Guided
Reading Level
Lexile
410AD
J
570
O
340
M
540
L
M
J
460
L
500
G
NA
NA
670
NA
NA
Title/Author
Writing Mentor Texts
S is for Story (A Writer’s Alphabet) by Esther
Hershenhorn
The Plot Chickens by Mary Jane and Herm
Auch
Author A True Story by Helen Lester
Show, Don’t Tell by Josephine Nobisso
The Best Story by Eileen Spinelli
What Do Authors Do? By Eileen Christelow
Once Upon a Time Writing Your Own Fairy
Tale by Nancy Loewen
Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills
Show Me a Story Writing Your Own Picture
Book by Nancy Loewen
Written Anything Good Lately? By Susan Allen
and Jane Lindaman
The Best Story by Eileen Spinelli
Patches Lost and Found by Steven Kroll
*Comprehension Toolkit Mentor Text
Just the Facts: Writing Your Own Research
Report by Nancy Loewen
Hey, Little Ant by Phillip and Hannah Hoose
*Story that ends with the question, “What do
you think that kid should do?” Students have
opportunity to write opinion statements
supported by facts/details.
I Wanna Iguana by Orloff
*Story in which a young boy tries to persuade
his mother to let him have a pet iguana.
Dear Mrs. Larue by Teague
*Series of letters from a dog to its owner
Teaching Books/Mentor Texts for Vocabulary
Q is for Duck by Folsom
*Organized by alphabet word associations. “Q
is for duck because it quacks.”
Ellsworth’s Extraordinary Electric Ears by
Fisher
*Organized using the alphabet and alliterative
language. Excellent descriptive adjectives.
The Z was Zapped by Chris Van Alsburg
*Series of amusing/alliterative mishaps are
performed on the letters of the alphabet.
May be used for simple subject/predicate
identification (e.g., “The Z was zapped.”).
Number
of Copies
Book Room
Location
5
PD Closet
5
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5
5
5
5
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4
4
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5
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5
3
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5
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4
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1
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1
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4
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4
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4
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NA
1020
D is for Democracy by Grodin
*Organized alphabet sequence explaining the
political system/concepts of America.
4
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NA
NA
4
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NA
NA
1
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NA
NA
D is for Drinking Gourd by Sanders
*Organized alphabet sequence explaining the
achievements/contributions of African
Americans.
A is for America
*Organized alphabet sequence explaining
facts about America.
A is for Zebra
*Organized alphabet sequence in which the
last letter of each word accounts for order.
1
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NA
NA
5
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L
630
1
PD Closet
H
810
4
PD Closet
NA
NA
1
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NA
NA
4
PD Closet
NA
NA
1
PD Closet
NA
NA
4
PD Closet
NA
NA
3
PD Closet
NA
NA
T is for Teachers
*Organized alphabet sequence of details
about teachers/schools.
The Beetle Alphabet Book by Pollata
*Organized in alphabet sequence providing
humorous and informative details about
different types of bugs.
Glad Monster, Sad Monster
*Book explores the description of feelings.
Christmas Cookies by A. Rosenthal
*Seasonal book that describes concepts
around the story of baking Christmas Cookies.
Develops word meanings such as celebrate,
thoughtful, and perseverance.
Cookies by A.Rosenthal
*Book that describes concepts around the
story of baking Cookies. Develops word
meanings such as patient, compassionate, and
generous.
Sugar Cookies by A. Rosenthal
*Sequel to Cookies that describes concepts
around the story of baking Cookies. Develops
word meanings such as supportive and
constructive.
Reach for the Stars by Bloch
*Figurative Language around the concept of
achievement.
My Best Friend is as Sharp as a Pencil by Piven
*Describes students using similes.
There’s a Frog in my Throat by Leedy
*Book of figurative language expressions
PD Closet
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
580
NA
530
NA
Intermediate
NA
Intermediate
NA
NA
Intermediate
NA
Intermediate
NA
NA
Primary
NA
Intermediate
NA
NA
Primary
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Primary
NA
Raining Cats and Dogs by Moses
*Book of figurative language expressions
My Heart is Like a Zoo by Hall
*Story using similes to describe
3
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3
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The King Who Rained by Gwynne
*Book of figurative language expressions
A Chocolate Moose for Dinner by Gwynne
*Book of figurative language expressions
My Grandma Likes to Say by Brennan-Nelson
*Book of figurative language expressions
My Teacher Likes to Say by Brennan-Nelson
*Book of figurative language expressions
Stubborn as a Mule and other Silly Similes by
Nancy Loewen
You’re Toast and Other Metaphors We Adore
by Nancy Loewen
In a Pickle by Terban
*Explanation of idioms using definitions and
stories
In a Word by Baker
*Stories of word origins for intermediate
students
Butterflies in My Stomach by Bloch
*Figurative language about school
Vocabulary Cartoons SAT Word Power
*Teaches vocabulary/definitions using
mnemonics
Big Words for Little People by Curtis
3
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3
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4
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4
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4
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4
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3
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5
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3
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4
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4
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Weighty Word Book by Burger
*Teaches vocabulary/definitions using
mnemonics
Nancy’s Favorite Fancy Words by O’Conner
*Alphabetical guide to the most fabulous,
gorgeous, and fancy words that will enhance
any young reader’s vocabulary.
The Quiet Book by Underwood
*Description of the word quiet
Hello Ocean by Ryan
Using sensory words
The Loud Book by Underwood
*Description of the word loud
Max’s Words by Kate Banks
*Story of a little boy who collects words
2
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4
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1
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3
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4
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1
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I
Primary
760
NA
Intermediate
NA
NA
Intermediate
NA
NA
NA
Q
780
K
840
W
1000
There’s an Ant in Anthony by Most
*Word play book in which the main character
notices the small words within larger words.
Antics
*Word play book in which words with the
word part ant are explored (e.g., gallant,
jubilant)
5
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1
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The Word Snoop
*Book that explores word play (e.g. ,
palindromes).
Cryptomania by Fine
*Book explaining the Greek and Latin roots of
words
13 Words
*Story that shows how word associations
improve memory.
Did You Say Pears? By Aldo
*Multiple meaning words
Dear Deer by Barretta
*Book of homophones
Walking the Bridge of Your Nose
*Word play
The Boy Who Loved Words by Schotter
*Story of a boy who collects words
4
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1
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2
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4
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4
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1
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4
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Things That are Most in the World by Barrett
*Comparative endings
4
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If You Were a Verb by Dahl
*An introduction to verbs
1
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Nouns and Verbs Have a Field Day by Pulver
*Humorous story about nouns and verbs
1
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Inches and Miles by John Wooden
*Book that increases vocabulary about
positive character traits (e.g., alertness)
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
*Read aloud for grade 5 in which the main
character goes on an adventure in the land of
words, Dictionopolis.
Miss Alaineus by Fraser
*Humorous read aloud for grade 3-5 in which
the main character learns the importance of
word meanings
4
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4
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4
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L
410
M
M
Q
NA
650
890
L
700
S
460
670
840
800
860
630
P
T
O
L
730
L
330
L
550
M
300
O
380
L
580
NA
740
NA
O
660
840
Something Beautiful by Wyeth
*A story which explores the meaning of the
word, beautiful. A little girl wants to see
beyond the scary sights on the sidewalk and
angry scribbling in the halls of her building and
searches for beautiful.
Comprehension Toolkit Mentor Books
Honey, I Love (Poems by Eloise Greenfield)
The Art Lesson by Tomie DePaola
The Top of the World Climbing Mount Everest
by Steve Jenkins
Antarctica by Helen Cowcher
Insects by Robin Bernard
Tornado by Catherine Chambers
How Many Days to America? By Eve Bunting
The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry
Biggest, Strongest, Fastest by Steve Jenkins
Lightning by Stephen Kramer
Now Let Me Fly by Dolores Johnson
The Mary Celeste An Unsolved Mystery from
History by Jane Yolen
Cheyenne Again by Eve Bunting
Recess at 20 Below by Cindy Lou Aillaud
Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles
Patches Lost and Found by Steven Kroll
Mentor Texts for Reading Skills
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
*May be used for theme/friendship, character
changes, develop vocabulary
The Yellow Star by Carmen Agra Deedy
*May be used for theme/loyalty, character
traits
The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson
*Theme, Point of View
Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine
*Title Meaning, Synthesis
Tops and Bottoms by Stevens
*Folktale with strong story structure which
supports characterization, theme, and drawing
conclusions
Math Literature
A Cloak for the Dreamer by Friedman
(Measuring)
Grandfather Tang (Tangrams)
If You Made a Million by Schwartz (Number
Sense)
4
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2
1
6
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2
3
2
3
6
1
3
3
3
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3
3
3
3
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6
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5
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8
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9
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1
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1
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25
7
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O
420
NA
NA
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
Student –Teacher
Relationships
Reading Skills
Reading
Comprehension Strategies
Comprehension Strategies
Comprehension Strategies
Spaghetti and Meatballs for All by Marilyn
Burns (Geometry)
The King’s Commissioners by Friedman
(Number Sense)
Professional Library
Vocabulary Games in the Classroom by
Marzano
Vocabulary Teacher’s Book of Lists by Fry
Unlocking Literacy by Marcia Henry
Words, Words, Words by Janet Allen
Inside Words by Janet Allen
Building Academic Vocabulary by Marzano
Greek and Latin Roots Keys to Building
Vocabulary by Rasinski
1
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1
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1
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1
4
3
4
4
4
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Opening Minds by Peter Johnson
1
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Reader’s Handbook (Blue)
Reader’s Handbook (Green)
Mosaic of Thought by Ellen Keen
Reading with Meaning by Debbie Miller
So What Do They Really Know? By Chris Tovani
3
1
2
2
1
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PD Closet
PD Closet
PD Closet