Summer Reading for Early Childhood and Lower School Students 2023

How do bees fly? Why does a spider weave a web? And why are bugs so important to our world?
Ada Twist, Scientist: The Why Files is the perfect nonfiction resource for all these questions and more. Based on the bestselling Questioneers series and the Ada Twist, Scientist Netflix show, this nonfiction series is perfect for the youngest scientists of tomorrow, as they learn along with Ada. Designed in a scrapbook format, these books combine art from the show, illustrations, and photography to bring simple science concepts to life.

Discover the true story of an orphaned mallard duckling being raised by a pair of loons.

On a lake in northern Wisconsin in 2019, loon researchers were surprised to discover a mother and father loon caring for a mallard duckling. Normally loons and mallards live very different lives and do not get along. Follow along as the duckling grows and displays a mix of both loon behaviors and mallard behaviors. Intriguing verse and striking illustrations combine in this heartwarming tale of unexpected animal cooperation.

Of all the animals on the planet, dogs have the widest range of roles in our daily lives. They're protectors, helpers, lifesavers--but most of all, they're family.
And they've taken a fascinating journey to get to this point. Long ago, early wolves evolved from fierce predators into trusted partners. They became dogs! While we know dogs to be lovable and full of personality, they have also historically improved our lives in many practical ways, like guarding livestock to help humans form the first settlements, cleaning out infectious wounds, and finding food. Covering over 50,000 years of history, from cave-dwelling to the present day, Dogs chronicles fascinating scientific details and the history of how dogs learned to live cooperatively alongside humans.
In this beautifully illustrated and thoroughly researched book, award-winning author and illustrator Lita Judge explores how our lives are intertwined with dogs'--and that's what makes them our best friends.

It is time for T. rex and his dinosaur cousins to step aside and let other mega-predators like the terror bird and the giant ripper lizard take the spotlight! Travel back to prehistoric times and meet some of the most impressive creatures to ever roam the Earth.
You'll be amazed at the size and the fierceness of these lesser-known predators, many of them ancient ancestors of animals that we still see today.
Stewart's cheeky, humorous voice--along with a comical version of the familiar "comparison man"--put these creatures in perspective. Artist and former zoologist Howard Gray brings these predators (back) to life with dynamic, humorous, and scientifically accurate illustrations.
Sidebars and extensive back matter material provide more detailed information and context.

What if you woke up one morning and you had sprouted a dinosaur body part overnight?

Sandra Markle's bestselling What If You Had... series is now in Scholastic's Level 2 reader format! Perfect for kids just learning to read independently, this imaginative book explores what would happen if you looked in the mirror and saw a dinosaur body part instead of your own!

From a Velociraptor's sharp sickle-tipped toes to a T. rex's giant curved teeth, and from the body armor of an Ankylosaurus to the long neck of a Brachiosaurus -- discover what it would be like if you had one of these wild dinosaur parts! Readers will also learn what makes a dinosaur a dinosaur and why they aren't around today.

From routes to scale, a young child and her dad explore the world of maps in a charming story encouraging readers to chart their own neighborhoods.
One day, Anna's friend Zane sends her an invitation to come over to play, and inside the envelope is a map. But Anna is convinced the map can't be right--why has Zane put his house in the middle and hers on the edge? So Anna decides to draw a map of her own, and Dad joins in as well. With an inviting narrative, child-friendly illustrations, and running commentary about various aspects of maps, aspiring cartographers are introduced to everything from symbols to point of view, road maps to family trees--and even a special "cat map" of Anna's pet's favorite spots. A final spread spurs readers to try their own hand at mapmaking.