Books in Footprint Reading Library: Level 1 series

At America's San Diego Zoo, they have a new special animal. It's a "red panda" named "Farley." Life hasn't been easy for Farley. He's had some big problems. He also has some big changes ahead! What kind problems did Farley have? What's going to happen to him?

Long ago, people in Hawaii, performed a special dance called the "hula". Then, for more than 60 years, the dance was not allowed. Finally, after many years, a new king returned the hula to the people. Why was the hula not allowed? What is special about the hula?

In Argentina, there is a group of men who live a unique life; the life of a gaucho. This special type of cowboy has been continuing the old traditions for centuries. What type of lifestyle do these men have and what does it mean to be a gaucho?

Horseback riding is a very important tradition in Mongolia. Each year the people there have a race to celebrate this tradition. However, the race is a little unusual. What kind of race is it? Why is it unusual?

Many people visit Alaska to see the beautiful national parks. One group of visitors wants to fly into a national park and go skiing. However, the weather turns bad. Will the visitors be able to get to the park? What will they do there?

Elephants are social animals. In nature, they live happily in family groups. However, people sometimes use elephants for work or put them in zoos. What can people do to make these elephants healthy and happy? How can they stay that way?

In parts of Thailand, monkeys are important animals. They are allowed to do anything they want to do. In the town of Lopburi, the people even have a party for the monkeys every year! What kind of party do the people of Lopburi have? Why do they have it?

In the Arctic Ocean, a baby whale goes too close to land. It cannot get back to the water. A group of whales are trapped by moving ice. They cannot get back to open water. Will the whales find safety before it is too late?

In windy places, some people catch the wind's power with special equipment and use it to make energy. The schools in one area are using wind power to save energy and money. How is this energy made? Where is it all used?

Sanaa is a beautiful old city in the Middle East. In Sanaa, it is a tradition to carry beautiful knives, or tools, called 'jambiya'. An unusual animal called a 'rhinoceros' is often killed to make these knives. How can people keep their tradition and save the rhinoceros?

People from around the world travel to Coober Pedy, Australia, with hopes of getting rich. This town is full of valuable stones called 'opals'. Some opals are worth millions, but they are extremely hard to find. What influences the value of an opal? What does it take to find them?

Most cities have local areas called "neighborhoods". The Mission District is one of San Francisco's oldest neighborhoods. Many people think it's very special because it's so multi-cultural. What makes the Mission District so multi-cultural? Why does that make it special?