All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew

2nd Edition
"The Revolutionary Way to Grow More in Less Space"
Mr. Bartholomew explains in detail how to grow vegetables in one foot plots within a 4 x 4 square foot garden box.
If this method of gardening appeals to you, this book contains all the information you need to begin and continue-detailed instructions, diagrams and charts.
The appendix reviews different types of vegetables and how to best plant, maintain and harvest them.

Sojourner Truth's Step-Stomp Stride by Andrea Davis Pinkney illustrated by Brian Pinkney

With lyrical text, this wife-husband team reveal Sojourner Truth's passion for freedom and truth.  The text almost could be sung at parts or has a poetic rhythm to it.
The Pinkneys begin with her birth and continue to share the impact her life had on others-not just African American slaves but women.
Strategy: inferring-figurative language

Ready, Freddy! Ready, Set, Snow! by Abby Klein illustrated by John McKinley

#16 in series
Freddy's class is competing against the other 1st grade class in the Winter Olympics.  At lunch Freddy makes a bet with the class bully that he can beat him in the snowshoe race (when in fact he has never worn snowshoes!!).  His true character is tested when the bully falls in the race and his snowshoes are tangled.
Fun activities in the back (trivia, craft ideas).
Points to discuss:  betting, name calling (Princess Poopyhead, stupid, brat, creep), lying to mom and sister covers for him, siblings are rude to each other
Guided Reading Level: N (3rd grade)
Grade Equivalent Level: 2.1

Pure Vanilla by Shauna Sever photography by Leigh Beisch*

Perfect recipe book for those who do not like chocolate or who are allergic to it.
Includes the history of vanilla and the process to make it.
Great recipes include: vanilla bean sugar, big soft frosted vanilla sugar cookies, honey-vanilla granola clusters, vanilla, brown sugar, and black pepper bacon, vanilla pastry cream, rice pudding and many more!
*Highly recommend.

Duck for President by Doreen Cronin illustrated Betsy Lewin*

A fun addition this team's farm series!
*Highly recommend-perfect to use when learning about elections or near election day.
Duck decides he is tired of how the farm is run and votes the farm out.  But running the farm does not satiate his desire to lead so he proceeds to be the governor and the president!
Guided Reading Level: K (2nd grade)
Grade Level Equivalency: 2.6

Chocolate A Sweet History by Sandra Markle illustrated by Charise Mericle Harper*

The title says it all!
The format of the book is a student responding to her teacher's request to research an interesting topic in history.
Text features: time lines, headings, picture captions, photographs, maps
Part of a series "Smart About"
*Highly recommend.
Pair with these books: Chocolatina, Chocolate Fever, Chocolate Touch, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

A-Z Mysteries The Deadly Dungeon by Ron Roy illustrated by John Steven Gurney*

Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose visit their favorite author Wallis Wallace in Maine where she resides in an old castle.  When they hear horrible shrieks in the castle, Wallis claims it is the ghost of the former resident.
The children set out to prove that there is not a ghost but something else.
Green feathers lead them to the culprit.
My preschooler really enjoys hearing me read this series aloud!
*Highly recommend.
Guided Reading Level: N (3rd grade)
Grade Level Equivalency: 2.8