OCTOBER 2022 HOME BOOK SELECTIONS
October’s Selections for the New Worlds Reading Initiative
Students and their families will have the opportunity to explore new worlds and build their skills and confidence as readers this year through the New Worlds Reading Initiative. Based on their answers on a questionnaire that families completed when they enrolled in the program, students will build their home libraries with a variety of fiction and nonfiction books curated to expand their skills, stamina, interests, and identities as readers. We have carefully selected appealing titles to be delivered each month to support students’ literacy development. The progression of titles reflects the right amount of reading challenge—taking into consideration not only reading level formulas but also that all students need exposure to a variety of topics, genres, and text structures to grow as readers. We have also taken into consideration that students who are reading below grade level need accessible books that are appealing to their age group. For all students, selections throughout the year include age-appropriate best-sellers, award winners, and popular series titles. The importance of read-aloud and shared reading experiences has also been considered, especially for the early grades. Wonderful picture books with rich vocabulary help lay a foundation for the development of stronger reading skills. For example, shipments for kindergarten and first-grade students begin with titles intended to be read aloud. As students develop a love of reading, they will become partners in the experience and can revisit books on their own. Shared reading and read-aloud experiences are meaningful and enjoyable for children of any age. At higher grade levels, however, students will take on more independent reading. In October, students will receive the first of nine monthly shipments for their home libraries. The following pages describe the specific books children will receive this month.
ENGLISH TITLES..........................2 SPANISH TITLES..........................8 HAITIAN CREOLE TITLES............ 14 contents
New Worlds Reading Initiative Selections: October | 1
GRADE K
READING FOCUS: Kindergartners love animal stories. Families can talk about what makes the animal in the book funny, unusual, or special.
Creativity & Curiosity
The Koala Who Could Written by Rachel Bright & illustrated by Jim Field
Sometimes a little change can open your world to BIG possibilities. In this tale told in rhyme, Kevin the koala spends every day clinging to his tree, where it’s snug and safe. And every time others invite him to come down and play, he declines. But when his tree branch breaks, Kevin learns all the joys that come with trying something new.
HUMOR
THE WORLD AROUND US
Imagination & Exploration
The Kissing Hand Written by Audrey Penn & illustrated by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak School is starting in the forest, but Chester Raccoon does not want to go. He begs his mom to let him stay home to play, read, and swing on his swing. To help ease Chester’s fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called “the Kissing Hand” to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary. Whenever Chester feels lonely or sad, he can use the kissing hand to remind himself of his mother’s love. The endearing illustrations help convey Chester’s growth as he becomes more confident and independent.
AMAZING ANIMAL CHARACTERS
2
OCTOBER’S READING IN ENGLISH
GRADE 1
READING FOCUS: Families can invite children to point out patterns and use hand and body motions to connect with the actions in the book.
Creativity & Curiosity
I Am Enough Written by Grace Byers & illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo
“Like the sun, I’m here to shine / Like the voice, I’m here to sing.... We are all here for a purpose. We are more than enough. We just need to believe it.” This lyrical read-aloud book will inspire first graders!
FASCINATING PEOPLE & PLACES CELEBRATING CREATIVITY
Amigo Written & illustrated by Carlos Zamora Imagination & Exploration
Told in English and Spanish with vivid, energetic illustrations, this story tells about a pair of roosters who begin a soccer game and end up building a friendship as they enjoy the game and come to discover each other’s language and love of the game along the way.
HUMOR
ADVENTURE
AMAZING ANIMAL CHARACTERS
New Worlds Reading Initiative Selections: October | 3
GRADE 2
READING FOCUS: Learning new words is part of the fun of reading as second graders grow their reading and speaking vocabularies.
Creativity & Curiosity
How to Feed Your Parents Written by Ryan Miller & illustrated by Hatem Aly
Matilda Macaroni loves to try new foods, whether it’s her grandma’s jambalaya or sushi at a sleepover. But, in this fun picture book, it’s the mom and dad—not the child—who only eat delivered pizza with pepperoni, burgers from a bag, or noodles from a box. Eager to experience new flavors, Matilda secretly sets out to learn how to cook, satisfy her hunger for something more, and expand her parents’ palates, too. There’s also a Macaroni family recipe for quiche that young cooks can try with their families!
HUMOR
Imagination & Exploration
My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World Written by Malcolm Mitchell & illustrated by Michael Robertson
The author, a Super Bowl champion and literacy advocate, has created a story about a young reader loosely based on his childhood. In this book, readers meet Henley, who discovers that his very favorite book of all turns out to be a book that he writes by himself. The author wants all readers to know that they can find books they love and that every story has the potential to become someone’s favorite book!
CELEBRATING CREATIVITY
FASCINATING PEOPLE & PLACES
4
OCTOBER’S READING IN ENGLISH
GRADE 3
READING FOCUS: This month’s reading presents two different genres. Families can encourage their third graders to identify what makes a story fun and to consider what types of stories they most like to read.
Creativity & Curiosity
Lark Holds the Key Written by Natasha Deen & illustrated by Marcus Cutler
In this illustrated chapter book, Lark Ba is determined to solve a mystery! It’s the third day of summer vacation, and Lark’s grandmother has promised to take Lark and her twin brother, Connor, to the library. But when they get there, they discover that the town librarian is missing her library key. Lucky for the librarian, Lark just happens to be a budding private eye. Third graders will look for clues along with Lark and Connor as they search for an answer!
ADVENTURE CELEBRATING CREATIVITY
Saffron Ice Cream Written & illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh Imagination & Exploration
In this story inspired by the author’s own family history, Rashin is excited about her first visit to the beach in America. On the way there, she remembers what beach trips were like in Iran—the beautiful Caspian Sea, Persian music, and most of all, the saffron ice cream she shared with her best friend, Azadeh. But there are wonderful things in this new place as well—new music, new ice cream flavors, and maybe even a new friend. Third graders and their families will enjoy this book’s clever storytelling built on contrasting Rashin’s past and present.
FASCINATING PEOPLE & PLACES
New Worlds Reading Initiative Selections: October | 5
GRADE 4
READING FOCUS: Fourth graders enjoy noticing details as they read, and this month they can see how details add up over the course of a book. This month’s reading offers them the opportunity to look for clues and anticipate what might happen next.
Creativity & Curiosity
Who Would Win? Whale vs. Giant Squid Written by Jerry Pallotta & illustrated by Rob Bolster
This compelling and thought-provoking format lets the reader compare and contrast options by offering lots of cool tidbits about two amazing animals. It’s a fun opportunity to decide who really rules the sea! The book is packed with photos, charts, and full-color illustrations. Young scientists will love using the book’s easy-to-read facts and their own reasoning skills to decide for themselves which creature would be the winner.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATH
THE WORLD AROUND US
Imagination & Exploration
The Mysterious Moonstone Written by Eric Luper & illustrated by Lisa K. Weber
Cleo and Evan enter a secret room in their school library and find a collection of books so dangerous that they are locked up tight. They discover that a friend has vanished into the pages of one of these books and enter the pages of a mystery book to rescue her. The two are now in England in the 19th century and must help a young Sherlock Holmes find a missing diamond. Solving the mystery is the only way they can escape the book! Fourth graders will enjoy searching for clues along with Cleo and Evan in this fast-paced book.
ADVENTURE
6
OCTOBER’S READING IN ENGLISH
GRADE 5
READING FOCUS: This month, fifth graders get to enjoy a book from a very popular series or by a prolific author. They will build their reading stamina as they experience easy-to-read but interest-level-appropriate novels with exciting stories.
Creativity & Curiosity
Radio Fifth Grade Written by Gordon Korman
In this funny and accessible novel, all Benjy Driver ever wanted was for Kidsview, his school’s radio show, to be a success. When he finds himself stuck with a talking parrot who won’t talk, a bully who hogs the airwaves, and way too much homework, he’s sure Kidsview is doomed. Instead, the ratings soar, and he and his cohosts, Mark and Ellen-Louise, have to come up with one scheme after another to keep their show on top—and to keep themselves a step ahead of disaster.
HUMOR CELEBRATING CREATIVITY
Imagination & Exploration
I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005 Written by Lauren Tarshis & illustrated by Scott Dawson The ordeal of Hurricane Katrina is brought vividly to life in this fictional account of a boy, a dog, and the storm of the century. Barry’s family tries to evacuate before Hurricane Katrina hits their home in New Orleans. But when Barry’s little sister gets terribly sick, they’re forced to stay home and wait out the storm. At first Katrina doesn’t seem to be as bad as predicted. But overnight the levees break, and Barry’s world is literally torn apart when he’s swept away from his family by the flood waters. Fifth graders will be gripped by the suspense as they follow Barry’s story.
FASCINATING PEOPLE & PLACES THE WORLD AROUND US
New Worlds Reading Initiative Selections: October | 7
GRADE K
READING FOCUS: Kindergartners love stories with fun illustrations. Families can talk about how the illustrations bring the characters to life.
Creativity & Curiosity
A mí me gusta leer (I Like Reading) Written by Mariana I. Pellegrino & illustrated by Mariana Nemitz What happens when children read a book? Imagination takes flight! Do they become pilots who soar long distances between countries? Explorers in an amazing jungle, ready for any danger that may arise? Do they travel by train to faraway lands? The character in this story shows readers the infinite possibilities that turning pages can bring.
CELEBRATING CREATIVITY
Imagination & Exploration
Un beso en mi mano (The Kissing Hand) Written by Audrey Penn & illustrated by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak In this touching picture book, Chester Raccoon must overcome his fear of starting school. He begs his mom to let him stay home to play, read, and swing on his swing. To help ease Chester’s fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called “the Kissing Hand” to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary. Whenever Chester feels lonely or sad, he can use the kissing hand to remind himself of his mother’s love. The endearing illustrations help convey Chester’s growth as he becomes more confident and independent.
AMAZING ANIMAL CHARACTERS
8
OCTOBER’S READING IN SPANISH
GRADE 1
READING FOCUS: Families can invite children to point out patterns and use hand and body motions to connect with the actions in the book.
Creativity & Curiosity
El saltamontes y las hormigas / The Grasshopper and the Ants Written by Darice Bailer & illustrated by Josep Bassa This book is a fresh take on one of Aesop’s fables, a story about the industrious ants who work all summer despite the grasshopper’s suggestion to relax and enjoy the sunshine. In the fall the ants are cozy in their den with plenty of food while the grasshopper is cold and hungry. Readers will see the two come together in this fable emphasizing responsibility and teamwork.
THE WORLD AROUND US
Imagination & Exploration
Leer es poder (Read and Rise) Written by Sandra L. Pinkney & illustrated by Myles C. Pinkney
Through reading, children can be inspired to become almost anything: pilot, teacher, firefighter, doctor, chef, astronaut. With vivid photographs and poetic words, this book will inspire children to realize their dreams and recognize that reading is a bridge to achieving their goals for the future.
FASCINATING PEOPLE & PLACES CELEBRATING CREATIVITY
New Worlds Reading Initiative Selections: October | 9
GRADE 2
READING FOCUS: Learning new words is part of the fun of reading as second graders grow their reading and speaking vocabularies.
Creativity & Curiosity
El Ninja de Jengibre (The Ninjabread Man) Written by C. J. Leigh & illustrated by Chris Gall
In this fun spinoff of the classic Gingerbread Man folktale, Sensei makes an age-old recipe for ninjabread. But the cookie escapes from the oven and runs loose! Can the Ninjabread Man trick Ninja Bear, Ninja Snake, Ninja Mouse, and Ninja Fox? In the end, the clever Ninja Fox outsmarts the Ninjabread Man. This action-packed ninja adventure features a wise sensei, adorable ninja animals, and one hard-to- catch cookie—all brought to life by an award-winning illustrator!
HUMOR
Imagination & Exploration
Mi libro favorito en el mundo entero (My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World) Written by Malcolm Mitchell & illustrated by Michael Robertson In the Spanish edition of the second picture book by Malcolm Mitchell, a Super Bowl champion and literacy advocate, students meet a young reader named Henley. Henley discovers that his very favorite book of all turns out to be a book that he writes by himself. The author wants all readers to know that they can find books they love and that every story has the potential to become someone’s favorite book!
CELEBRATING CREATIVITY FASCINATING PEOPLE & PLACES
10
OCTOBER’S READING IN SPANISH
GRADE 3
READING FOCUS: This month’s reading presents information in a variety of ways, with two different types of nonfiction books. Families can encourage their third graders to share interesting facts they learn.
Creativity & Curiosity
Verdadero o falso de mascotas (True or False: Pets) Written by Melvin and Gilda Berger All about various pets... True or False? Parakeets can learn to speak. True. They can learn at least a few words. This photographic nonfiction book from Scholastic’s True or False science series is in a fun question-and-answer format. The book contains 22 true or false questions with a full-color photograph of pets on every page. Kids will read the question on the right and turn the page to see the answer on the left. Every answer also includes a bonus fact.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATH
THE WORLD AROUND US
Imagination & Exploration
Así vamos a la escuela (This Is the Way We Go to School) Written by Edith Baer & illustrated by Steve Björkman Enthusiastic children around the world are on their way to school. But how do they get there? The answers are as varied as the landscapes, which range from Egypt’s sandy desert to Switzerland’s snowy peaks. Jaunty rhymes and exuberant watercolors celebrate the individuality of each locale, and there are plenty of humorous details to please eagle-eyed readers as they join their fellow students to travel by ferry, trolley car, helicopter, and more.
FASCINATING PEOPLE & PLACES
New Worlds Reading Initiative Selections: October | 11
GRADE 4
READING FOCUS: Fourth graders enjoy noticing details as they read, and this month they can see how details add up over the course of a book. This month’s reading offers them the opportunity to look for clues and anticipate what might happen next.
Creativity & Curiosity
¿Y si tuvieras dientes de tiranosaurio? Y otras partes de dinosaurio (What If You Had T. rex Teeth!? And Other Dinosaur Parts) Written by Sandra Markle & illustrated by Howard McWilliam This creative book explores what would happen if people had various dinosaur parts instead of the regular human ones! From a Velociraptor ’s sharp, sickle-tipped toes to a T. rex ’s giant curved teeth, and from the body armor of an Ankylosaurus to the long neck of a Brachiosauru s, readers can discover what it would be like if they had one of these wild dinosaur parts! Outrageous and ridiculous illustrations accompany photographs and informative text in this terrific introduction to animal traits. Readers will also learn what makes a dinosaur a dinosaur, and why they aren’t still around today.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATH
HUMOR
¡El recreo es una jungla! (Recess Is a Jungle!) Written by Jack Chabert & illustrated by Sam Ricks Imagination & Exploration
Three kids are playing a round of soccer at recess when the ball rolls off on its own into the nearby woods. When the trio goes to retrieve the ball, something strange happens: They soon find themselves in a fog- filled jungle! The grass and trees have come alive, growing high into the sky. And the friends discover that it’s not just the school itself that’s alive, it’s everything on the school grounds! The kids must find their way out of a monstrous hedge maze in time to rescue the rest of the students!
ADVENTURE
12
OCTOBER’S READING IN SPANISH
GRADE 5
READING FOCUS: This month, fifth graders get to enjoy books from two popular series. They will build their reading stamina as they experience easy-to-read but interest-level-appropriate novels with exciting stories.
Creativity & Curiosity
Saraí y la feria alrededor del mundo (Saraí and the Around the World Fair) Written by Saraí González and Monica Brown Sarai’s school is hosting an Around the World Fair, and students are invited to help create a cookbook to accompany the event. Sarai does not take the opportunity lightly and does research about her family’s background before picking the perfect family recipe to share. Meanwhile, at home, Sarai has outgrown her bike, but that issue becomes an opportunity to practice resourcefulness as she learns how to fix up the bike with her grandfather. A highlighted recipe from the “Around the World Cookbook” is included at the end of the book, so students and their families can test out one of Sarai’s family recipes.
CELEBRATING CREATIVITY
Imagination & Exploration
Sobreviví el huracán Katrina, 2005 (I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005) Written by Lauren Tarshis & illustrated by Scott Dawson In this installment of a popular historical fiction series, Hurricane Katrina is brought vividly to life through an account of a boy, a dog, and the storm of the century. Barry’s family tries to evacuate before Hurricane Katrina hits their home in New Orleans. But when Barry’s little sister gets terribly sick, they’re forced to stay home and wait out the storm. At first Katrina doesn’t seem to be as bad as predicted. But when the levees break overnight and Barry is swept away from his family by the flood waters, his world is literally torn apart. Fifth graders will be gripped by the suspense as they follow Barry’s story.
FASCINATING PEOPLE & PLACES THE WORLD AROUND US
New Worlds Reading Initiative Selections: October | 13
GRADE K
READING FOCUS: Kindergartners love animal stories. Families can talk about what makes the animal in the book funny, unusual, or special.
Imagination & Exploration
Sheldon timid/Shy Sheldon Written by Alex Ives & illustrated by Jenny Palmer
Being the new kid in school can be difficult: New kids, a new place, and even small things can be overwhelming! In this book, readers will get to know Sheldon, a shy little turtle who has a hard time coming out of his shell...literally. Throughout the day, Sheldon is invited to several activities with the class, but he has a hard time saying yes. This heartwarming illustrated book shows readers that being the new kid can be difficult, but everything works out with time.
AMAZING ANIMAL CHARACTERS
GRADE 1
READING FOCUS: Families can invite children to point out patterns and use hand and body motions to connect with the actions in the book.
Creativity & Curiosity
Lè Mwen Vin Gran/When I Grow Up Written by Bailey Carroll & illustrated by Carolina Farías What do you want to do when you grow up? In this whimsical picture book, a boy considers the endless possibilities. Whether readers want to make art, create music, write books, and so much more, this story is sure to inspire readers.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATH
CELEBRATING CREATIVITY
14
OCTOBER’S READING IN HAITIAN CREOLE
GRADE 2
READING FOCUS: Learning new words is part of the fun of reading as second graders grow their reading and speaking vocabularies.
Creativity & Curiosity
Mons Zoe/Zoe’s Monster Written by Fiona Balan & illustrated by Jacqui Davis
Otè • Written by Fiona Balan Desine pa • Illustrated by Jacqui Davis
a t e d i n e p a
Zoe, a courageous (and resourceful!) little girl, knows that something is wrong. There’s something under her bed: A monster! She tries all means to get rid of it, luring and tricking it, to no avail. This comical tale will show young readers that sometimes a monster is not trying to be scary; it’s just looking for someone to play with. It’s looking for a friend.
10/20/21 11:37 AM
HUMOR
GRADE 3
READING FOCUS: With this month’s reading, families can encourage their third graders to identify what makes a story fun and to consider what types of stories they most like to read.
Imagination & Exploration
Nouvo Timoun Nan/The New Kid Written by Hilary Rogers & illustrated by Kevin Ntwali, Odile Uwera, Bruno Iradukunda, and Emmanuel Bagirishya Moving to a new town sends a young boy into a spiral. Everything is new, and he worries that he won’t make friends at his new school. Read along as he musters up the courage to be outgoing and talk to new people. Making friends doesn’t have to be hard!
FASCINATING PEOPLE & PLACES
New Worlds Reading Initiative Selections: October | 15
GRADE 4
READING FOCUS: Fourth graders enjoy noticing clues as they read, and this month they can see how details add up over the course of a book and anticipate what might happen next.
Imagination & Exploration
Eleksyon Klas la/The Class Election Written by Mùthoni wa Gìchùrù & illustrated by Bruno Iradukunda When a classmate tells Lulu that she cannot be president because she’s a girl, she goes on to run for class president, win, and prove him wrong. Lulu receives more votes than the boy who runs against her. As the class president, she makes sure everyone knows that both girls and boys can achieve any goal.
FASCINATING PEOPLE & PLACES
GRADE 5
READING FOCUS: This month, fifth graders will build their reading stamina as they experience an easy-to-read but interest-level-appropriate story about a relatable character.
Creativity & Curiosity
Konpetisyon an/The Competition Written by Stacey Cherono Bett & illustrated by Emmanuel Bagirishya Anna’s passion is architecture. She loves building sculptures and decides to enter her school’s science competition. With encouragement from her parents and friends, Anna builds the best sculpture and wins the competition. This chapter book shows that perseverance and hard work can make a huge difference in our results.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATH
CELEBRATING CREATIVITY
16
OCTOBER’S READING IN HAITIAN CREOLE
For more literacy resources, visit newworldsreading.com
New Worlds Reading Initiative Selections: October | 17
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