Books in Reading Books series

A best-selling author and illustrator pay tribute to the power of language and intergenerational bonds.George Baker and Harry don’t seem the likeliest of friends. Yet, sitting side by side on George’s porch, waiting for the school bus to come, the two have plenty in common, this hundred-year-old musician with the crookedy fingers going tappidy on his knees and the young schoolboy whose shoelaces always need tying. They’re both learning to read, which is hard — but what’s easy is the warm friendship they share. In an inspired pairing, a best-selling author and illustrator pay tribute to the power of language and intergenerational bonds.

"It is almost Friday night. Outside, the dark is getting darker," and here and there around the city ninety-two men and thirteen women are getting dressed to go to work. First they bathe and put on their underwear. Then they don special black-and-white apparel. Then when the one hundred and five people are completely ready, each takes a musical instrument and travels to midtown. There, at 8:30 tonight, they will work together: playing.In these pages Karla Kuskin and Marc Simont combine their talents to give us a delightful and unusual inside view of one way an orchestra prepares. Nominee, 1983 American Book AwardNotable Children's Books of 1983 (ALA)1983 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)Outstanding Children's Books of 1982 (NYT)A Reading Rainbow Selection1983 Teachers' Choices (NCTE)Children's Books of 1982 (Library of Congress)

A beautifully illustrated, award-winning, and fascinating look at the Middle Ages by Aliki, the beloved creator of many popular books for children. The King is coming to visit! The lord and lady of Camdenton Manor must work quickly to prepare for his arrival. It will take weeks to ready rooms, set up tents, and prepare the feast itself. Everyone is busy hunting and hawking, brewing and churning. “A veritable feast of a book.”—School Library JournalThis nonfiction picture book about life in medieval times features detailed illustrations to explore again and again. “A sumptuous look at the gastronomic inclinations of nobility in the Middle Ages is parlayed into a fascinating story about an upcoming visit to Camdenton Manor by the king and his large retinue.”—BooklistSupports the Common Core State Standards

A spiritual story about the far-reaching effects of private actions.Mole has always led a simple life, but lately he feels something is missing. When he first hears someone playing a violin, Mole realizes that he longs to make beautiful music, too.Through practice and patience, Mole learns to play. And even though he plays alone, in the privacy of his underground home, his music has an effect on others that is more magical than Mole will ever know.

A determined little piggy absolutely refuses to leave her mud puddle in this rollicking book by Charlotte Pomerantz and James Marshall!See the piggy, See the puddle, See the muddy little puddle. See the piggy in the middle Of the muddy little puddle. Charlotte Pomerantz’s tongue-twisting nonsense verse—made even more hilarious by James Marshall’s illustrations—is sure to delight both children and adults.

A rotting hull of a ship...lost gold...coins...gems...Sunken Treasure!Today treasure hunting is a big business. Searchers use metal detectors and sonar to locate treasure on the ocean floor. Divers use high-powered machinery to uncover objects buried in the sand and to raise them to the surface. And more than just treasures are discovered. A whole window into the past is opened up. A salvage can take months or even years. But it's worth it!

Mama Provi and her granddaughter Lucy live in the same tall apartment building -- Mama Provi on the first floor, Lucy on the eighth. When Lucy has the chicken pox and can't come down to visit, Mama Provi decides to make a trip upstairs with a big pot of her tasty arroz con pollo. But on her way up the seven flights of stairs, she meets a neighbor on every floor. En un dos por tres (in Spanish this means "lickedy-split"), the chicken and rice are joined by Mrs. Landers's crusty white bread, Señor Rivera's frijoles negros, Mrs. Woo's tea, and more...and Mama Provi arrives at Lucy's door with a tremendous feast!