melanie Conklin
Struggling with homesickness and guilt after moving with her family to New York so that her little brother can participate in a potentially lifesaving cancer trial, 11-year-old Thyme finds her efforts to acclimate shaped by new friends, a first crush and a crotchety neighbor's whistling bird.
Lexile: 680 Grade Level: 4-7
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Ugly
by Robert Hoge
Having been born with a large facial tumor and undeveloped legs that could only be partially corrected despite extensive surgeries, the author describes the challenges that caused him to be bullied and compelled him to rise above his disabilities to enjoy shared times with his siblings, gain self-acceptance and pursue a writing career.
Lexile: 890 Grade Level: 3-6
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Nonfiction 590s: wild animals
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50 wacky things animals do : weird & amazing animal facts!
by Tricia Martineau Wagner
Describes fifty strange animal behaviors, including how cuckoo birds lay their eggs in other birds' nests, how male penguins offer stones to female penguins, and how electric eels defend themselves with electric shock waves.
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Look up! : bird-watching in your own backyard
by Annette LeBlanc Cate
A conversational, lighthearted introduction to birdwatching encourages kids to get outdoors with a sketchbook and explains how to identify local varieties by referencing cartoon illustrations that whimsically profile bird characteristics.
Lexile: 810 Grade Level: 3-5
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Wild horse scientists
by Kay Frydenborg
Traces the dedicated work of two wildlife veterinarians who have logged countless hours in the field and laboratory to protect and chart the lives of Assateague Island's wild horses, describing their shared efforts to balance the horses' ecosystem and raise awareness.
Lexile: 1210 Grade Level: 5-12
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Zombie makers : true stories of nature's undead
by Rebecca L. Johnson
Examines creatures that can take over the bodies and brains of other creatures and turns them into slaves, from a fly-enslaving fungus to a cockroach-taming wasp.
Lexile: 800 Grade Level: 5-8
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Animal house
by Candace Ryan
Hearing her student's fanciful descriptions of his animal house, populated by such creatures as floormingoes and manatee-vees, Mrs. Nuddles visits and witnesses for herself young Jeremy's imaginative home and its wordplay-inspired inhabitants.
Grade Level: K-2
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Animal strike at the zoo, it's true! : There Is an Animal Strike at the Zoo
by Karma Wilson
Having waited all year to go to the zoo, Sue is disappointed when she arrives and finds that the animals are all on strike, but when the protesting ensemble sees her disappointment, it makes them realize that they actually like what they do.
Lexile: 490 Adult-directed text Grade Level: PreK-3
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The bear who wasn't there
by LeUyen Pham
When Bear cannot be seen in the pages of his own book, his animal friends embark on a determined search to find him, but Duck is unconcerned about Bear's absence and seems to be trying to steal the show for himself!
Grade Level: PreK-2
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Hero
by Jennifer Li Shotz
Finding an injured puppy while spending time with his 12-year-old boy, retired search-and-rescue dog Hero must use his skills to save the pup, whose fear leads them all into danger.
Lexile: 840 Grade Level: 4-6
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Night animals
by Gianna Marino
When an alarmed Possum, Skunk and Wolf hear the sounds of strange nighttime creatures, they are surprised by Bat's revelation that they are the very nocturnal animals they fear.
Lexile: 250 Adult-directed text Grade Level: PreK-K
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This is a taco!
by Andrew Cangelose
A squirrel named Taco that loves to eat tacos humorously teaches young readers to write their own stories.
Grade Level: 1-2
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What animals really like
by Fiona Robinson
When the National Animal Chorus gathers to perform the immortal works of Mr. Herbert Timberteeth, the performance doesn't go exactly as planned due to certain preconceived notions of what animals like to do.
Grade Level: 1-2
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Dolphin rescue
by Catherine Nichols
Looking forward to a summer of lobster trapping, helping with the family business and volunteering at the aquarium in coastal Maine, siblings Maddie and Atticus are challenged to use their animal knowledge to rescue a distressed pod of dolphins.
Animal Planet Adventures series; early chapter books Grade Level: 2-4
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Broken pride
by Erin Hunter
A debut entry in a new series by the best-selling author of the Warrior novels is set in the African savannah and told from the perspectives of three different exotic animals, including a cast-out lion, an intuitive elephant and an honor-seeking baboon.
Bravelands series Grade Level: 4-6
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Return of the hungry hamster
by Sam Hay
After Joe makes a wish on an amulet and becomes the protector of undead pets, he is visited by the undead hamster Dumpling who can't move on until he reveals the truth about his death and Joe agrees to help.
Undead Pets series, early chapter books Grade Level: 1-3
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