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District List: BCPS Supplemental Texts - Grade 3
Description: Baltimore City Public Schools Supplemental Text List for students in 3rd Grade. #bcps
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Landed
by Milly LeeFather looked serious. "One wrong answer, and you might be sent back to China." Like his older brothers before him, Sun is ready to move to America, the place known as Gum Saan, Gold Mountain. His father warns him, though, that passage to America will not be easy. Because of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, new immigrants like Sun are detained at Angel Island, where they must pass a difficult test before they can land. In preparation, Sun studies maps of his village and memorizes facts about his house and his family. But as the test draws near, the maps' compass points swirl in his memory, and Sun worries that he will lose his direction and be turned away. Based on a true story from the author's father-in-law, Landed vividly recounts an amazing chapter in Chinese American history.
The Great Migration
by Jacob LawrenceA series of paintings chronicles the journey of African Americans who, like the artist's family, left the rural South in the early twentieth century to find a better life in the industrial North.
A True Book
by Elaine LandauDiscusses why immigrants came to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the difficulties of the journey, the establishment of the Ellis Island Immigration Station and what went on there, and its decline and restoration.
Sandy's Circus
by Tanya Lee Stone and Boris KulikovAs a boy, Alexander ?Sandy? Calder was always fiddling with odds and ends, making objects for friends. When he got older and became an artist, his fiddling led him to create wire sculptures. One day, Sandy made a lion. Next came a lion cage. Before he knew it, he had an entire circus and was traveling between Paris and New York performing a brand-new kind of art for amazed audiences. This is the story of Sandy?s Circus, as told by Tanya Lee Stone with Boris Kulikov?s spectacular and innovative illustrations. Calder?s original circus is on permanent display at the Whitney Museum in New York City.
Boy, Were We Wrong About the Solar System!
by Kathleen V. Kudlinski and John RoccoSome people used to think that Earth was smack-dab in the middle of the universe, with all the stars and planets held in the sky by giant glass balls. Boy, were they wrong! In this follow-up to the award-winning Boy, Were We Wrong About Dinosaurs!, Kathleen Kudlinski and John Rocco look at the mistakes, mishaps, and creativity that are part of scientific discovery. From the first humans wondering about the night sky to the demotion of Pluto to dwarf planet status, this book is an entertaining and informative look at how scientific theories change over time.
At Ellis Island
by Louise Peacock and Walter Lyon KrudopEllis Island was the gateway to America and the promise of freedom for thousands. Its walls are rich with stories. Its walls are rich with stories. In this book we hear myriad of those voices. First we follow a young person today. Her great-great-grandmother entered America through Ellis Island. As this young girl walks the halls of the famous site, she wonders about the past, the people, and their hopes, dreams and challenges.
Here, too, is the voice of Sera, an Armenian girl from the early 1900s. Fleeing the unthinkable in her home country, she longs to join her father in America. As Sera enters the halls of Ellis Island, she lives those same hopes, dreams, and challenges.
The voices of real immigrants -- their suffering in steerage, their first glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, and their journey through the Great Hall -- complete this touching look into an important part of America's history. A pivotal time and place is brought to life through a combination of many voices speaking in harmony.
If You Decide to Go to the Moon
by Steven Kellogg and Faith McNulty"If you decide to go to the moon," writes Faith McNulty, "read this book first. It will tell you how to get there and what to do after you land. The most important part tells you how to get home." Written in the second person, the text allows the reader to participate in every aspect of the journey, from packing ("don't forget your diary and plenty of food") to liftoff (at first you'll feel heavy; don't worry") to traveling through space (where "the moon glows like a pearl in the black, black sky"). The reader lands at the Sea of Tranquility, the site of the first lunar landing
Down, Down, Down
by Steve JenkinsHalf the earth's surface is covered by water more than a mile deep, but most of this watery world is a mystery to us. In fact, more people have stood on the surface of the moon than have visited the deepest spot in the ocean.
Come along as we travel down, down, down, from the surface to the bottom of the sea. Along the way you can see jellyfish that flash like a neon sign, creatures with teeth so big, they can't close their mouths, and even a squid as long as a bus, which battles to the death with a sperm whale, the largest predator on earth.
It'll be a journey you won't soon forget! Award-winning author-illustrator Steve Jenkins delivers another masterful collection of fascinating facts and amazing art.
Paper Son
by Virginia Shin-Mui Loh and Helen Foster James and Wilson OngIn 1926, 12-year-old Fu Lee lives with his grandparents in a small village in China. He lives with his grandparents because his parents are dead. It is a difficult life but made easier by the love Lee shares with his grandparents. But now Lee must leave all that he knows. Before his parents died, they spent all of their money buying a "paper son slot" for Lee to go to America. Being a "paper son" means pretending to be the son of a family already in America. If he goes, he will have the chance for a better life. But first he must pass the test at Angel Island Immigration Station in San Francisco. Only then will he be allowed to live with his new family. If Lee makes even a single mistake, he could be sent back to China. Lee knows his grandparents want a better life for him. He can't let them down.
The Planet Gods
by Jacqueline Mitton; Christina BalitThough many of the planets were named long before we had good scientific information about them, Mitton draws readers attention to some amazing coincidences. The veiled goddess Venus lends her name to a cloud-shrouded planet. The blue, stormy planet Neptune is named for the god of the sea.
First Big Book Of The Ocean
by National Geographic Kids Staff and Catherine D. HughesNational Geographic Kids First Big Book of the Ocean is an adorable animal reference that includes the sea's high-interest animals, such as dolphins, sharks, sea otters, and penguins, and introduces kids to some of its lesser-known creatures. More than 100 charming animal photos illustrate the profiles, with facts about the creatures' sizes, diets, homes, and more. This book will quickly become a favorite at storytime, bedtime, and any other time.
Who Was Pablo Picasso?
by True Kelley and Nancy HarrisonOver a long, turbulent life, Picasso continually discovered new ways of seeing the world and translating it into art. A restless genius, he went through a blue period, a rose period, and a Cubist phase.
He made collages, sculptures out of everyday objects, and beautiful ceramic plates. True Kelley's engaging biography is a wonderful introduction to modern art.
The Fantastic Jungles Of Henri Rousseau
by Amanda Hall and Michelle MarkelHenri Rousseau wanted to be an artist. But he had no formal training. Instead, he taught himself to paint. He painted until the jungles and animals and distant lands in his head came alive on the space of his canvases.
Henri Rousseau endured the harsh critics of his day and created the brilliant paintings that now hang in museums around the world. Michelle Markel's vivid text, complemented by the vibrant illustrations of Amanda Hall, artfully introduces young readers to the beloved painter and encourages all readers to persevere despite all odds.
Narwhal
by Janet Halfmann and Steven James PetruccioNarwhal stays close to land as he swims through the Arctic bay. Even with the protection of a long unicorn-like tooth protruding out of his upper jaw he is not safe from predators. Will Narwhal escape a pod of killer whales, polar bears and even ice drifts on his journey to his winter home in the sea?
Mr. Matisse and His Cutouts
by Annemarie Van HaeringenMr. Matisse is a painter with "the sun in his tummy." His colors make everyone happy. But one day he becomes ill and has to have a major operation. When he wakes up in a white hospital room, he misses his colors. 'Bring my brushes! Bring my paint!' But the sheets are not smooth and taut like canvas. And the walls and ceiling are too far away. What will he do now?
Vincent van Gogh
by Jan Greenberg and Sandra JordanVincent van Gogh-- one of the 19th century' s most brilliant artists-- will forever be remembered as the Dutchman who cut off his ear. But this incident only underscores the passion that consumed him-- a passion that, when he took up painting at age 27, infused his work. Whether painting a portrait, a landscape, or a still life, van Gogh sought to capture the vibrant spirit of his subject. It didn't matter that others found his work too unconventional. Van Gogh persevered. And as he moved from the cold climate of Holland to balmy southern France, he pioneered a new technique and style. In a career spanning only a decade, van Gogh painted many great works, yet fame eluded him. This lack of recognition increased his self-doubts and bitter disappointments. Today, however, van Gogh stands as a giant among artists.
[This text is listed as an example that meets Common Core Standards in English language arts in grades 6-8 at http://www.corestandards.org.]
Winner of the Sibert Honor
The Noisy Paint Box
by Mary Grandpre and Barb RosenstockVasya Kandinsky was a proper little boy: he studied math and history, he practiced the piano, he sat up straight and was perfectly polite. And when his family sent him to art classes, they expected him to paint pretty houses and flowers--like a proper artist. But as Vasya opened his paint box and began mixing the reds, the yellows, the blues, he heard a strange sound--the swirling colors trilled like an orchestra tuning up for a symphony! And as he grew older, he continued to hear brilliant colors singing and see vibrant sounds dancing. But was Vasya brave enough to put aside his proper still lifes and portraits and paint . . . music? In this exuberant celebration of creativity, Barb Rosenstock and Mary GrandPré tell the fascinating story of Vasily Kandinsky, one of the very first painters of abstract art. Throughout his life, Kandinsky experienced colors as sounds, and sounds as colors--and bold, groundbreaking works burst forth from his noisy paint box. Backmatter includes four paintings by Kandinsky, an author's note, sources, links to websites on synesthesia and abstract art.From the Hardcover edition.
The Garden of Monsieur Monet
by Giancarlo Ascari ; Pia ValentinisThe book tells how the Impressionist artist arrived at his garden; about the bright Japanese prints he collected that inspired him; about his famous visitors; how he painted outdoors in all weathers; and about his gardeners, who had to leave Giverny to go to war.
Immigrant Kids
by Russell FreedmanText and period photographs chronicle the life of immigrant children at home, school, work, and play during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Ballet for Martha
by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan and Brian FlocaA picture book about the making of Martha Graham's Appalachian Spring, her most famous dance performance
Martha Graham : trailblazing choreographer
Aaron Copland : distinguished American composer
Isamu Noguchi : artist, sculptor, craftsman
Award-winning authors Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan tell the story behind the scenes of the collaboration that created APPALACHIAN SPRING, from its inception through the score's composition to Martha's intense rehearsal process. The authors' collaborator is two-time Sibert Honor winner Brian Floca, whose vivid watercolors bring both the process and the performance to life.
Lowji Discovers America
by Candace FlemingDear Jamshed, America is not so different from what we thought. I told you I wouldn't see a single cowboy riding across the plain, and I haven't. I have not even seen a plain. Still, there are some silver linings. They are: Trapper and King, the cat and dog who live in the apartment building. They are cuddly and waggy. I am not allowed to play with them, though, becayse they are supposed to catch mice and keep burglars away. Ironman. He owns a pig and talks to me a lot. But he is a grown-up. Kids. I can hear them playing outside. Too bad they do not want to play with me. I wish you were here. Do you wish I was in India? Write back soon. Your friend, Lowji
Giant Squid
by Eric Rohmann and Candace FlemingThe giant squid is one of the most elusive creatures in the world. As large as whales, they hide beyond reach deep within the sea, forcing scientists to piece together their story from those clues they leave behind.
An injured whale's ring-shaped scars indicate an encounter with a giant squid. A piece of beak broken off in the whale's belly; a flash of ink dispersed as a blinding defense to allow the squid to escape-- these fragments of proof were all we had . . . until a giant squid was finally filmed in its natural habitat only two years ago.
In this beautiful and clever nonfiction picture book about the giant squid, Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann explore, both visually and poetically, this hidden creature's mysterious life.
Pippo the Fool
by Tracey FernIn fifteenth-century Florence, Italy, a contest is held to design a magnificent dome for the town's cathedral, but when Pippo the Fool claims he will win the contest, everyone laughs at him. Based on a true story.
Lailah's Lunchbox
by Lea Lyon and Reem FaruqiLailah is in a new school in a new country, thousands of miles from her old home, and missing her old friends. When Ramadan begins, she is excited that she is finally old enough to participate in the fasting but worried that her classmates won't understand why she doesn't join them in the lunchroom. Lailah solves her problem with help from the school librarian and her teacher and in doing so learns that she can make new friends who respect her beliefs. This gentle, moving story from first-time author Reem Faruqi comes to life in Lea Lyon's vibrant illustrations. Lyon uses decorative arabesque borders on intermittent spreads to contrast the ordered patterns of Islamic observances with the unbounded rhythms of American school days.
Who Was Leonardo da Vinci?
by Roberta Edwards and True KelleyLeonardo da Vinci was a gifted painter, talented musician, and dedicated scientist and inventor, designing flying machines, submarines, and even helicopters. Yet he had a hard time finishing things, a problem anyone can relate to. Only thirteen paintings are known to be his; as for the illustrated encyclopedia he intended to create, all that he left were thousands of disorganized notebook pages. Here is an accessible portrait of a fascinating man who lived at a fascinating time--Italy during the Renaissance.