Donna German
62) Fur and feathers
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A story of a young girl who dreams that howling winds whisk fur and feathers right off her animal friends. Trying to help, she sews each of them a new "coat." But what kind do they need? Who needs fur, and what color? Who needs feathers, and why? Who needs scales, and should they be moist or dry? Includes "For Creative Minds" educational section.
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Why are ravens black? Why do screech owl eyes look red in light? How did we get fire? You'll find the answers to those questions in this retelling of a Cherokee pourquoi folktale. The earth was cold and dark but the animals could see fire coming from the tree on the island. They tried to fly or swim to the island to bring back the fire heat and light. What happened to some of the animals? Which animal brought it back and how?
64) Ocean seasons
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Includes "For Creative Minds" section with food web cards and information on how seasonal changes affect ocean plants and animals.
66) The best nest
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In this retelling of an old English folktale featuring birds native to the U.S., Magpie patiently explains to the other birds how to build a nest. Some birds are impatient and fly off without listening to all the directions, however, and that is why, to this day, birds' nests come in all different shapes and sizes. Includes "For Creative Minds" section.
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Join Nicholas and his grandfather as they push aside the thoughts of decorating the Christmas tree to lovingly care for a cardinal trapped in the snow of a blizzard on Christmas Eve. Christmas morning finds Nicholas more concerned about the bird than opening his gifts.
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The Sparrow family is ready for their trip south for the winter, but Papa's wing is hurt and he cannot make the trip. He asks the trees for help. One by one, the mighty, leafy trees of the forest say no! Will any of the trees help Papa Sparrow? What will happen to the selfish trees that turned him away? Discover why some trees lose their leaves in winter in this retelling of a Cherokee pourquoi tale.
72) Cheetah dreams
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"Cheetahs are the most rapidly vanishing cat in Africa. The lyrical text shares dreams of a bright future for cheetahs while engaging sidebars provide a wealth of natural history information. From cleat-like feet to tear-marked faces, these majestic cats are highly adapted to life on the African plains. The fierce predators sprint after their prey at high-speed, an exhausting dash that leaves them ready for a nap! This rhythmic text will lull readers...
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While Little Skink hunts for breakfast, she is attacked by a crow. To escape, she snaps off her tail. Little Skink's tail follows her as she daydreams of having the tails of other animals in the forest. Includes "For Creative Minds" section with information on tail adaptations and communications and a mix-and-match tail activity.
74) My even day
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In this rhyming sequel to One Odd Day, the young boy awakens to find that it is another strange day now everything is even, and his mother has two heads! This time, a school field trip to the zoo is dealt with in an odd, but even-handed manner. Includes "For Creative Minds" section with fun facts and number games.
75) Cash Kat
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While helping Gram Hatter clean up the park, Kat learns about the different coins she finds and hopes to uncover enough money to buy ice cream at the end of the day. Includes activities.
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"Jojo is prepping for an exciting night; it's time for the bat count! Bats have always been a welcome presence during the summers in the family barn. But over the years, the numbers have dwindled as many bats in the area caught white-nose syndrome. Jojo and her family count the bats and send the numbers to scientists who study bats, to see if the bat population can recover. On a summer evening, the family quietly makes their way to the lawn to watch...
77) My half day
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A boy finds that everything around him is in fractions, from one-half of a haircut to three-fourths of a blanket. Includes a three-page "For Creative Minds" section with questions about fractions.
78) Loon chase
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Mother and son are enjoying a peaceful canoe trip until their dog's instinct to chase birds adds excitement to the trip.