Books with author Gene Weingarten

This endearing friendship story about a boy and his dog from a Pulitzer Prize–winning writer gently explores a timeless question: who’s really in charge?Meet Sid. He’s an ordinary kid. He’s far from perfect. But to Murphy, Sid’s faithful dog, Sid is the whole world. Murphy thinks Sid is the absolute best—and that he’s in charge of everything. Sid loves Murphy right back, but he can’t help but wonder what Murphy would think if he realized the truth: Sid’s just a kid, and Murphy’s just a dog, and neither one can control the world. This deceptively simply picture book is the perfect start to a discussion about a subject seldom seen in children’s books—the nonthreatening feel of a world based on fact and reason, and not faith.

Deer are a common sight in wooded areas, fields, and even backyards that provide lots of tasty plants for these long-legged mammals to eat. But young readers probably don't realize there are many kinds of deer, including the petite pudu and the massive moose. This attractive volume shares some absorbing facts about these creatures relayed through low-ATOS text and stunning photographs of deer in action.

This endearing friendship story about a boy and his dog from a Pulitzer Prize–winning writer gently explores a timeless question: who’s really in charge?Meet Sid. He’s an ordinary kid. He’s far from perfect. But to Murphy, Sid’s faithful dog, Sid is the whole world. Murphy thinks Sid is the absolute best—and that he’s in charge of everything. Sid loves Murphy right back, but he can’t help but wonder what Murphy would think if he realized the truth: Sid’s just a kid, and Murphy’s just a dog, and neither one can control the world. This deceptively simply picture book is the perfect start to a discussion about a subject seldom seen in children’s books—the nonthreatening feel of a world based on fact and reason, and not faith.

Tractors are one of the most useful and utilized machines on a farm. These valuable vehicles are designed to pull heavy loads as well as other machines that help farmers in a variety of ways. Readers will love seeing some impressive tractors at work in this accessible volume. Theyll learn the essential parts of tractors and a few of their important loads and attachments. Colorful photographs and key agricultural ideas help make this book a beneficial resource.

Giraffes are the tallest animals on land. It's easy to see how tall they are by comparing heights on a graph. This book introduces readers to several kinds of graphs, including bar graphs, pie graphs, and tally charts. While learning information about these towering African animals, readers will practice using graphs and charts to answer questions. Animals are an entertaining way to show how math is part of the real world.

Those neat bundles of hay we see in a farm field are created by a fantastic farm machine called a hay baler. And just one bale of hay can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds (907 kg). Along with learning how a hay baler does its job, readers will find out what kind of crop hay is and why its needed. Theyll also see cool, colorful photographs of these and other big machines at work, including labels to aid in comprehension. Farm work has never looked so fun.

Spotting a snake in the grass can be startling at first, but these reptiles are nothing short of fascinating. Readers of this appealing volume will learn some cool facts about snake bodies, habitats, senses, and even snake snacks. The low-ATOS text is perfectly paired with colorful photographs of snakes in the wild, making this an achievable and entertaining book for herpetologists of all reading levels.

Sowing crops on a farm would be backbreaking working without the machines called planters. These tractor-pulled tools can look quite different. Some are small, sowing just one row, and some can plant as many as 48 rows at a time. Readers will find out how these machines work and see their parts in motion in labeled photographs. Theyll also discover how technology is changing this farm machine as well as some other seeding devices.

Spotting a toad in the backyard is the invitation for an educational look at a remarkable creature in this friendly volume. Readers will learn about this interesting amphibian's life cycle, from tiny tadpole to nimble-footed land dweller. They'll understand the characteristics of a toad's body, what it eats, and how it catches its meals with its talented tongue. Striking photographs of toads in action help the readers comprehend the approachable low-ATOS text.

Whether someone has been fishing for years or has just taken up the hobby, anyone can catch a fish with the right gear. Readers will learn about the variety of fishing tackle used for different types of fishing. They will also discover why fishing is such a popular sport all over the world. They will be introduced to the problem of overfishing and what is being done to combat it. Fun fact boxes add to the text, while vivid photographs support reader comprehension.