Strengthen Your Child’s Reading
When families are involved in their children’s literacy, children are more successful in school! Connecting with your children about books is a practical, powerful way to develop their skills. Watch the video for tips on supporting your readers!
Family Book Talk
Click the books for “Ask and Share” questions that help your child grow as a reader.
Self-Awareness
Challenges & Solutions
Exploring With STEM
Key Hunters:
The Mysterious Moonstone
About
Evan and Cleo are transported from their school library into a mystery book. With the help of the book’s detective, they use their problem-solving skills to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Chapters 1–3 ＞
- Important Moment: Evan and Cleo discover that their school librarian has gone missing.
- Ask and Share: How do Evan and Cleo react to an unexpected challenge? Do you think you respond to challenges more like Evan or more like Cleo?
Chapters 4–7 ＞
- Important Moment: Evan and Cleo help the detective Artie investigate the mystery of who stole the missing moonstone.
- Ask and Share: Why do you think Artie reminds Cleo that they have to talk to each person before deciding on a suspect? Have you ever jumped to conclusions before you had all of the facts?
Chapters 8–10 ＞
- Important Moment: Evan, Cleo, and Artie climb down a rope ladder on the side of the house to follow the clues.
- Ask and Share: How does Evan deal with his fear of heights? What are some ways that you overcome something you’re afraid of?
Chapters 11–14 ＞
- Important Moment: Evan and Cleo solve the mystery and successfully return to their school library.
- Ask and Share: If you could enter a book like Evan and Cleo do, what type of book would you want it to be? Why?
Pass the Ball, Mo!
About
Mo is the smallest kid on his basketball team, and passing the ball is difficult for him. When Mo perseveres instead of giving up, he is able to help his team win.
Discuss The Book
Pages 1–10 ＞
- Important Moment: Mo has a hard time passing the ball at basketball practice.
- Ask and Share: What is a skill that you had trouble learning at first? What helped you keep going?
Pages 11–18 ＞
- Important Moment: Mo practices passing the ball higher with his dad.
- Ask and Share: Do you think Mo enjoys practicing basketball? How do you feel about practicing new skills? What can you do to make practicing more fun?
Pages 19–25 ＞
- Important Moment: Mo’s coach puts him into the game.
- Ask and Share: What advice would you give to Mo about dealing with pressure during the game?
Pages 26–32 ＞
- Important Moment: When Mo tries to pass the ball, it goes in the basket and he scores the winning points.
- Ask and Share: Mo scores the winning points, but his whole team wins the game. What do you think is important to do when you are part of a team?
The Girl with a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague
About
Raye Montague wants to become an engineer, but other people don’t believe she can do it. However, with her determination and sense of humor, she becomes a famous designer of ships!
Discuss The Book
Pages 1–9 ＞
- Important Moment: Raye wants to become an engineer, but other people laugh and tell her that she can’t.
- Ask and Share: How do you think Raye felt when people said she could not achieve her dream? Have you ever felt that way?
Pages 10–21 ＞
- Important Moment: Raye faces obstacles at her segregated school and in her job as a woman working for the Navy.
- Ask and Share: What were some of the injustices or unfair situations that Raye faced? What would you want to say to her if you could talk to her about her experiences?
Pages 22–33 ＞
- Important Moment: Raye designs a ship using a computer, and then is put in charge of designing ships.
- Ask and Share: What traits do you think helped Raye be successful as an engineer? When have these qualities been helpful for you in your life?
Pages 34–37 ＞
- Important Moment: The author’s note shares information from an interview with Raye Montague and includes a timeline of her life.
- Ask and Share: What is your favorite quote from Raye Montague in the interview? Why do you like it?
Gustavo, the Shy Ghost
About
Gustavo the ghost wants to make friends, but his shyness gets in the way. When he holds a special concert to share his favorite hobby with others, he learns that bravery pays off!
Discuss The Book
Pages 1–11 ＞
- Important Moment: Gustavo the ghost is shy and afraid of making friends.
- Ask and Share: Have you ever felt nervous about making new friends? What advice would you give to Gustavo?
Pages 12–20 ＞
- Important Moment: Gustavo feels overlooked by the other monsters, so he sends a letter to invite people to attend his violin concert.
- Ask and Share: How does Gustavo decide to be brave? What are some ways that you show bravery?
Pages 21–26 ＞
- Important Moment: No one attends Gustavo’s concert, but he plays his music anyway.
- Ask and Share: How do you think that Gustavo feels when no one attends his concert? Do you think you still would have played the concert in that situation?
Pages 27–32 ＞
- Important Moment: The other monsters arrive at Gustavo’s concert late and are eager to be his friend.
- Ask and Share: What are some ways that Gustavo and the other monsters show that they are good friends? Are these the same or different from the ways you show that you are a good friend?
Harlem Grown: How One Big Idea Transformed a Neighborhood
About
People avoid the abandoned lot across from Nevaeh’s school—until Mr. Tony has the idea to turn it into a garden. Nevaeh’s class learns how to grow plants, but also how to persevere and to give back to the community.
Discuss The Book
Pages 1–11 ＞
- Important Moment: Mr. Tony begins to clear out an abandoned lot near a school.
- Ask and Share: How do you think people feel about the “haunted garden” at the beginning of the story? If you found a “haunted garden,” what would you want to do with it?
Pages 12–20 ＞
- Important Moment: The children at the school plant a garden in the lot with Mr. Tony’s help.
- Ask and Share: How do the characters help each other to create the garden? What do you think would have happened if just one person tried to plant the garden on their own?
Pages 21–26 ＞
- Important Moment: When some plants don’t grow, Mr. Tony and the children try different plants instead.
- Ask and Share: How do you think Nevaeh and the other kids feel when some of the plants don’t grow? What do you do when you try something that isn’t successful right away?
Pages 27–32 ＞
- Important Moment: The children are able to bring home the vegetables to their families and to share with their community.
- Ask and Share: How do you think the new garden changes the community? If you could create something to help your community, what would it be?
Kick Push: Be Your Epic Self
About
When Epic moves to a new neighborhood, he feels like he has to change his hobbies to fit in with other kids. In the end though, he finds that it’s best to stay true to himself!
Discuss The Book
Pages 1–9 ＞
- Important Moment: Epic moves to a new neighborhood with his family but does not fit in right away.
- Ask and Share: How do you think Epic feels when he moves to the new neighborhood? Have you ever had mixed feelings when you moved to a new place or to a new school?
Pages 10–17 ＞
- Important Moment: Epic joins other sports besides skateboarding, the sport he likes, to try to fit in with the other kids.
- Ask and Share: Why do you think that Epic decides to do the activities that other kids like instead of what he likes? Was there a time when you felt pressure to do something in order to fit in? How did you handle it?
Pages 18–27 ＞
- Important Moment: Epic skates around his new neighborhood one more time at his dad’s suggestion.
- Ask and Share: How does Epic act differently when he is skateboarding compared to when he is doing the activities he doesn’t like? What activities make you feel most like yourself?
Pages 28–36 ＞
- Important Moment: Epic makes a new group of friends who all skateboard together.
- Ask and Share: What lesson do you think that Epic learns in the story? Why?
Power Forward
About
Zayd is desperate to be on the gold basketball team, but his parents think violin lessons are more important. After he makes a mistake that nearly costs him the chance to try out for the team, he learns to stand up for what he really wants.
Discuss The Book
Chapters 1–5 ＞
- Important Moment: Zayd skips orchestra practice in order to play basketball with his friends.
- Ask and Share: Do you think Zayd made a mistake when he decided to skip orchestra practice? Have you ever had to choose between something you wanted to do and something you were supposed to do? How did you handle it?
Chapters 6–10 ＞
- Important Moment: Zayd’s mother finds out he skipped orchestra practice and forbids him from playing basketball for two weeks.
- Ask and Share: Do you think that Zayd’s punishment is fair or unfair? What advice would you give him?
Chapters 11–15 ＞
- Important Moment: Zayd’s uncle Jamal encourages him to stand up for what he wants, and Zayd has a talk with his parents about basketball.
- Ask and Share: Have you ever had to stand up for something you wanted to do the way that Zayd does? How did you handle the situation?
Chapters 16–19 ＞
- Important Moment: Zayd is able to participate in basketball tryouts and makes the team.
- Ask and Share: What do you think helps Zayd make the team? Which of these traits have helped you accomplish a goal.
Mia Mayhem vs. the Super Bully
About
Mia, an eight-year-old superhero, is excited about her first superspeed training class at THE PITS. But a bully on her relay team accuses Mia of not belonging, leading her to lose her shadow and, worse, to snap at her friends.
Discuss The Book
Chapters 1–2 ＞
- Important Moment: Mia enters her new school for the first time.
- Ask and Share: How do you think Mia is feeling? Why? What advice would you give her?
Chapters 3–5 ＞
- Important Moment: Hugo is unkind to his teammates after they lose the relay race.
- Ask and Share: Have you ever had to work with someone who is acting rude like Hugo? What did you do?
Chapters 6–7 ＞
- Important Moment: Mia snaps at Allie and Penn while they help her look for her shadow.
- Ask and Share: Why do you think Mia acts that way to her friends when they are trying to help her? Have you ever been unkind to someone when you were feeling frustrated or upset?
Chapters 8–10 ＞
- Important Moment: Mia and her team win the contest.
- Ask and Share: Why are Mia and her team able to win? What lessons do you think they learn?
Pura’s Cuentos: How Pura Belpré Reshaped Libraries with Her Stories
About
Pura Belpré loves the stories that she grew up with in Puerto Rico, but at the library, she is only allowed to tell stories from books. With bravery and creativity, she brings her stories—and the stories of many others—to children throughout her city.
Discuss The Book
Pages 1–11 ＞
- Important Moment: Pura loves listening to her abuela’s stories in Puerto Rico and wants to be a librarian.
- Ask and Share: Why are stories so special to Pura? Which stories were most important to you when you were younger?
Pages 12–20 ＞
- Important Moment: Pura is only supposed to tell stories from books at story time, but she decides to tell one of her abuela’s stories instead.
- Ask and Share: Why do you think Pura breaks the library’s rule and tells her abuela’s story at story time? Have you ever challenged a rule you didn’t think was fair?
Pages 21–26 ＞
- Important Moment: Pura wants to encourage more children from all backgrounds to enjoy the library.
- Ask and Share: How does Pura welcome more people into the library? What are some ways that you welcome new people in your neighborhood or at school?
Pages 27–32 ＞
- Important Moment: Pura writes down her abuela’s stories to be published in a book.
- Ask and Share: What inspires Pura to put her stories into books? How do you think her life might change after she starts writing and translating stories?
Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos
About
The famous painter Frida Kahlo has many pets throughout her life that inspire her art. When she faces challenges, her animals and her painting help her to persevere!
Discuss The Book
Pages 1–9 ＞
- Important Moment: When Frida is young, she spends a lot of time observing nature with her father and being creative.
- Ask and Share: How would you describe Frida when she is young? What do you have in common with Frida, and how are you different?
Pages 10–16 ＞
- Important Moment: While Frida is healing after an accident, she creates art.
- Ask and Share: Why do you think Frida likes to create art when she is sick or injured? What makes you feel better when you are not feeling well?
Pages 17–24 ＞
- Important Moment: Frida spends a lot of time with her pets, including her turkeys, spider monkeys, dogs, and her parrot.
- Ask and Share: How do Frida’s animals help her? How does she help her animals? Do you have any animals that are important in your life?
Pages 25–32 ＞
- Important Moment: Frida creates many paintings of the animals that are important to her.
- Ask and Share: Why do you think that Frida creates so many paintings of her animals? Who or what would you want to include in your paintings?
Perfect
About
An eraser likes to have a clean sheet of paper and is upset when a pencil makes marks on the page. As the pencil draws more and more, the eraser finds its own creativity.
Discuss The Book
Pages 1–11 ＞
- Important Moment: A pencil draws a mocking picture on the eraser’s blank piece of paper.
- Ask and Share: Why do you think the eraser is so upset when the pencil draws a picture on the blank page? Have you ever felt that way when something wasn’t “perfect”?
Pages 12–22 ＞
- Important Moment: The pencil draws more and more shapes that knock the eraser down.
- Ask and Share: How do you think the eraser feels when it sees the group of pencils coming towards it? What advice would you give to the eraser?
Pages 23–34 ＞
- Important Moment: The eraser creates its own designs by erasing some of the pencil marks.
- Ask and Share: Can you think of a time you enjoyed trying something new like the eraser does? How about a time when you worked together with someone to create something you couldn’t do alone?
Pages 35–45 ＞
- Important Moment: The pencil and eraser work together to create designs on the page.
- Ask and Share: How does the eraser act at the end of the story? What lessons do you think the eraser has learned?
Where’s Rodney?
About
Rodney has trouble focusing in class because he would much rather spend time outside. When his class takes a field trip to a park, he is able to enjoy the majesty of nature.
Discuss The Book
Pages 1–8 ＞
- Important Moment: Rodney acts out in class when he does not know the answer to a question.
- Ask and Share: Why do you think Rodney acts silly in front of his classmates? How do you act if you are not sure of an answer in class?
Pages 9–16 ＞
- Important Moment: The bus drives far away from the school and through a tunnel in a mountain.
- Ask and Share: How do Rodney and his classmates feel about going somewhere new? How do you know? How do you feel when you go somewhere you have never been before?
Pages 17–23 ＞
- Important Moment: Rodney and his classmates explore the scenic views—large and small—in the park.
- Ask and Share: How does Rodney see himself in different ways through his new experiences at the park? Think about a place that's special to you. How do you see yourself (or feel) there?
Pages 24–30 ＞
- Important Moment: Rodney tells his teacher he thought the park was majestic (grand and beautiful).
- Ask and Share: Have you ever been somewhere majestic (outdoors or indoors)? What made it so majestic for you?
Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-to-Be Best Friend
About
Jo Jo Makoons Azure is a spirited seven-year-old who moves through the world a little differently than anyone else on her Ojibwe reservation. Now Jo Jo must figure out what to do when Fern, her best friend at school, may not want to be friends anymore.
Discuss The Book
Chapters 1–2 ＞
- Important Moment: Jo Jo’s moushoom (translation: grandpa) chose the name Makoons (translation: bear cub) for her because she growled and had short black hair like a bear when she was a baby.
- Ask and Share: What's a name someone could give you based on your personality and physical characteristics? Is there a story or special meaning that goes along with YOUR name?
Chapters 3–4 ＞
- Important Moment: When Jo Jo messes up her first attempt at making rhyming pairs in class, her face gets hot and red, her tummy gets “roll-y up and down,” and her lip quivers.
- Ask and Share: How do you think she’s feeling? Why is trying new things sometimes difficult? Is it OK to mess up? Why?
Chapters 5–6 ＞
- Important Moment: Jo Jo and her classmates have been invited to make pictures for the school yearbook. Her teacher says the pictures should capture fun experiences and memories from the year.
- Ask and Share: If you were given the same task, what memory or experience would you choose to share? Why? What would be in your picture?
Chapters 7–8 ＞
- Important Moment: Jo Jo is upset her cat Mimi has already left for a vet appointment. She says, “I didn’t get to give her a hug to be brave. That is what best friends do.”
- Ask and Share: If your friend isn’t nearby and you need to be brave, what are some things you can do?
Cody and the Heart of a Champion
About
Lots of things in Cody’s life are changing—from her friend Pearl joining the soccer team to her other friend Spencer expecting a new sibling. With help from her friends and family, Cody is able to handle all of the new experiences coming her way.
Discuss The Book
Chapters 1–4 ＞
- Important Moment: Cody wears her too-small coat while playing soccer, and it rips.
- Ask and Share: Why do you think that Cody is so attached to her coat? Is there an item that you wanted to hold on to, even after it was not able to be used? What made it special for you?
Chapters 5–8 ＞
- Important Moment: Pearl tells Cody that they have to sit with Madison at the soccer table at lunch.
- Ask and Share: Do you think it is fair that Madison is bossy to the other soccer players? What advice would you give Cody about Madison?
Chapters 9–12 ＞
- Important Moment: Cody finds out that Spencer’s family is moving.
- Ask and Share: Why do you think that Cody is angry at Spencer about moving? How do you think Spencer feels about the situation? How would you feel if you were in their shoes?
Chapters 13–16 ＞
- Important Moment: Cody plays her best at the soccer tournament, but her team does not win.
- Ask and Share: Did you think that Cody’s team was going to win the soccer game? What do you think she learned from playing soccer, even if she did not win? What is a time when you were not successful at an activity right away? What did you learn?
Freddie Ramos Hears It All
About
Freddie Ramos wants to use his super speed and super hearing to help others, but sometimes his powers get him in trouble! While trying to rescue a lost cat, he learns that an important part of having superpowers is knowing when and when not to use them.
Discuss The Book
Chapters 1–2 ＞
- Important Moment: On a school field trip, Freddie uses his super hearing to help find a missing child.
- Ask and Share: Would you have solved the problem differently from Freddie? What do you think would have happened if he spoke to his teacher instead of searching on his own?
Chapters 3–4 ＞
- Important Moment: Freddie helps his classmates at the museum, then calls for help when he hears a sound in his basement.
- Ask and Share: How would you describe Freddie? In what ways is he similar to you? In what ways is he different from you?
Chapters 5–6 ＞
- Important Moment: Freddie feels guilty for listening to a private conversation between Mr. Vaslov and Alexis.
- Ask and Share: Do you think it was fair for Freddie to listen to others’ private conversations? Have you ever done something to a friend that you felt bad about later? How did you handle it?
Chapters 7–8 ＞
- Important Moment: Freddie realizes he is using his super hearing too much and causing problems.
- Ask and Share: How is Freddie going to avoid problems with his super hearing in the future? What advice would you give Freddie to make sure he stays on track?
Hey, Wall: A Story of Art and Community
About
An old, neglected wall takes up one block in Ángel’s neighborhood. With the help of his neighbors, he designs a mural that celebrates what makes his community special.
Discuss The Book
Pages 1–10 ＞
- Important Moment: People in Ángel’s neighborhood avoid the blank, old wall of a building.
- Ask and Share: How do the people in the story feel about the blank wall? What do you think they could do about this problem?
Pages 11–15 ＞
- Important Moment: Ángel describes the happy experiences of people in his community.
- Ask and Share: Do any of the sights, sounds, and smells remind you of things in your own community? What other sights, sounds, and smells remind you of your neighborhood?
Pages 16–23 ＞
- Important Moment: Ángel works with others to design a mural for the blank wall.
- Ask and Share: Where do Ángel and his neighbors get ideas for their mural? What parts of your neighborhood would you want to include in a mural?
Pages 24–29 ＞
- Important Moment: When the mural is complete, people celebrate.
- Ask and Share: Do you think that Ángel could have created the mural on his own? What is a time when you worked with others to meet a goal or solve a problem?
Cleo Edison Oliver, Playground Millionaire
About
Cleo Edison Oliver dreams of owning her own business and is full of creative ideas. However, as she deals with business setbacks and a bully at school, she realizes that her friends and family are even more important.
Discuss The Book
Chapters 1–5 ＞
- Important Moment: Cleo is determined to run her own business like her inspiration, Fortune A. Davies.
- Ask and Share: What traits does Cleo have that you think will help her grow her business?
Chapters 6–10 ＞
- Important Moment: Cleo’s teacher assigns a Passion Project, where students will create a project based on something they care about.
- Ask and Share: What are some things that you are passionate about? If you were assigned a Passion Project, what topic would you choose?
Chapters 11–14 ＞
- Important Moment: Cleo starts her business of using a Nerf gun to pull other kids’ loose teeth.
- Ask and Share: Do you think Cleo made a good decision when she started her business without talking to her parents? What are some ways that talking with her family could have helped her?
Chapters 15–18 ＞
- Important Moment: Cleo’s friend Caylee is upset when Cleo seems to ignore Caylee’s problems, and Cleo apologizes.
- Ask and Share: Was there a time when you did not listen to what a friend needed like Cleo does? How did you make it up to your friend?
Definitely Dominguita: All for One
About
Dominguita discovers that someone is trying to ruin a friend’s quinceañera. With inspiration from the Three Musketeers, she works with her friends and family to solve the mystery and save the special day.
Discuss The Book
Chapters 1–4 ＞
- Important Moment: Dom finds out that a boy stole the check that she had delivered to the butcher to order food for Leni’s party.
- Ask and Share: How do you think Dom feels when she finds out that the boy tricked her? Do you think she will be able to solve the problem before Leni’s party?
Chapters 5–7 ＞
- Important Moment: Dom and her friends go to the butcher to find Dom’s receipt.
- Ask and Share: Have you ever stood up for what you knew to be right the way that Dom does? How did you feel?
Chapters 8–10 ＞
- Important Moment: Dom and her friends discover that Vinnie is trying to ruin the cake, flowers, and food for the quinceañera.
- Ask and Share: Do you think it’s okay for Dom to tell made-up stories to Vinnie and his friends in order to stop them from ruining the party? Why or why not?
Chapters 11–13 ＞
- Important Moment: Dom and her friends create a plan to trick Vinnie based on part of the book The Three Musketeers.
- Ask and Share: Have you ever had a great idea inspired by a book or a movie? What did you do?
Race to the Wild: Mountain Mission
About
Russell and his team are in a race in the Himalayas, one of the most dangerous mountain ranges in the world. When a rockslide threatens an old friend, Russell and the team must decide whether to go on a rescue mission or race for the win.
Discuss The Book
Chapters 1–3 ＞
- Important Moment: When the team realizes they have more supplies and equipment than they can carry, Russell offers to strap the extra to his already heavy pack.
- Ask and Share: What does this say about Russell and his character? What are some of the characteristics you have that make YOU a good team member?
Chapters 4–6 ＞
- Important Moment: Russell has trouble making sense of the points tally. He says the chart looks like “Super Extra Advanced Algebra.” (See the tally on page 76.)
- Ask and Share: How would you start if a problem feels a bit tough to understand? Which of your strategies would you recommend to Russell?
Chapters 7–8 ＞
- Important Moment: Russell feels confused about whether he and Dallas are still friends.
- Ask and Share: Why does Russell feel confused? If you were Russell, would you think of Dallas as your friend? Why?
Chapters 9–10 ＞
- Important Moment: Russell’s team used strengths like leadership, tech skills, kindness, knowledge, and ambition to win the race.
- Ask and Share: Is an outdoor race how you would want to use your strengths and build your skills? Is there another way you would like to challenge yourself?
Part Five
- Get Creative: Download this book’s activity for your child.
Astronaut Annie
About
As Annie prepares for Career Day at school, all of her family members give her gifts based on what they think she wants to be. When Career Day arrives, she reveals her true goal of wanting to become an astronaut.
Discuss The Book
Pages 1–11 ＞
- Important Moment: Annie is planning her costume for Career Day, where her classmates will dress up as the careers they want to have.
- Ask and Share: What would you want to dress up as for Career Day? Why are you interested in that career?
Pages 12–19 ＞
- Important Moment: Annie’s dad thinks she wants to be a mountain climber, and her mom thinks she wants to be a basketball player.
- Ask and Share: Why do you think each of Annie’s family members thinks they know what Annie wants to be? Has anyone made an assumption about what your goals were or what you were interested in? How did you handle it?
Pages 20–27 ＞
- Important Moment: At Career Day, Annie reveals that she wants to be an astronaut when she grows up.
- Ask and Share: How does Annie use each of her family members’ gifts in her costume? Why do you think she does that?
Pages 28–30 ＞
- Important Moment: The “Women in Space” section describes four real-life female astronauts.
- Ask and Share: What do you think Annie has in common with the astronauts in the “Women in Space” section? What did you learn about the astronauts that was inspiring to you?
Part Five
- Get Creative: Download this book’s activity for your child.
Ty’s Travels: Lab Magic
About
Ty’s too little to visit the science lab at the museum. Not to worry! He and his brother create a lab of their own at home where they mix, pour, wonder, and discover!
Discuss The Book
Pages 4–12 ＞
- Important Moment: Ty is too young to visit the science lab at the museum.
- Ask and Share: How is Ty feeling? How can you tell? Ty’s Momma gives him a hug and his brother Corey tells him it’ll be OK. Who can you count on to cheer you up when you’re feeling sad?
Pages 13–19 ＞
- Important Moment: Ty has an idea!
- Ask and Share: Can you predict (guess) what Ty plans to do?
Pages 20–26 ＞
- Important Moment: Daddy, Momma, Ty, and Corey set up a science lab of their own!
- Ask and Share: Which equipment, supplies and tools are they using in their lab? If you set up a lab like Corey and Ty’s lab, what would you be excited to experiment with first?
Pages 27–32 ＞
- Important Moment: Corey and Ty decide it’s fun being scientists, especially together.
- Ask and Share: What sorts of things did Corey and Ty discover, try, and learn about as scientists? Which part do you think was the most fun? Why?
Clara and Clem In Outer Space
About
A robot built from blocks and imagination launches Clara and Clem into space. Their robot dips, flips, and dives among the stars. Watch out for hungry space monsters!
Discuss The Book
Pages 5–13 ＞
- Important Moment: Clara tells the robot to fly!
- Ask and Share: Where have Clara and Clem traveled using their imaginations? If you could ride a robot somewhere cool, where would you choose to go? Why?
Pages 14–20 ＞
- Important Moment: Clem and Clara explore outer space.
- Ask and Share: Which two frightening things have happened so far? What are some strategies you can use if you’re feeling nervous or scared?
Pages 21–26 ＞
- Important Moment: The space monster comes out of the black hole!
- Ask and Share: What does the space monster want to do? How can you tell? If you could feed a hungry space monster a snack, which snack would you choose? Why?
Pages 27–32 ＞
- Important Moment: Clara and Clem land safely back on Earth.
- Ask and Share: Clara wants to fly into space again. Do you think Clem wants to go again too? Why or why not? If you were Clem, and you didn’t want to play the robot-space game anymore, what would you say to Clara?
The DATA Set: Robots Rule the School
About
When students at Newtonburg Elementary invent their own robots, the robots unexpectedly try to take over the school! Four students team up to figure out how to save the day.
Discuss The Book
Pages 7–28 ＞
- Important Moment: Mrs. Bell asks her students to invent robots that improve lives. (Cesar invents a baking robot, Laura invents a multi-tool robot, and Gabe invents a classroom-assistant robot.)
- Ask and Share: What kinds of robots do Cesar, Laura, and Gabe decide to invent? If you designed a robot of your own, what would it do? How could it make lives better?
Pages 29–54 ＞
- Important Moment: Cesar’s robot burns cakes, Laura’s robot won’t hand over the tools, and Gabe’s robot won’t stop hugging everyone.
- Ask and Share: How do Cesar, Laura, and Gabe fix the problems they’re having with their robots? Gaining a new perspective can be a helpful problem-solving technique. What are some problem-solving strategies you use?
Pages 55–80 ＞
- Important Moment: Olive tells Cesar, Laura, and Gabe that she misses her friends at her old school. She doesn’t know anyone at Newtonburg Elementary and she feels nervous.
- Ask and Share: How do Cesar, Laura, and Gabe show Olive friendship? What are some things you can do if a classmate seems like they might be feeling lonely, shy, or nervous?
Pages 81–125 ＞
- Important Moment: Dr. Bunsen realizes he accidentally put an Artificial Intelligence Booster Power Pack instead of a battery in Gabe’s robot, which caused the robots to take over the school to try to fulfill their missions.
- Ask and Share: Why are the robots chasing the students? What plan do the kids make to help save the school? If their plan didn’t work, what would you suggest they try next?
Cece Loves Science
About
Cece and her best friend Isaac are curious: Will Einstein the dog eat vegetables? It’s going to take a lot of observation, experimentation, and perseverance to find out!
Discuss The Book
Pages 1–10 ＞
- Important Moment: Cece has lots of questions like: Are bears ticklish? Do fish drink water? Do pigs know when they’re smelly?
- Ask and Share: What question does Cece decide she wants to investigate? Do you have something you’ve always wondered—about a pet, an insect, or something else? How could you go about finding an answer?
Pages 11–20 ＞
- Important Moment: It seems that Einstein won’t eat carrots, beans, or cucumbers, but Cece and Isaac are scientists, so they’re not ready to give up yet!
- Ask and Share: Which ideas have Cece and Isaac already tested? If you were working on this project with Cece and Isaac, what next step would you suggest? Why?
Pages 21–26 ＞
- Important Moment: Cece and Isaac discover that Einstein will eat vegetables when they’re mixed with bananas, a food he likes.
- Ask and Share: Why did Cece think to mix the vegetables with bananas? Why is observation (watching carefully) an important skill for scientists? Can you think of other times that being observant comes in handy?
Pages 27–28 ＞
- Important Moment: Cece discovers that science isn’t just about asking questions, it’s about having fun finding answers, too!
- Ask and Share: If you were Cece or Isaac, which part of the experiment would you find the most challenging? The most fun? Why?
Mae Among the Stars
About
Inspired by the life of Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to travel to space, this book tells the story of Mae as a child. With big dreams and a supportive family, Little Mae pursues her goal of becoming an astronaut.
Discuss The Book
Pages 1–7 ＞
- Important Moment: Mae tells her mother she wants to see Earth from space.
- Ask and Share: What is special about the way Mae wants to see Earth? Would you like to see Earth from outer space? What do you want to see or experience in your life? Why?
Pages 8–13 ＞
- Important Moment: Mae’s mother tells Mae she can be an astronaut if she dreams it, believes it, and works hard for it. Mae researches at the library and even makes an astronaut costume.
- Ask and Share: What are some of the fun and creative ways Mae dreams of becoming an astronaut? What topic would you want to learn more about at the library?
Pages 14–28 ＞
- Important Moment: Mae’s teacher Miss Bell tells Mae that nursing would be a good profession for her.
- Ask and Share: Why is Mae disappointed? How does Mae sort through her feelings? What are some things you can try when you’re feeling sad or discouraged?
Pages 29–38 ＞
- Important Moment: Mae goes to space and waves to her mom and dad on Earth, just like she promised she would.
- Ask and Share: How do you think it made Mae feel to achieve her goal? What’s a goal that you would like to reach one day? What ideas do you have for how to achieve your goal?
Jabari Tries
About
Jabari’s got plans to build a machine that flies. Not to worry, it’ll be easy! ...Or will it? Jabari’s going to need problem-solving, perseverance, and partnership to get the job done!
Discuss The Book
Pages 1–7 ＞
- Important Moment: Jabari’s flying machine crashes to the ground.
- Ask and Share: What does Jabari think the problem might be? If you were Jabari, how might you test that hypothesis (idea)?
Pages 8–14 ＞
- Important Moment: Jabari looks to great inventors, engineers, and scientists for inspiration.
- Ask and Share: Who is someone you look up to or admire? Why are they inspiring to you?
Pages 15–20 ＞
- Important Moment: Jabari is frustrated. He sits down to talk with his dad.
- Ask and Share: Who are trusted people in your life you can talk with when you’re having trouble or experiencing big feelings?
Pages 21–28 ＞
- Important Moment: Jabari gathers his patience, closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath. He blows his muddy feelings away. He can feel his body calming down and his brain starting to work better.
- Ask and Share: If you’re feeling overwhelmed or upset, what are some good things to try to help you feel more calm or peaceful?
Layla and the Bots: Happy Paws
About
Happy Days Amusement Park is set to close. Where have all the customers gone? Can Layla and her robots save the park with a “huge and wild idea”— inventing rides for dogs?
Discuss The Book
Pages 1–23 ＞
- Important Moment: Layla discovers everyone in Blossom Valley is going to the dog park for fun. This gives Layla an idea!
- Ask and Share: Can you predict (guess) what her idea might be?
Pages 24–35 ＞
- Important Moment: Layla and the Bots can’t come up with any good ideas at the ice cream shop, but they think up two dozen ideas when they visit the dog park.
- Ask and Share: Why do you think Layla and the Bots have more ideas at the dog park?
Pages 36–51 ＞
- Important Moment: Layla lies awake in bed, worrying if she’s done enough to save the park.
- Ask and Share: What are some good things you can do if you’re feeling worried or you can’t sleep because something is bothering you?
Pages 52–71 ＞
- Important Moment: When the Breezy Car-Coaster fails the safety inspection, Layla feels like she’s let everyone down. But then she gets an idea—she’s not giving up yet!
- Ask and Share: Can you think of a time when you kept trying instead of giving up? What happened?
The DATA Set: A Case of the Clones
About
Olive’s got a bad feeling. Her friends Cesar, Laura, and Gabe aren’t acting like themselves at all. It turns out Dr. Bunsen has cloned her friends! How will these science-minded kids solve this problem?
Discuss The Book
Pages 7–40 ＞
- Important Moment: Dr. Bunsen’s Juice-o-Tronic 2000 makes juice taste like whatever you’re craving. Laura tastes peach cobbler, and Dr. Bunsen tastes grilled salmon and brussels sprouts.
- Ask and Share: What would you taste if you took a sip? “Yuck” is the response that Laura has to the flavors Dr. Bunsen is craving. How might you feel if you were Dr. Bunsen? What else can you do if you don’t agree with someone or have a difference of opinion?
Pages 41–66 ＞
- Important Moment: Olive misses her old friends back in Teslaville.
- Ask and Share: Have you ever had to work with someone who is acting rude like Hugo? What did you do?
Pages 67–100 ＞
- Important Moment: Dr. Bunsen has accidentally cloned the clones! Now there are three of each friend from the DATA Set!
- Ask and Share: What mistake did Dr. Bunsen make? If there were suddenly two extra yous, what do you think you would do?
Pages 101–127 ＞
- Important Moment: Olive is worried that her friends in the DATA Set don’t like her anymore.
- Ask and Share: How does Laura reassure Olive? What are some of the ways you can show kindness to a friend or classmate who is feeling shaky or unsure of themselves?
The Astronaut with a Song for the Stars: The Story of Dr. Ellen Ochoa
About
Follow along with the real-life story of Dr. Ellen Ochoa and her adventures into outer space—achieving her dreams and a series of historic firsts.
Discuss The Book
Pages 1–8 ＞
- Important Moment: Ellen’s mother says that in order to succeed, we should never stop learning.
- Ask and Share: What great advice does Ellen’s mother give her? Can you think of a good piece of advice you’ve been given by someone you trust?
Pages 9–15 ＞
- Important Moment: NASA rejects Ellen for space school.
- Ask and Share: Can you think of a time you’ve felt disappointment like Ellen feels? How did you handle it?
Pages 16–22 ＞
- Important Moment: The training to become an astronaut is hard, but it pays off.
- Ask and Share: What’s something hard that you’ve done? What was the benefit to sticking with it, even when it felt difficult?
Pages 23–33 ＞
- Important Moment: Ellen says breaking a big goal down into smaller steps makes it more doable.
- Ask and Share: Is there something big you’d like to achieve? Which steps can you take to get to your goal?
Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code
About
Grace Hopper used her curiosity and new ideas to revolutionize computer science in the very early days of computers. It took math, perseverance, daring, and even doodling!
Discuss The Book
Pages 2–10 ＞
- Important Moment: Grace takes seven clocks apart to figure out what makes them tick.
- Ask and Share: What’s something you’d be interested to look inside or figure out how it works?
Pages 11–20 ＞
- Important Moment: Grace thinks of fun ways to help her classmates learn.
- Ask and Share: What are some ways you help or share your kindness with friends and classmates?
Pages 21–29 ＞
- Important Moment: Only a few people have ever programmed before, so Grace has to teach herself how to do it.
- Ask and Share: Can you think of a skill you’ve taught yourself or one that you’ve worked hard on to become better at?
Pages 30–39 ＞
- Important Moment: Because of Grace’s astonishing skill, accomplishments, and unconventional thinking, it’s no wonder people call her Amazing Grace!
- Ask and Share: Look closely at pages 38 and 39. Can you figure out which important parts of Grace’s life story are represented in the illustrations?
Family Reading Tips
Here are some easy, powerful ways to support your child with their reading!
Ask Questions About the Book ＞
- Start conversations by asking open-ended questions rather than questions that have yes or no answers.
- Ask, “How would you feel if you were the main character in this situation, and why?”
- Take turns sharing your thoughts and ideas, too.
- It is important for readers to visualize what they are reading.
- While reading, ask your child to close their eyes and imagine what is happening.
- Ask them to describe what they “see.” After reading, invite your child to draw what they saw!
- Children should be able to give examples from the book to answer a question or to explain an opinion. As you read together:
- Ask your child to describe what a particular character is like.
- Then, ask them to point to specific examples in the book.
Build Skills at Home ＞
- Make books easy to reach and reread at home. Rereading books:
- helps children to understand a book more deeply,
- increases vocabulary, and
- adds comfort and ease to reading.
- Try to build in 20 minutes of reading with your child each day. Find a comfy spot, and enjoy this time together!
- Encourage your child to bring along a book anytime! Short moments between running errands or traveling from place to place can add up to a lot of reading.
Encourage and Connect ＞
- When children can see themselves in a story, they connect more deeply to it.
- Look for positive qualities (like bravery and teamwork) while reading with your child.
- Remind them of times where they—or you—showed the same qualities.
- When your child is reading:
- Ask questions about their book so they know you are interested.
- Celebrate their efforts! Offer a quick high five or join them in a celebratory dance at the end of a book.
- When reading is challenging for your child:
- Empathize with their struggle, describing a time when you struggled.
- Let them know that mistakes are okay, and that this is how we learn.
- Build their confidence by talking about what they have already learned.
- Offer a trip to the library to find books that interest them.
Reading Milestones ＞
- If you want more information on how to support your child as a reader, reach
out to their teacher. You can ask:
- Is my child reading on grade level?
- What books would be a good fit for my child?
- Is there anything specific we should be working on at home?
- Third-grade readers are learning to:
- Read words with multiple syllables.
- Read smoothly and with expression.
- Reread words or sentences when they make a mistake.
- Fourth-grade readers are practicing “reading to learn”—gaining information and striving for deep understanding of what they read. Have your child explain to you what they read to hear them practice these skills.
- Ask questions that help your child make a personal
connection to the book, such as:
“Have you ever felt that way?”
“What would you do in a situation like that?”
What’s Your Family’s Reading Journey?
Take the quiz and get tips personalized to your life!
Your Family is Ready to
Gear Up
Your family is juggling a lot. Though it can be stressful to find time for it all, you’re making it work. Your family is ready for an organized reading journey! Here’s how your family can gear up.
- Plan the habit. Try taking a few minutes tonight to plan in advance for how you will slot reading time into your schedule.
- Include a book in your child’s bedtime routine. Read aloud to your child, or remind them to read a few pages of their book before bed.
- Schedule a library visit in advance for when you’re already out and about. (PS: Many libraries no longer charge fines for overdue books.)
- If you take a train or bus with your child, or wait at a laundromat, bring a book as a fun distraction.
- Prioritize choice. Empower your child to choose their own books, which is proven to increase reading motivation. Ideas:
- Have your child browse the library shelves and/or share their interests with a librarian.
- Children also enjoy rereading old favorites, which builds comfort, understanding, and vocabulary.
Your Family is Ready to
Rev Up
Your family are adventurous readers! You read all sorts of stories and texts. This is a great way for your child or children to build background knowledge and vocabulary, so they can continue to succeed as they grow. Here’s how your family can rev up.
- Grow vocabulary. Try modeling for your children the habit of looking up unfamiliar words in the dictionary.
- Read together. Your child benefits from independent reading as well as reading with you. Take turns reading to each other, and discuss books.
- Level up. Encourage your child to complete a “reading challenge” in which they try to meet a goal, such as a number of books read or a checklist of a variety of types of books. You can find reading challenge options online or at your library or school.
Your Family is Ready to
Level Up
Your family is ready to thrive as readers. Learning to read takes time. Your support makes a real difference in your child’s reading journey! Here’s how your family can gear up.
- Be positive. Celebrate every step forward your child makes.
- Read together. Take turns reading to each other. Make it cozy and fun—snuggle under the covers or make a blanket fort.
- Support. Talk honestly with your child about reading struggles and why it’s worth continuing. Ask them to brainstorm the benefits.
- Empower. Let your child choose their own books and see you doing the same.
- Practice phonics. Ask your child's teacher how you can support specific reading skills at home.
Strengthen Your Child's Reading
Use these tools to build confidence and knowledge.
Video ＞
- Your encouragement and support is key to helping your child be a more confident reader. Watch the video for tips on supporting your young reader!
-
Family Quiz ＞
- Take the quiz and get tips personalized to your life!
-
Your Family is Ready to
Gear Up
Your family is juggling a lot. Though it can be stressful to find time for it all, you’re making it work. Your family is ready for an organized reading journey! Here’s how your family can gear up.
- Plan the habit. Try taking a few
minutes tonight to
plan in advance for how you will slot reading time into your
schedule.
- Include a book in your child’s bedtime routine. Read aloud to your child, or remind them to read a few pages of their book before bed.
- Schedule a library visit in advance for when you’re already out and about. (PS: Many libraries no longer charge fines for overdue books.)
- If you take a train or bus with your child, or wait at a laundromat, bring a book as a fun distraction.
- Prioritize choice. Empower your
child to choose their
own books, which is proven to increase reading motivation. Ideas:
- Have your child browse the library shelves and/or share their interests with a librarian.
- Children also enjoy rereading old favorites, which builds comfort, understanding, and vocabulary.
Your Family is Ready to
Rev Up
Your family are adventurous readers! You read all sorts of stories and texts. This is a great way for your child or children to build background knowledge and vocabulary, so they can continue to succeed as they grow. Here’s how your family can rev up.
- Grow vocabulary. Try modeling for your children the habit of looking up unfamiliar words in the dictionary.
- Read together. Your child benefits from independent reading as well as reading with you. Take turns reading to each other, and discuss books.
- Level up. Encourage your child to complete a “reading challenge” in which they try to meet a goal, such as a number of books read or a checklist of a variety of types of books. You can find reading challenge options online or at your library or school.
Your Family is Ready to
Level Up
Your family is ready to thrive as readers. Learning to read takes time. Your support makes a real difference in your child’s reading journey! Here’s how your family can gear up.
- Be positive. Celebrate every step forward your child makes.
- Read together. Take turns reading to each other. Make it cozy and fun—snuggle under the covers or make a blanket fort.
- Support. Talk honestly with your child about reading struggles and why it’s worth continuing. Ask them to brainstorm the benefits.
- Empower. Let your child choose their own books and see you doing the same.
- Practice phonics. Ask your child's teacher how you can support specific reading skills at home.
- Plan the habit. Try taking a few
minutes tonight to
plan in advance for how you will slot reading time into your
schedule.
Reading Around the Home ＞
- Your child learns everywhere, not just at school! Your home is filled with opportunities for your child to learn and grow as a reader!
-
BEDROOM
At bedtime, get cozy together under a blanket and read to your child. Or have your child read or page through a book for about 20 minutes. Do silly character voices to increase the fun!
BATHROOM
Leave encouraging notes on the bathroom mirror to cheer your child on as they grow as a reader. Ask your child to write notes back to you to create a new way of connecting!
LIVING ROOM
What kind of plant is this? What makes that lightbulb glow? These are good questions! Encourage your child's curiosity. Help your child look for answers (and build new vocabulary) by doing online research or going to your library to discover books on these topics.
KITCHEN
Reading recipes is a great way to practice following step-by-step instructions and to learn measurements. The next time someone's cooking, encourage your child to help by reading the recipe to their family member!
Reading Around the Home
Your child learns everywhere, not just at school! Your home is filled with opportunities for your child to learn and grow as a reader!
-
BEDROOM
At bedtime, get cozy together under a blanket and read to your child. Or have your child read or page through a book for about 20 minutes. Do silly character voices to increase the fun!
BATHROOM
Leave encouraging notes on the bathroom mirror to cheer your child on as they grow as a reader. Ask your child to write notes back to you to create a new way of connecting!
LIVING ROOM
What kind of plant is this? What makes that lightbulb glow? These are good questions! Encourage your child's curiosity. Help your child look for answers (and build new vocabulary) by doing online research or going to your library to discover books on these topics.
KITCHEN
Reading recipes is a great way to practice following step-by-step instructions and to learn measurements. The next time someone's cooking, encourage your child to help by reading the recipe to their family member!
Online Reading Fun
If your school subscribes, you’ll receive a password to check out more books online at Scholastic BookFlix. You’ll find animation, audio, and activities to build reading skills.
Visit BookFlix
Check out this free, safe, monitored website where your child can interact with favorite characters and authors, play book-related games, make comics, and discover new books.
Visit Home Base
Families:
Chance to Win a $50 Gift Card!
You have important insights into your children’s literacy. Help us learn from you by completing this survey—and you’ll have a chance to win a $50 gift card!
TAKE SURVEY
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Fully completed surveys must be received by 6/30/24 in order to be eligible to receive a $50 American Express gift card. Ten (10) winners will be selected at random from among all eligible family surveys received. Promotion is open only to survey recipients age 18 or older who are the parent or legal guardian of a child in grades K-5, who are residents of the United States (one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia), and who have reviewed the My Books Every Day books and materials provided as part of the Scholastic literacy programming in Camden school district. See Official Rules: scholastic.com/surveygiftcardrules
Families:
Chance to Win a $50 Gift Card!
You have important insights into your children’s literacy. Help us learn from you by completing this survey—and you’ll have a chance to win a $50 gift card!
TAKE SURVEY
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Fully completed surveys must be received by 6/30/24 in order to be eligible to receive a $50 American Express gift card. Ten (10) winners will be selected at random from among all eligible family surveys received. Promotion is open only to survey recipients age 18 or older who are the parent or legal guardian of a child in grades K-5, who are residents of the United States (one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia), and who have reviewed the My Books Every Day books and materials provided as part of the Scholastic literacy programming in Camden school district. See Official Rules: scholastic.com/surveygiftcardrules
