2013 Teacher's Choices-Intermediate Readers (Grade 3-5)

In this fascinating look at fourteen animals who defy the odds by thriving in Earth's most dangerous places, renowned poet Marilyn Singer and celebrated artist Ed Young show that of all the miracles of life, it is life's persistence that astounds the

"From dazzling blue lapis lazuli to volcanic snowflake obsidian, this poetic illustrated book describes the incredible variety of rocks on Earth and how they move through the rock cycle"--

Retells the story of Rachel Carson, a pioneering environmentalist who wrote and published "Silent Spring," the revolutionary book pointing out the dangerous effects of chemicals on the living world.

When a young boy named Roger tries to steal the purse of a woman named Luella, he is just looking for money to buy stylish new shoes. After she grabs him by the collar and drags him back to her home, he's sure that he is in deep trouble. Instead, Roger is soon left speechless by her kindness and generosity.

WINNER OF A CORETTA SCOTT KING HONOR AND THE JANE ADDAMS PEACE AWARD! Each kindness makes the world a little better This unforgettable book is written and illustrated by the award-winning team that created The Other Side and the Caldecott Honor winner Coming On Home Soon. With its powerful anti-bullying message and striking art, it will resonate with readers long after they've put it down. Chloe and her friends won't play with the new girl, Maya. Every time Maya tries to join Chloe and her friends, they reject her. Eventually Maya stops coming to school. When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the lost opportunity for friendship, and thinks about how much better it could have been if she'd shown a little kindness toward Maya.

Documents the contributions of specially trained military dogs, profiling noteworthy canine heroes while covering such topics as how they are trained and what happens to them when they retire.

Documents the story of the Baseball Hall of Fame honorees, tracing how the Acerra family of New Jersey formed their own semi-pro baseball team in the 1930s and became the longest-running all-brother team in history.

William Kamkwamba was fourteen years old when famine came to his small town in Malawi, a small country in Africa. When his father couldn't afford to send him to school, he visited a library and started reading about electricity. When he learned that a generator and a motor have the same parts, he attached the motor from a cassette player to a small pinwheel and discovered that he could power a small radio with the wind. He then realized that with enough electricity, he could provide lights at night without buying expensive kerosene, and more importantly, provide water to provide for a second crop each year to prevent famine. He built his wind generator from scrap and eventually accomplished both aims. Bryan Mealer helps William tell his story in the first person. William tells the story of famine in a way only a victim can remember. His insights into the vanity of spiritism show wisdom beyond his years. His understanding of how his corrupt government caused and lengthened the famine is keen. Eye-opening book. William's TED lecture is also worth seeing. Review by J.David Knepper at http://www.ahavabaptist.com/reviews/reviews.htm#boy

Beetles squeak and beetles glow. Beetles stink, beetles sprint, beetles walk on water. With legs, antennae, horns, beautiful shells, knobs, and other oddities—what’s not to like about beetles? The beetle world is vast: one out of every four living things on earth is a beetle. There are over 350,000 different species named so far and scientists suspect there may be as many as a million. From the goliath beetle that weighs one fourth of a pound to the nine inch long titan beetle, award-winning author-illustrator Steve Jenkins presents a fascinating array of these intriguing insects and the many amazing adaptations they have made to survive.