Authentic Literature

When the director of the Verne School notices that none of the students did projects on women for Science Day, she takes them all on a magical journey to meet Ada Lovelace, Rosalind Franklin, and others. This chapter book contains activities at the end...

When students return from break, they discover that a very old tree is going to be cut down to make way for a new school building. Protests immediately start and the children soon choose sides both for and against the construction. The principal...

Ideal for explaining the plight of refugees to children, this moving picture book parallels the migration of geese in the winter with a family that must leave a war-torn region. Both must go away for survival, even though the journey could be dangerous...

Eva, a daring fairy, must travel from planet to planet to obtain what she needs to make a star for a friend's magic wand. In so doing, she teaches the reader about the solar system. This chapter book contains activities to enhance comprehension.

Did you know that some types of wind help crops to grow while other types are destructive? Little Wind cannot decide which type of wind he wants to be when he grows up, so he sets out to explore the world to help him decide among all the different kinds.

El Ratón Pérez is the equivalent of the tooth fairy in Spanish-speaking countries. In this humorous story, a little girl named Laura gets a chance to find out what this mysterious character is really like.

When Sherlock Mole learns that the Queen Bee is missing, he swings into action. This illustrated chapter book teaches children about bees and provides games and projects to make readers feel like they are also on the case.

A new student comes to Miguel's class. Her name is Sabina and she is very sad because her mother recently died. She believes her mother is with the mermaids. Although others laugh at this claim, Miguel befriends her and accompanies her on a search for...

Sebas and Daniela, students from the Verne School for Young Inventors, travel back to prehistoric times thanks to a magical turtle. They meet a young boy named Knut and his pet, a baby mammoth, and they help Knut's tribe recover a valuable object. ...

Laura is very worried about climate change. The rising temperatures are destroying the ecosystem where the polar bears live. She is determined to do something to help her favorite animals.

Under an acacia tree, right next to the skeleton of a dromedary, a boy named Kinti finds a leather bag containing a slingshot, a copy of the Koran, and a book of poetry in a foreign language. As he grows up, he learns the power of words and is...

This very powerful picture book shows the plight of refugees through a child's eyes. The little girl in this story does not understand why she has to leave her home, where she is going or why everyone is afraid. The dark illustrations will help readers...

Fernando, Balbina, and Hopi take an unforgettable trip in a mechanical cow built by Balbina. They land in the American Southwest and meet a Hopi storyteller. He asks them to help solve the mystery of the missing sacred feather.

Crock runs away from his village because he is tired of being laughed at by the older boys. He decides to go hunting to prove he is as good as they are, but nothing could prepare him for what falls into his trap!

Readers will love the humorous twists given to fables and fairy tales, including Sleeping Beauty, The Ugly Duckling, The Tortoise and the Hare, and Snow White. It offers a fresh way of looking at the classic tales.

Readers will love the hilarious steps outlined by the author that include airplanes, harrowing escapes, mazes, and, of course, pretty paper. Don't forget to congratulate the recipient of the gift after all your effort.

The little boy in this story imitates the behavior he sees around him and does not understand why he always gets in trouble for it. When he sees that adults get in trouble, too, for things like saying bad words or speeding, he feels a lot better.

Grouped by theme, this anthology offers poems of varied lengths and styles on a wide range of subjects. They include family, school, weather, nature, imagination, and identity.

Once upon a time, there was a man who had everything he ever wanted, but he still was not happy where he lived. He moved all over the world, but each place was too loud, too quiet, too messy, etc. Will he ever find the perfect home?

Miguel gets scared easily. One of his biggest fears is the large tree he passes on his way to school. One day, his dog Gustavino disappears into its roots and branches. He will have to overcome his fears and in order to find his beloved pet.

A little boy always sees a group of dogs walking in perfect formation behind a homeless man. His curiosity gets the better of him and he asks the man where the dogs came from. In this touching story, the man tells him how they all ended up living with...

This uplifting story about a parrot from the tropics that lives in a Chicago apartment shows the difficulties of moving to a new place and the importance of community. The cheerful ending can also be used to discuss the benefits of protecting wildlife.

This illustrated book introduces the famous character Don Quixote to young children. The simplified text and fanciful drawings allows them to gain an appreciation of the Spanish classic.

The Foster Monsters are the hottest toys. Oscar dreams of having one. When he finally gets one, an accident in his father's workshop leads him to discover the sinister truth of what goes on at the Foster Factory. Together with his friends and their...

A Spanish boy befriends a girl named Saida who emigrates from Morocco. He helps her learn Spanish and she teaches him Arabic. Readers get a chance to learn Arabic as well.

Venezuelan children's book author Verónica Uribe has adapted 20 of Aesop's most beloved fables for children, including the City Mouse and the Country Mouse, the Tortoise and the Hare, and Belling the Cat. The adorable illustrations and the smaller size...

A young boy named Carlitos shares the joys (and sometimes the aggravations) of life with his older special needs brother Enrique. The book carries a wonder message about acceptance and anti-bullying.

This fun collection of poetry contains verses about cities, home, nature, basically the world around us. Children will smile as they view everyday objects, such as a bicycle, park bench, and button in a whole new light.

Who's written the letter that Dad finds on his desk? Juliet, no less! She's one of the family cats that has decided to communicate with her owner. But how did she learn to write? And, more importantly, what does her letter say?

Chac, the God of Rain, warns his young servant Muyal not to go into a secret room, but, of course, he could not resist.

Learn why frogs sing when they want it to rain in this folktale about a wise frog who outwit Yuku, the God of Rain.

This delightful story about unrequited love offers an original theory into the origin of sweet and sour Chinese cuisine. It also shows the power of friendship, music, and perseverance.

A clever rabbit devises a way to save itself from being a hungry fox's meal.

Don Pingüino wakes up one morning determined to do something about the air pollution. He travels to the Pampas where, along with the other animals, determines the cause and takes action.

In this well-known Cuban bolero, a little girl carves her name in a tree trunk. The tree, both hurt and moved, gives her a flower, but wonders if she will forget him. The lyrics, combined with the creative illustrations, convey the depth of emotions...

Álvaro is friendly and talkative. He also has two cowlicks in his hair, and one arm that's a bit shorter than the other. But he is happy because he does well with his good hand, and the other one doesn't hurt or anything. Will Álvaro manage to overcome...

In this captivating, poetic story, a young boy and his mother come across a beautiful flowering tree during a walk through the countryside. The young boy decides to take some of the beauty home with them in the form of a seed. As the tree begins to grow,...

The three perceptive stories in this volume prove that we are all afraid of something. Whether it's an otherwise brave mother with an irrational fear of lizards, a bunch of children who conjure up monsters in the night, or a boy and a wolf cub who are...

Older children occasionally wet their beds. This can make them feel ashamed and confused. This book is a great tool to help those children feel better about these mishaps. Marcela is a perfectly happy child who sometimes has minor accidents, but she's...

Originally from Argentina, poet Jorge Luján now lives in Mexico. The poems in this collection range from whimsical to thought-provoking and rhythmic to prosaic. Young readers will see the poetry in the world around them through Luján’s work.