CCISD Letter Level Recommendations: V - Z

NSTA/CBC Best STEM Book This picture book biography tells the story of Meg Lowman, a groundbreaking female scientist called a "real life Lorax" by National Geographic, who was determined to investigate the marvelous, undiscovered world of the rainforest treetops. Meg Lowman was always fascinated by the natural world above her head -- the colors, the branches, and, most of all, the leaves and mysterious organisms living there. Meg set out to climb up and investigate the rain forest tree canopies -- and to be the first scientist to do so. But she encountered challenge after challenge. Male teachers would not let her into their classrooms, the high canopy was difficult to get to, and worst of all, people were logging and clearing the forests. Meg never gave up or gave in. She studied, invented, and persevered, not only creating a future for herself as a scientist, but making sure that the rainforests had a future as well. Working closely with Meg Lowman, author Heather Lang and artist Jana Christy beautifully capture Meg's world in the treetops. "Meg Lowman or 'Canopy Meg' is a true hero, a courageous explorer, who made amazing discoveries high in the forest canopy. The Leaf Detective captures the magic of that little-known world with its clear, informative text and fabulous illustrations. Young readers everywhere will be fascinated and inspired to learn more about nature." --Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and Pioneer of Peace "Margaret Lowman is a pioneer scientist in a discipline that demands exceptional imagination, courage, and physical rigor. But of equal importance, she has created an extraordinarily important branch of environmental and conservation research. Heather Lang and Jana Christy, in this charming introduction, have invited us to climb on up and visit her." --Edward O. Wilson, Pulitzer Prize winner and Professor Emeritus, Harvard University

A dream world turns haunting nightmare in this spellbinding debut novel, perfect for fans of Circus Mirandus and The Night Gardener. After Andrea's brother, Francis, disappeared, everything changed. Her world turned upside down, and there was nothing she could do to right it. So when she discovers a magical dream world called Reverie in the woods near her home, Andrea jumps at the chance to escape her pain and go inside. But the cost of admission is high: Andrea must give up a memory in order to enter. And she knows exactly which memory she'd like to give up. Once inside, Andrea discovers tent after tent of dreams come alive; she can fly on a gust of wind, brave swashbuckling pirates and search for buried treasure, reach for--and wish on--a tangible star, and much, much more. But Andrea soon realizes that not all of Reverie's dreams are meant to delight, and the Sandman behind the circus tents seems to have plans of his own. When Andrea finds a tent in which her brother's darkest nightmare has been brought to life, she realizes the dark truth: Reverie is not an escape; it's a trap. Will Andrea and her new friend Penny have what it takes to find Francis, figure out what's really going on in Reverie, and break free from this nightmarish dream world? A wonderfully inventive, deliciously creepy debut novel that is sure to linger in readers' minds long after the last thrilling page has been turned. Praise for The Circus of Stolen Dreams: * "Savaryn's unconventional story makes for a bewitching debut, filled with dazzling descriptions and real surprises." --Booklist, *STARRED REVIEW*

This heart-pounding mystery-adventure follows three kids who get lost in the woods at night and experience something they cannot quite explain. Secrets, spies, or maybe even a monster . . . what lies in the heart of the woods? Charlie Noon and Dizzy Heron are determined to find out. When their nemesis, Johnny Baines, plays a prank on them and night falls without warning, all three end up lost in the woods, trapped in a nightmare. Unforeseen dangers and impossible puzzles lurk in the shadows. Like it or not, Charlie and Dizzy must work with Johnny if they are to find a way out. But time can be tricky. . . . What if the night never ends?

From bestselling author Frances O'Roark Dowell comes a fresh and accessible guide to storytelling that breaks down the sometimes-daunting writing process into straightforward, doable steps, just right for budding writers! If you've written anything, ever, you're already a writer--so, congratulations! As many aspiring authors know, though, telling an actual, complete story is, well, a different story. As unfinished drafts pile up and writers' block strikes, it may start to feel like there's a special formula to finishing a project that you're just not getting. But crafting a story isn't magic, if you have a little know-how! And here it is--know-how! In her witty, clever way, critically acclaimed author Frances O'Roark Dowell explains the storytelling process with simple, easy-to-understand steps. Follow along as she shares sample stories and identifies building blocks and obstacles to conquer--all hilariously illustrated, in a way that'll have you typing all the way to the end of your own story. In addition to writing many books including Shooting the Moon and Dovey Coe, Frances O'Roark Dowell has over a decade's experience teaching writing workshops for kids. Ready, set, write!

Named a Best Book of 2019 by Kirkus Reviews, this pungent parody ofSnow White modernizes (and stinks up) the themes of the classic fairy tale to serve as a timely parable of the virtues of inclusive democracy versus the evils of corrupt regimes. Set in the faraway (and terrible-smelling) land of Rancidia, where it's good to smell bad and bad to smell good, this hilarious middle-grade chapter book follows the adventures of the profoundly stinky Hobgoblin as he flees the jealous wrath of a monstrous, democracy-hating ogre tyrant named Fiddlefart. Along the way, he joins forces with the Seven Stinkers--an outcast band of foul-smelling creatures (Grody the bog monster, Yucky the skunk ape, Icky the sloth, Musty the mummy, Fusty themoldy pirate skeleton, Poot the sentient dung ball, and Toot, the dung beetle), the adorable barking spiders, and a mysterious squirrel known only as The Huntress. Visit hazydellpress.com for free education guides and activities perfect for schools, libraries, homeschool and stay-at-home learning. â~..."Readers will giggle through every page of this smart political satire. As the stench-loving Rancidians would say: It stinks!" -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Engages hard-to-please tween readers with imaginative adventure, fun illustrations [and] silly fart references...Read it together at bedtime to share laughter and a positive message of empathy and inclusivity." -- The Seattle Times "[A] hilarious second coming of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs...This story is like nothing you've ever read before...You'll instantly fart with glee[.]"-- Literary Features Syndicate