A strange glowing stone picked up on a sea voyage captivates a ship's crew and has a terrible transforming effect on them.

Nothing can ruin a new school year...except maybe a pesky little brother. This Step 4 reader is the perfect back-to-school story for newly independent readers! Will should be excited to start third grade. But his little brother, Steve, is starting kindergarten. The same laugh-out-loud writing and hilarious illustrations that brought us How Not to Babysit Your Brother now portray the tribulations and embarrassments of starting school with a very troublesome little brother. School will never be the same! Step 4 Readers use challenging vocabulary and short paragraphs to tell exciting stories. For newly independent readers who read simple sentences with confidence.

While the other kids happily bound into the classroom, Gabe stands with his mother outside the door, timid and unsure about walking into school. That's because Gabe is the new kid at school and he doesn't speak English. Gabe is from another country. With English as a second language, starting school felt scary and intimidating. How would he know what to do? What would the other kids think? The teacher goes out of her way to make Gabe feel welcome and encourages the other kids to celebrate diversity with empathy. But that doesn't stop Johnny from going out of his way to be unkind. Chocolate Milk, Por Favor illustrates how actions speak louder than words and drives home the importance of celebrating diversity, kindness, inclusion and empathy. Because no matter what language you speak, kindness is the universal language of all. Learn how to celebrate differences in this powerful story and discover how chocolate milk plays a major role in the discovery of the real universal language. &⭐&⭐&⭐&⭐&⭐Heartwarming and real! "Every child should read this book. It can help children understand their feelings when they meet someone different from themselves and help them find a common ground." – Verified Amazon review This book is the perfect complement to other books in your home or school library that focus on ESL, diversity and empathy. Like the work of Bobbi Kates (We're Different, We're the Same - Sesame Street) and Shannon Olsen (Our Class is a Family.) Maria Dismondy is a sought-after author, publisher and public speaker. Although fictional, Chocolate Milk, Por Favor is based on a true story from Maria's own life. This book comes with a free Reader's Guide for children. The guide is available for free download from the Cardinal Rule Press website. Lesson plans, activities and discussion questions to allow parents, teachers and caregivers to explore the topic further and deepen comprehension.

“[An] excellent sequel to Stuart’s Cape . . . Precocious readers looking for clever and unusual situations will not be disappointed. Hilarious.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Our favorite worrier is back, and Stuart is about to start third grade. As he makes his way to the first day of school, wearing the worst outfit ever, what could a first-rate worrier do but worry? Stuart worries about getting stuck in the boys’ bathroom, about not having anything to show for show-and-tell, but most of all, about not making any friends. With his cape, though, Stuart is bound to have a day full of wacky adventures. “This humorous fantasy perfectly captures the child’s-eye view of elementary-school life . . . Young readers are sure to identify with Stuart’s persistent quest to find his place in the classroom society.” —School Library Journal “[A] wryly funny mix of the real and the magical, enhanced by Matje’s quirky line art.” —Publishers Weekly

On the first day back to school from summer vacation, John is the new kid. When the librarian asks him if the school is any different from his last one, he begins a wildly imaginative story about what it was like. What follows are hilarious scenarios—his old school bus was a safari jeep pulled by wild creatures, the school was a castle, and the lunch menu included worms! His imagination wins him the attention and awe of his librarian and peers, setting the tone for a compelling story about conquering the fears of being a new kid, as well as the first-day jitters that many children experience. Albert Lorenz’s over-the-top illustrations, reminiscent of the work of MAD magazine’s early artists, bring the story to life. Speech bubbles and side panels make reference to and define objects in the art (in the most humorous and irreverent way).

1996 Notable Book for Children, Smithsonian Magazine Pick of the Lists, American Bookseller In the segregated south, a young girl thinks that she can drink from a fountain marked "Whites Only" because she is wearing her white socks. When Grandma was a little girl in Mississippi, she sneaked into town one day. It was a hot day—the kind of hot where a firecracker might light up by itself. But when this little girl saw the "Whites Only" sign on the water fountain, she had no idea what she would spark when she took off her shoes and—wearing her clean white socks—stepped up to drink. Bravery, defiance, and a touch of magic win out over hatred in this acclaimed story by Elevelyn Coleman. Tyrone Geter's paintings richly evoke its heat, mood, and legendary spirit.

Unearth the true story of green-thumbed pioneer and activist Kate Sessions, who helped San Diego grow from a dry desert town into a lush, leafy city known for its gorgeous parks and gardens. Katherine Olivia Sessions never thought she’d live in a place without trees. After all, Kate grew up among the towering pines and redwoods of Northern California. But after becoming the first woman to graduate from the University of California with a degree in science, she took a job as a teacher far south in the dry desert town of San Diego. Where there were almost no trees. Kate decided that San Diego needed trees more than anything else. So this trailblazing young woman singlehandedly started a massive movement that transformed the town into the green, garden-filled oasis it is today. Now, more than 100 years after Kate first arrived in San Diego, her gorgeous gardens and parks can be found all over the city. Part fascinating biography, part inspirational story, this moving picture book about following your dreams, using your talents, and staying strong in the face of adversity is sure to resonate with readers young and old.

Grab your jumbo popcorn—you're invited to the premiere of a 3-D movie, all about those three dimensions! Trusted math picture book duo David A. Adler and Ed Miller tackle the differences between two- and three-dimensional objects in their signature bright and kid-friendly way. Explaining length, width, and height-- and all the different ways we represent those figures-- Adler shows how changing the dimensions of an object affects its size. . . . with some help from a cast of funny, friendly movie monsters. Explaining key vocabulary in simple text and offering numerous concrete examples and sample math problems with included solutions, Perimeter, Area, and Volume is a perfect introduction to two- and three-dimensional geometry. The star-studded cast of monsters will help you calculate the perimeter of the set, the area of the movie screen, and the volume of your box of popcorn. Learning about dimensions has never been so entertaining!

The Roadmap to Literacy Renewal of Literacy Edition is a reading, writing, and language arts program for Waldorf schools grades 1-3.

Head back to school with the bestselling picture book classic! The perennial classroom read-aloud favorite for students and teachers, reminding us we all get the jitters sometimes. A perfect new school year pick for kindergarteners, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders who are feeling nervous or anxious about starting their first day. Sarah Jane Hartwell has that sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach—she's nervous and doesn't want to start a new school year. She doesn't know anybody, and nobody knows her. It will be awful. She just knows it. With a little convicing from Mr. Hartwell, Sarah Jane reluctantly heads to class. Shy at first, she's quickly befriended by Mrs. Burton and is reminded that everyone at school gets the jitters sometimes. A beloved and bestselling back to school staple, Sarah Jane's relatable story and its surprise ending will delight seasoned students and new faces alike who are anxious about their first day. • Includes a Certificate of Courage for First Day Completion and a First Day Memories Sheet!