Books for Independent Reading
VERY EASY
- The Carrot Seed
- by Ruth Krauss
Harper 1945 (24p); also paper
Despite his family's beliefs to the
contrary, a boy is certain his carrot seed
will grow. Available in Spanish asLa
semilla de zanahoria.
- Changes, Changes
- by Pat Hutchins
Macmillan 1971 (32p); Aladdin paper
Bright building blocks form different
shapes to tell a wordless story.
- All Year Long
- by Nancy Tafuri
(Science/Health)
Greenwillow 1983 (32p)
Readers share activities with a family
through different months and seasons.
- Sunflower
- by Miela Ford
(Science/Health)
Greenwillow 1995 (24p)
A young girl plants a sunflower seed and
watches it grow.
- Growing Colors
- by Bruce McMillan
(Science/Health)
Lothrop 1988 (32p); Mulberry 1994 paper
Garden fruits and vegetables are shown
close up in all their glorious colors.
EASY
- Vegetable Garden
- by Douglas Florian
Harcourt 1992 (32p)
From planting to harvest, a family works
together in their vegetable garden.
- Munia and the Red Shoes
- by Asún Balzola
(Multicultural)
Cambridge University 1989 (32p)
Munia worries because her shoes are too
tight, and then she realizes her feet are
growing.
Available in Spanish asLos zapatos
de Munia.
- In the Spring
- by Craig Brown
Greenwillow 1994 (24p)
Around the farm, spring is the season for
baby animals.
- It's Spring!
- by Else Holmelund Minarik
Greenwillow 1989 (24p)
Two frisky cats delight in the changes
spring brings.
- Mrs. Sato's Hens
- by Laura Min
(Multicultural)
Goodyear 1994 (8p)
Every day, a woman counts first the eggs
and then the chicks in her chicken coop.
- Sleepy Bear
- by Lydia Dabcovitch
(Science/Health)
Dutton 1982 (32p); also paper
Bear is excited by thoughts of honey after
his long winter sleep.
- A Year in the Country
- by Douglas Florian
(Science/Health)
Greenwillow 1989 (32p)
Monthly changes take place on a family's
farm in the country.
- Messey Bessey's Garden
- by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack
(Multicultural)
Childrens 1991 (32p); also paper
A young girl plants a garden in the spring
and harvests pumpkins in the fall.
- Moving from One to Ten
- by Shari Halpern
(Math)
Macmillan 1993 (32p)
Moving day turns out to be less of a
reason to worry than David expected.
- It's Pumpkin Time!
- by Zoe Hall
(Science/Health)
Scholastic 1994 (32p)
A brother and sister work together to grow
pumpkins for Halloween.
AVERAGE
- Changing Seasons
- by Henry Pluckrose
(Science/Health)
Childrens 1994 (32p)
The beauty of the changing seasons unfolds
in color photos accompanied by simple
text.
- Spring Is Here
- by Taro Gomi
(Multicultural)
Chronicle 1989 (32p); also paper
A clever visual presentation of the four
seasons.
- You'll Soon Grow into Them, Titch
- by Pat Hutchins
Greenwillow 1983 (32p)
Titch despairs of ever growing into his big
brother's and sister's hand-me-down
clothes.
- D.W. Flips!
- by Marc Brown
Little 1987 (22p); also paper
An enthusiastic D.W. practices her forward
roll until it's perfect.
- How Do You Know It's Fall?
- by Allan Fowler
(Science/Health)
Childrens 1992 (32p)
Readers learn about the changes that signal
the onset of autumn. Available in
Spanish as ¿Cómo sabes que es
otoño?
- Jasper's Beanstalk
- by Nick Butterworth
Bradbury 1993 (32p)
Energetic Jasper learns that waiting is a
necessary part of growing things.
- Planting a Rainbow
- by Lois Ehlert
(Science/Health)
Harcourt 1988 (32p); Voyager 1992 paper
Mother and child plan and grow a glorious
flower garden.
- Sometimes Things Change
- by Allan Fowler
(Multicultural)
Childrens 1983 (32p); also paper
A description of changes that take place in
the plant, animal, and physical world.
Available in Spanish asA veces las
cosas cambian.
CHALLENGING
- Changes
- by Marjorie Allen
(Science/Health)
Macmillan 1992 (32p)
This photo essay highlights seasonal
changes in nature.
- How a Seed Grows
- by Helene J. Jordan
(Multicultural)
Harper 1992 (32p); also paper
Two children plant bean seeds in eggshells
and watch as they grow into plants.
- Mouse & Mole and the Year-Round
Garden
- by Doug Cushman
(Science/Health)
Scientific American 1994 (32p)
Friends Mouse and Mole tend their garden
through the changing seasons.
- I'm Growing
- by Aliki
(Multicultural)
Harper 1992 (32p); also paper
A young boy shares his knowledge about
how his body changes and grows.
- My Hands
- by Aliki
(Multicultural)
Harper 1990 (32p); also paper
Children describe their hands and all the
things hands help them do.
- Shy Charles
- by Rosemary Wells
Dial 1988 (32p); Puffin 1992 paper
When his baby-sitter gets hurt, painfully
shy Charles musters the courage to call for
help. Available in Spanish asCarlos
el tímido.
- Elmer
- by David McKee
Lothrop 1989 (32p)
Elmer, the most colorful elephant in the
forest, dyes himself gray but discovers that
being himself is best. Available in
Spanish asElmer.
- Watch Them Grow
- by Linda Martin
(Science/Health)
Dorling 1994 (45p)
Photos chronicle several stages of growth
and change in eggs, seeds, and baby
mammals.
- When Summer Comes
- by Robert Maass
(Multicultural)
Holt 1993 (32p)
Children explore the special pleasures of
summer's smells, sights, and experiences.
BOOKS FOR TEACHERS TO READ ALOUD
- Backyard Sunflower
- by Elizabeth King
(Science/Health)
Dutton 1993 (32p)
Photographs chronicle the growth of giant
sunflowers in Samantha's backyard.
- A Time for Babies
- by Ron Hirschi
(Science/Health)
Cobblehill (32p) 1993
A look at how bears and other baby
animals start life.
- A Busy Year
- by Leo Lionni
Knopf 1992 (26p)
Mice Willie and Winnie form a friendship
with a tree, visiting it monthly as it buds,
blossoms, and bears fruit.
- Julius, the Baby of the World
- by Kevin Henkes
Greenwillow 1990 (32p)
Lilly thinks her new baby brother is
dreadful until she must defend him.
Available in Spanish asJulius, el
rey de la casa.
BOOKS FOR SHARED READING
- An Egg Is an Egg
- by Nicki Weiss
Putnam 1990 (32p)
This gentle rhyme shares a mother and
son's awareness of how many things
change form.
- Everything Grows
- by Raffi
(Music)
Crown 1989 (32p); also paper
This song celebrates the vibrant growth of
people, plants, and animals.
- Leo the Late Bloomer
- by Robert Kraus
Harper 1971 (32p); also paper
Leo the tiger, late in maturing, learns to
read and write in his own good time.
- Like Butter on Pancakes
- by Jonathan London
Viking 1995 (32p)
Poetic text describes the cycle of day from
morning to night.