1. “Pets at the White House” by Marge Kennedy
- Guided Reading Level: I
- Grade Level Equivalent: 1st-2nd
- Genre: Nonfiction
- Description: This nonfiction informational text presents young students with presidential pets that have lived in the White House over the decades. Students will not only become familiar with the pets, but the presidents who owned them. The text is supported with images of the pets and includes vocabulary preview and review pages with pronunciations.
- Guided Reading Level: P
- Grade Level Equivalent: 3rd-4th
- Genre: Fiction
- Description: This illustrated fiction story is broken down into five chapters and follows Oliver, an independent, headstrong cat, on his quest to “train” a freckle-faced girl who is new to town. Oliver’s plan is derailed, however, when he realizes that he is as dependent on Freckles as she is on him.
- Guided Reading Level: J
- Grade Level Equivalent: 1st-2nd
- Genre: Nonfiction
- Description: This nonfiction informational text proves that German Shepherds, which are a common household pet, are also vital in aiding the police and military in their efforts. “German Shepherds” uncovers all aspects of these lovable family companions and is supported with images.
- Guided Reading Level: T
- Grade Level Equivalent: 5th
- Genre: Nonfiction
- Description: This nonfiction informational text is broken down into chapters based on topics such as “Creature Comforts” and “Pet Tricks” and provides young students with an abundance of facts about all of their favorite house pets. The text is loaded with photographs that are cute and fun yet educational.
- Guided Reading Level: B
- Grade Level Equivalent: Kindergarten
- Genre: Fiction
- Description: From the author that brought children the beloved “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” Eric Carle takes young students on a beautifully illustrated journey as a little boy searches for his lost cat. The little boy travels around the world, meeting many different members of the cat family, such as lions and panthers. The little boy at last finds his long-lost pet, who has a splendid surprise for his owner. The repetitiveness and simplicity of the text is ideal for beginning readers.
- Guided Reading Level: G
- Grade Level Equivalent: 1st
- Genre: Fiction
- Description: This illustrated fiction story begins with Wilma the Witch leaving her pet rat home alone with her fat cat. The rat and cat immediately get into trouble, and the rat employs the help of his friends, bat and hat, to help move the fat cat off of his mat. In the end, only Wilma is able to save the day. This amusing story with its rhyming, repetitive text is an ideal, engaging read for beginning readers.
- Guided Reading Level: N
- Grade Level Equivalent: 3rd
- Genre: Nonfiction
- Description: This nonfiction informational text shows that household pets can be heroes too. The text features 14 real-life stories about heroic pets who have either helped or rescued their owners or other animals and is brimming with images of these pets along with their owners.
- Guided Reading Level: D
- Grade Level Equivalent: Kindergarten-1st
- Genre: Fiction
- Description: This illustrated fiction story centers around a classroom of young students in distress. Max, the classroom gerbil, has gone missing. The teacher and her students frantically search the classroom for Max and cannot help but wonder if he is lost forever. At the beginning of the story is a bank of 29 grade-level words that are featured throughout the text.
- Guided Reading Level: R
- Grade Level Equivalent: 4th
- Genre: Fiction
- Description: This illustrated, multicultural fiction story is broken down into chapters and features bolded Spanish, French, and “Bowwow” words with accompanying English translations. Faith, a young American girl who feels out of place in Mexican society, is discovered on the streets by a stray dog with special talents. Faith names the dog Edison (stray dogs are referred to as “electric dogs” in Mexico) and soon learns that her new dog can speak several human languages. This shocks Faith as she is having difficulty learning Spanish, which makes her the target of her classmates’ teasing and pranks at school. Faith and Edison’s adventure begins when the pair escape on a rocket to Faith’s hometown of San Francisco. This story explores the diversity of language as well as the importance of being able to communicate with those from different cultural backgrounds.
- Guided Reading Level: M
- Grade Level Equivalent: 2nd
- Genre: Fiction
- Description: This illustrated fiction story is all about the letters of the alphabet and centers around Martha the Dog. After Martha the Dog accidentally eats Granny’s Alphabet Soup, the letters go straight to her brain instead of her stomach, which causes her to speak words. Meanwhile, at Granny’s Alphabet Soup Company, the new owner fires 13 of her 26 letter inspectors, assuming that no one will notice the difference. Martha notices, however, when she says “goo oup” instead of “good soup” and “ohigiwog” instead of “something is wrong.” Martha, who is literally at a loss for words, is determined to speak again and ensure that Granny’s Alphabet Soup Company embraces their promise of “every letter in every can.” This story shows the importance of literacy and language as well as the importance of upholding one’s promise.