Leaving a
Wonders of Nature
Building Knowledge About Animals with Special Abilities
2-3 Grade Band Text Set
Line of Inquiry: In this text set, students will explore a range of animals with special abilities. The anchor
text, Wonders of Nature, introduces students to ten animals with special abilities that affect how they
live in the world. The accompanying texts in this set provide an opportunity for a volume of reading for
students to build knowledge about this topic. Some provide additional information about the animals
discussed in the anchor text, and some promote exploration of other animals and their special abilities.
The number of informational texts presents an opportunity to develop or solidify understanding of
informational text features (table of contents, labeled illustrations, glossary, etc.).
The wide range of quantitative measures in this set gives the teacher options for how to use these texts
to support all students in building knowledge. Many of these texts may be appropriate for independent
reading following a close read of the anchor text. The less complex texts are also appropriate for
students to practice fluency: pair them up and have them practice reading aloud to each other. The less
complex Carle and Lionni fiction texts may be particularly fun for students to read aloud to one another!
The anchor text in this set is quite complex, but appropriate for a close reading with the 2-3 band with
adequate instructional support. Please see the America Achieves Wonders of Nature video for ideas
about how to support students in a close reading of this text. Given the high level of complexity, you
may also consider using the accompanying texts as introductory texts to build student background
knowledge in preparation for Wonders of Nature.
910L
Anchor Text
Wonders of Nature
By: Cheryl Ryan
Source: Reading A-Z
Text Type: Informational
Ryan, Cheryl. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Reading A-Z. Web. June 2013.
http://www.readinga-z.com/books/leveled-books/book/?id=1367
Wonders of Nature introduces students to a series of ten fascinating animals with special
abilities that help them survive.
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450L
The Mixed-Up Chameleon
By: Eric Carle
Source: Scholastic Book Wizard
Text Type: Fiction
Carle, Eric. The Mixed-up Chameleon. New York: HarperCollins, 1984. Print.
“Except for catching flies and changing colors occasionally, this chameleon doesn't find life very
exciting. When a surprise visit to the zoo makes this wistful lizard realize it can change its shape
and size as easily as its color, it ends up wanting to be like all the animals in the zoo at once —
with hilarious results.” (Scholastic)
Available from Amazon in paperback for $6.29.
510L
Beavers and Other Animals with Amazing Teeth
By: Susan Labella, Scholastic News Nonfiction Readers
Source: Scholastic Book Wizard
Text Type: Nonfiction
LaBella, Susan. Beavers: And Other Animals with Amazing Teeth. New York: Children's, 2005.
Print.
“In this book in the Scholastic News Nonfiction Readers series, readers learn about the teeth of
all kinds of animals and the amazing things they are capable of. Creatures as diverse as sharks,
snakes, and walruses are covered in addition to beavers.” (Scholastic)
Available used from Amazon from $0.01.
620L
What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?
By: Steve Jenkins & Robin Page
Source: Lexile Find-a-Book
Text Type: Nonfiction
Jenkins, Steve, and Robin Page. What Do You Do with a Tail like This? Boston: Houghton Mifflin,
2003. Print.
“A nose for digging? Ears for seeing? Eyes that squirt blood? Explore the many amazing things
animals can do with their ears, eyes, mouths, noses, feet, and tails in this beautifully illustrated
interactive guessing book by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page.” (Lexile Find-a-Book)
Available from Amazon in paperback for $7.15.
640L
A Color of His Own
By: Leo Lionni
Source: Scholastic Book Wizard
Text Type: Fiction
Lionni, Leo. A Color of His Own. New York: Pantheon, 1975. Print.
“Elephants are gray. Pigs are pink. Tigers have black and orange stripes. It seems that every
animal has its own distinctive color — except the chameleon. And that makes the little
chameleon hero of this picture book very sad. Every time he moves, he changes color! So,
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wanting nothing more than a color to call his own, he decides to stay in one place forever: on the
greenest leaf he can find. At last the chameleon is happy . . . until autumn comes, and the leaf
changes from green to yellow to red. Finally, another chameleon arrives, and suggests they travel
together. The two set off for a new life of multicolored adventure — as friends.” (Scholastic)
Available from Amazon in paperback for $6.29.
730L
Strange but True: Bizarre Animals
By: Timothy J. Bradley
Source: Lexile Find-a-Book
Text Type: Nonfiction
Bradley, Timothy. Strange but True: Bizarre Animals. [S.l.]: Teacher Created Materials, 2013.
Print.
“A creature that looks like a cross between a bird, a reptile, and a mammal? A pink bug that
oozes deadly toxins? They sound like creatures from an alien movie, but they live with us right
here on Earth. Learn more about these and other bizarre animals inside.” (Back cover text)
Available from Amazon in paperback for $5.39.
840L
Biggest, Strongest, Fastest
By: Steve Jenkins
Source: Lexile Find-a-Book
Text Type: Nonfiction
Jenkins, Steve. Biggest, Strongest, Fastest. New York: Ticknor & Fields for Young Readers, 1995.
Print.
“An informative introduction to the "world records" held by fourteen members of the animal
kingdom. Each spread portrays an animal that is the largest, slowest, longest lived. Readers can
see the animal's size in relation to something familiar.” (Lexile Find-a-Book)
Available from Amazon in paperback for $6.29.
900L
Animal Superpowers
By: Christopher Hernandez
Source: Scholastic Book Wizard
Text Type: Nonfiction
Hernandez, Christopher. Animal Superpowers. New York: Scholastic, 2012. Print.
“Think superpowers only exist with superheroes in comics and movies? You're so wrong! With
ANIMAL SUPERPOWERS, young readers will learn all about the amazing things animals do every
day--things we normally think are impossible. Can you imagine being so strong you could lift over
1000 times your own weight? Or being so fast you could outrun a speeding train? Well, there are
animals that can achieve these outrageous feats every day. These animals may not be
superheroes, but they certainly have their very own superpowers!” (Amazon)
Available from Amazon in paperback for $3.95.
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