Special Collections
Into Reading Texas Grade 2 (NIMAC)
- Table View
- List View
My Dream Playground
by Kate Becker and Jed HenryNIMAC-sourced textbook
Right now there is just an empty lot down the street, but this little girl dreams that one day there will be a playground — a real playground, a fun playground — right in her own neighborhood. When she sees a man measuring the empty lot, she’s sure that he’s there to help make her playground dream come true. And he is! Inspired by the real story of the first-ever playground built by KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit that has helped build more than two thousand play spaces across the country, here is the tale of how a determined young girl, with the help of her family, friends, and community, makes her dreams of a playground in her own neighborhood a reality.
A Perfect Season for Dreaming/Un tiempo perfecto para soñar
by Benjamin Sáenz and Esau ValenciaNIMAC-sourced textbook
Ninety-two-year-old Octavio Rivera is a beautiful dreamer. And lately he has been visited by some very interesting dreams—dreams about piñatas that spill their treasures before him, revealing kissing turtles, winged pigs, hitchhiking armadillos and many more fantastic things! Octavio doesn’t tell anyone about his dreams except his young granddaughter Regina because she alone understands beautiful and fantastic dreams. On the ninth afternoon Octavio prepares for his siesta hoping to be blessed with one last lovely dream. That afternoon he dreams of a sky full of sweet and perfect hummingbirds calling his name over and over again…
Like Margaret Wild’s marvelous book Old Pig, A Perfect Season for Dreaming unfolds the sweet possibilities in relationships between the very old and the very young.
Rabbit's Snow Dance: A Traditional Iroquois Story
by James Bruchac and Joseph Bruchac and Jeff NewmanNIMAC-sourced textbook
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs
by Mo WillemsNIMAC-sourced textbook
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs is a new take on the fairy-tale classic Goldilocks and the Three Bears, so funny and so original—it could only come from the brilliant mind of Mo Willems, the author/illustrator of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and the Elephant and Piggie series.
Once upon a time, there were three hungry Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur . . . and a Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway.
One day—for no particular reason—they decided to tidy up their house, make the beds, and prepare pudding of varying temperatures. And then—for no particular reason—they decided to go . . . someplace else. They were definitely not setting a trap for some succulent, unsupervised little girl.
Definitely not!
This hilarious story is perfect for fans of the Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.
Three Hens and a Peacock
by Henry Cole and Lester LaminackNIMAC-sourced textbook
This hilarious book reveals what happens when some foolish farm animals decide to trade roles—and discover just how hard it is to do someone else’s job.
The Tuckers’ farm is a peaceful place. Everyone has a job and no one complains. That is, until a hapless peacock falls off the back of a passing truck and stirs things up. Soon, customers are flocking to the farm to see what all the fuss is about. But the hens don’t like the newcomer getting attention while they do all the hard work. The wise old hound sees the problem and helps orchestrate a job swap. What follows is the hilarious tale of three hens who get in way over their feathered heads, and one very distressed peacock who just can’t figure out how to lay an egg.
Lester L. Laminack has created a comical look at what happens when we underestimate the value of others’ work. Henry Cole’s delightful illustrations heighten the story’s humor and will have readers of all ages laughing out loud.
Mango, Abuela, and Me
by Meg Medina and Angela DominguezNIMAC-sourced textbook
Mia’s abuela has left her sunny house with parrots and palm trees to live with Mia and her parents in the city. The night she arrives, Mia tries to share her favorite book with Abuela before they go to sleep and discovers that Abuela can’t read the words inside. So while they cook, Mia helps Abuela learn English (“Dough. Masa”), and Mia learns some Spanish too, but it’s still hard for Abuela to learn the words she needs to tell Mia all her stories. Then Mia sees a parrot in the pet-shop window and has the perfectoidea for how to help them all communicate a little better. An endearing tale from an award-winning duo that speaks loud and clear about learning new things and the love that bonds family members.
It's Only Stanley
by Jon AgeeNIMAC-sourced textbook
Fans of Jon Klassen and Oliver Jeffers will love this mischievously funny read-aloud from award-winning author/illustrator Jon Agee
Mysterious noises keep waking up the Wimbledon family. "That's very odd," says Mr. Wimbledon each time, but when he returns from checking on the sounds, he's always reassuring: "It's only Stanley; he's fixing the oil tank." "It's only Stanley; he's clearing the bathtub drain."
But what Stanley the dog is actually doing while his oblivious family goes back to bed is deliciously absurd: he's turning the house into a rocket ship to zoom himself and his family to another planet for an alien encounter. This is a perfect rhyming read-aloud for fans of irreverent tales like Click Clack Moo and I Want My Hat Back.
The Important Book
by Leonard Weisgard and Margaret BrownNIMAC-sourced textbook
Margaret Wise Brown, the New York Times bestselling author of the perennial classics Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny, asks children to think deeply about the importance of everyday objects, from apples to spoons. With lyrical words and vivid illustrations by Caldecott winner Leonard Weisgard, The Important Book shows children just how important everyday objects can be.
What is the most important thing about a spoon? The fact that you can eat with it? What about an apple? Or a shoe? This book helps curious preschoolers notice important details about their everyday surroundings, like daisies are white, rain is wet, and a spoon is used for eating.
Trombone Shorty
by Troy Andrews and Bryan CollierNIMAC-sourced textbook
Hailing from the Tremé neighborhood in New Orleans, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews got his nickname by wielding a trombone twice as long as he was high. A prodigy, he was leading his own band by age six, and today this Grammy-nominated artist headlines the legendary New Orleans Jazz Fest.
Along with esteemed illustrator Bryan Collier, Andrews has created a lively picture book autobiography about how he followed his dream of becoming a musician, despite the odds, until he reached international stardom. Trombone Shorty is a celebration of the rich cultural history of New Orleans and the power of music.
Dreams Around the World
by Takashi OwakiNIMAC-sourced textbook
Dreams Around the World takes you on a once-in-a-lifetime journey and introduces you to thirteen children between the ages of four and eight who share their dreams for the future, as well as their day-to-day lives. From Finland in the north to Argentina in the south, from Mexico in the west to China in the east, you will meet girls and boys who dream about becoming doctors, jockeys, and even kung-fu masters...just like you. Photographs, maps, flags, and interesting facts about every place accompany each child's story, letting you participate in a cultural experience like no other. In the end, you will discover that despite being from different places, you all have at least one thing in common: dreams! Included are two pages for you to add your own story.
Time for Cranberries
by Jed Henry and Lisl DetlefsenNIMAC-sourced textbook
From the cranberry bog to the Thanksgiving table, join Sam and his family as they harvest a classic American fruit.
When the vines hang heavy with berries that the autumn winds have turned deep red, it's time for cranberries, and Sam is finally old enough to help with the harvest! This charming, lyrical picture book follows Sam and his family as they raise the water in the bog, pick the cranberries, and gather the fruit for processing. It's a story of modern family farming in action, showing readers where their food comes from but mostly delighting them along the way.
The William Hoy Story
by Nancy Churnin and Jez TuyaNIMAC-sourced textbook
Winner - 2017 Storytelling World Resource Award Honor Book Finalist - 2017 North Texas Book Festival Best Children's Books
All William Ellsworth Hoy wanted to do was play baseball. After losing out on a spot on the local deaf team, William practiced even harder—eventually earning a position on a professional team. But his struggle was far from over. In addition to the prejudice Hoy faced, he could not hear the umpires' calls. One day he asked the umpire to use hand signals: strike, ball, out. That day he not only got on base but also changed the way the game was played forever. William “Dummy" Hoy became one of the greatest and most beloved players of his time!
Violet the Pilot
by Steve BreenNIMAC-sourced textbook
By the time she's two years old, Violet Van Winkle can engineer nearly any appliance in the house. And by eight she's building elaborate flying machines from scratch—mind-boggling contraptions such as the Tubbubbler, the Bicycopter, and the Wing-a-ma-jig. The kids at school tease her, but they have no idea what she's capable of. Maybe she could earn their respect by winning the blue ribbon in the upcoming Air Show. Or maybe something even better will happen—something involving her best-ever invention, a Boy Scout troop in peril, and even the mayor himself!
Meet the Dogs of Bedlam Farm
by Jon KatzNIMAC-sourced textbook
Welcome to Bedlam Farm! Meet Rose, Izzy, Frieda, and Lenore, four dogs that work hard on the farm doing various jobs. They're good friends now, but it wasn't always this way. Just as each dog has a different role on the farm, each has a unique story.
I Wonder… Reasons Why You Sneeze and More
by Maureen Mecozzi and Lisa ChestersNIMAC-sourced textbook
Have you ever wondered why you sneeze or get the hiccups? To find out, read these questions and answers about the body.
Our Changing Earth: An Encyclopedia of Landforms
by Darleen RamosNIMAC-sourced textbook
Our Earth is changing all the time. Earthquakes, wind, water, and ice all work to change the shape of Earth. Do you know which is the largest canyon on Earth?
Woodland People, Desert People
by Jaqueline GreeneNIMAC-sourced textbook
Find out how some Native Americans lived in the forest and desert about 400 years ago. Their homes, clothing, and food helped them survive the harsh winters near the Great Lakes and the dry summers in the desert of the southwest.