Big Bugs and Other Bug Stories
Part 1 of the Reading Quest series
Bugs! See the work of an artist who makes giant sculptures of some of the world's smallest creatures. Enjoy a creepy crawly counting poem. Learn about an insect eating caterpillar and get answers to questions such as "why can't bugs talk?"
Night Walk and Other Nighttime Stories
Part 2 of the Reading Quest series
In the Dark! Find the lights in the scary night. What do sheep count to fall to sleep? Enjoy a silly story about when the lights go out… dancing. Learn how bats can fly at night and how they drink water in flight.
Down a Wombat Hole and Other Fuzzy Stories
Part 3 of the Reading Quest series
Australian and arctic animals! Meet a scientist who studies wombats and another who studies arctic foxes. Enjoy a fun story about animals having a jumping competition and another about animals having a special grown-up birthday party.
Biddledee Bear's Dinner and Other Mealtime Stories
Part 5 of the Reading Quest series
Food! Make a breakfast that will make you smile, then help Biddle Bear count as he eats many types of food. Crack the code of what is in the Garbage Stew. Learn about the colorful lunches children eat in Japan.
What Will You Do Today? and Other Playtime Stories
Part 6 of the Reading Quest series
Activities are better together! There are so many fun things to do. How will you spend your day? Enjoy a poem about a visit from Grandma. Then read about animals all having fun on a teeter-totter. Then Tex and Indi go to an art museum and find inspiration.
Off to the Beach and Other Sandy Stories
Part 7 of the Reading Quest series
Fun at the beach! Alex packs toys for a beach trip. Duck and Goose have try a new sport at the lake. Emma realizes that the wild animals should be free, no matter how small. Learn a safe and easy trick for examining sea creatures up close.
Squirrel School and Other Real Squirrel Stories
Part 8 of the Reading Quest series
Squirrels! Learn about the survival of different types of squirrels.
Anita's Playhouse and Other Imagination Stories
Part 9 of the Reading Quest series
Imagination! Anita builds a creative fort. A bucket can be anything you desire. Zoey plays dress-up at school. She decides to be a cowgirl and then creatively builds a horse. The read a fun story about misunderstanding idioms and imagination taking over.
Pizza and Other Yummy Stories
Part 11 of the Reading Quest series
Culinary traditions! Enjoy mouthwatering poems about pizza and pancakes. See the importance of family traditions and that food can bring people together. Learn how pizza became a popular food and make a mini pizza of your own.
Robot on the Ice and Other Real Technology Stories
Part 12 of the Reading Quest series
Science and technology! Learn advances in keyboard technology, how computers find websites, and answers to questions such as "why are computers slow?" Discover how astronomers make an important outer space discovery and follow a robot as it roams Antarctica.
Splish-Splash and Other Water Stories
Part 15 of the Reading Quest series
Splash! Bert, Beth, and Grandpa make a splash in the pond. The Timbertoes have a fun time on a rainy day. Visit a waterpark with Tina, Kevin, and Aunt Dora. Pick a favorite marine animal with Camila's class at the aquarium.
Mariana Gives Thanks and Other Grateful Stories
Part 16 of the Reading Quest series
Giving Thanks! Join Mariana, various children and Spot in deciding what they are thankful for. Enjoy poems featuring what food animals are grateful to eat. Explore a traditional Thanksgiving feast with a fun light story about a girl who wants to have an authentic Pilgrim meal.
What Will You Wear? and Other Dressy Stories
Part 20 of the Reading Quest series
A perfect outfit for every occasion! Mom helps Isabel get dressed and ready for school. Bella's Dad helps her get ready for a birthday party. Dona Rosa tries to stand out from her flamingo friends by buying colorful new clothes. Arizona and her friends have fun with a clothes swap.
Flopping Frogs and Other Real Frog Stories
Part 26 of the Reading Quest series
Frogs! Learn about the unique jump of the Tailed Frogs in the Pacific Northwest. Figure out where the mysterious sound of a thousand bells comes from. Discover the dangerous journey of a wood frog. Get a close look at the tiny "famous" frogs from the rain forest.
Mike Gets a Library Card and Other Reading Stories
Part 29 of the Reading Quest series
Reading! Mike gets his first library card. Megan and her classmates prepare for story time. Tex and Indi join a summer reading program at their local library. Toby writes a book report and learns that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
Catty Jane and Friends
Part 36 of the Reading Quest series
Friends! Catty Janes goes to the lake with her friends. Catty Jane shows her new trike to her friends. Catty Jane finds a way to play in the water without getting wet. Catty Jane's friends cheer her up on a bad day.
Lulu's Adventures
Part 37 of the Reading Quest series
Fun with Lulu! Lulu acts like different animals, rides an imaginary train, plays dress-up, and saves the day with her flashlight.
The Timbertoes Make Things
Part of the Reading Quest series
Crafting! The Timbertoes are a handy bunch, especially Pa! Pa makes a whistle for Tommy, and a doggy door for Spot. His plans don't go exactly as he wanted when he makes a snow buggy. Finally, all the Timbertoes join in, and have a fix-it day at their house. Stories by Rich Wallace, and Marileta Robinson.
Bert, Beth, and Grandpa: Winter Wonderland
Part of the Reading Quest series
Winter Wonderland! Bert and Beth and Grandpa go ice skating and sleigh riding. Grandpa teaches Bert and Beth a fun way to bring winter indoors. Bert, Beth, and Grandpa make snowmen together. Stories by Valeri Gorbachev.
Bert, Beth, and Grandpa: Playtime!
Part of the Reading Quest series
Playtime! Grandpa gets creative to make Bert and Beth play together. Grandpa reads a bedtime story. Bert and Beth make bath time fun with their imaginations. Bert and Beth play basketball with their friends. Stories by Valeri Gorbachev.
Ask Arizona: Life with Siblings
Part of the Reading Quest series
Playing with siblings! Gran teaches Arizona, Indi, and Tex how to play a rhyming word game to help them forget their fear during a scary thunderstorm. Arizona's little brother Tex gives her good advice about handling nightmares. Arizona, tired of doing the same old things with her little brother and sister, finds it's fun to play with them when they try new activities. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Ask Arizona: Getting to Know Animals
Part of the Reading Quest series
Taking care of animals! Arizona learns that farm work isn't easy. Arizona's family adopts a kitten from the animal shelter. While Arizona's family pet sits a labradoodle, Cow has a hard time accepting the canine visitor. Arizona discovers that pets without fur are just as fun as pets with fur and just as much responsibility. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
The Adventures of Spot: Let's Play!
Part of the Reading Quest series
Let's Play with Spot and Splinter! Spot and Splinter play hide and seek. Splinter finds lots of fun things hiding in nature. On a rainy day Spot plays outside, while Splinter stays dry inside. Spot can't decide whether to play with his ball or chew his bone. Spot and Splinter play tag. Stories by Marileta Robinson and Highlights for Children.
Little Bunny: Terrific Teachers
Part of the Reading Quest series
Teachers come in all shapes and sizes! Baby Bunny learns how to say the word mine! Little bunny teaches his cousin how to read. Then, he creates a storybook about Great-Great Grandma from what Mama remembers about her. Grandpa Bunny reads a story about the first Thanksgiving, and Little Bunny and his cousins discuss what they're thankful for. Stories by Eileen Spinelli.
Eyes of the Dragon and Other Scaly Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Scaly dragons! A Chinese folktale tells about a grateful dragon who gives a girl an impossible gift. Lily brings Dragon in to school. A little girl follows a treasure map past a dragon! Tex and Indi go to a festival in Chinatown to see a parade and a dancing dragon. What would you do if you met a dragon? Would you try to make friends? Stories by Camille S. Phillips, Lissa Rovetch, Marilyn Kratz, and Eileen Spinelli.
Baby Bear's Bed and Other Forest Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
The green forest! Baby Bear explores the forest looking for the perfect bed. Different forest animals prepare for the long winter ahead. Jack Rabbit doesn't believe it is going to rain. He talks to his forest friends who can smell the rain, and they all tell him that it is coming soon. Cheeper is learning how to sing. Can he learn before he must leave the forest? Stories by Lucinda H. Kennaley, Dale Cross Purvis, Gay Kamber Seltzer, and Highlights for Children.
Ask Arizona: Discovering the World Around Us
Part of the Reading Quest series
Stop and smell the roses! Arizona's cousin teaches her that she can experience the world in a whole new way if she just takes a moment to appreciate her surroundings. Arizona has to learn to relax and go with the flow when her vacation doesn't go the way she plans, and she even finds the fun in trying new food. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Going to the Pool and Other Swimming Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Dive in! Tex and Indi head to the pool for their swimming lesson but worry that they forgot how to swim over the past year. Roy works hard in swimming class. A young girl believes she can swim across an inlet, but gets into trouble when the tide begins to carry her out to sea! A dolphin learns how to swim with a prosthetic tail, and Olympic champion, Janet Evans tells about how she faced her fears and won swimming competitions against strong opponents. Stories by Lissa Rovetch, Arlene Mark, Jillian Sullivan, Sharon Teper, and Janet Evans.
Tex and Indi: Be Kind to Mother Nature
Part of the Reading Quest series
Nature! Tex and Indi find fun shapes in the clouds, make bird feeders, and wish on the moon. The whole family plants a garden. Then Tex and Indi go on a nature hike with their Aunt. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Lulu's Adventures
Part of the Reading Quest series
Fun with Lulu! Lulu acts like different animals, rides an imaginary train, plays dress-up, and saves the day with her flashlight. Stories by Eileen Spinelli and Highlights for Children.
Ask Arizona: Helping Hands
Part of the Reading Quest series
Lend a hand! Arizona helps her sister, Indi, find her missing lost tooth. Indi helps Arizona clean her room. Arizona, her friend Ollie, and Abuela help out at a soup kitchen. Read along as Arizona learns how rewarding helping can be. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Where Walruses Chill Out and Other Real Arctic Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Chilly adventures! Learn about Arctic climate, animals, and about the differences between the Arctic and the Antarctic. If you think all penguins live in the Antarctic, think again! Stories by Jodi Wheeler-Toppen, Susan E. Quinlan, Tim Davis, and Randi Lynn Mrvos.
I Like Cats! and Other Purr-fect Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Meow! There are so many kinds of cats, but they all seem to have one thing in common: they love mischief! Tex and Indi deal with Cow interrupting their projects. Jesse and his parents decide what to name their cat. Another family ends up with too many cats who won't go away! Stories by Highlights for Children, Lissa Rovetch, and Joy Cowley.
Ask Arizona: Making Choices
Part of the Reading Quest series
Friends! Arizona uses an old trick to make a decision. Arizona learns that true friends like you for the person you are not for the things you have. Arizona helps a friend figure out what it means to be a true friend. Arizona discovers that her fantastic friend acts differently when other friends are around. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Tex and Indi: A Cat Named Cow
Part of the Reading Quest series
Pet cats! Cow gets stuck in a small space, Tex and Indi have to find a way to free him. The whole family plays animal charades. Tex, Indi, and Mom go to the store to buy cat food for Cow. Tex and Indi explain why they named their cat Cow. Tex and Indi play with their kitten. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Five Frosty Friends and Other Snowy Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Brr! Five snowmen race down a hill, but only one makes it to the finish line. In another kind of snowstorm, Jem uses her quick thinking to save her new friend, Vianna. Issac is excited to see snow for the first time, and Angela finds a new way to fly. Stories by Kathleen Doherty, Roxanne Werner, Nancy Dearborn, and Wendy Hogarth.
Mrs. Dooley's Dog Dilemma and Other Pawsome Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Woof, woof! Mrs. Dooley has six dogs, but her house is too small. What will she do? When everyone else leaves for school, a girl spends her time with her best friend-- a dog named Sam. Rosie the dog loves smelling the neighborhood smells, but nothing smells as good as home. Autumn thinks that when her dog howls, it is a sad sound. However, when she meets Laura and her beagle, she learns that sometimes a howl means something else. Stories by June Swanson, Nancy K. Wallace, Ruth Donnelly, Nancy White Carlstrom, and Erin Berger.
The Timbertoes: Work and Play
Part of the Reading Quest series
It takes work to have fun! Tommy searches for more honey for his snack. Tommy and Mabel build a tower, Pa builds a canoe, and the whole Timbertoes family puts together a picnic to enjoy. Stories by Rich Wallace and Marileta Robinson.
Adventuring in the Outdoors
Part of the Reading Quest series
Outdoor activities! While camping the Timbertoes, look at the stars. Pa, Tommy, and Mabel go fishing. The family sees a meteor shower. Tommy goes to find a pumpkin for Ma. Stories by Rich Wallace and Marileta Robinson.
Tex and Indi: Playtime with Friends
Part of the Reading Quest series
Friends! Tex and Indi help their friend clean her pet bird's cage. Mole's friends find a way to help get rid of the clutter in his house. Indi sees Tex having fun with his friend and wishes she could be too. Tex Indi and their family meet their new neighbors. Tex and Indi's friends share their gingerbread house decorations. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Little Bunny: Sleepy Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Bedtime! Little Bunny tries to be quiet as Baby Bunny naps. Baby Bunny prepares for a sleepover with Squirrel. Little Bunny tries to take a nap. Little Bunny tries to stay up late. Stories by Eileen Spinelli.
The Timbertoes: Silly Fun
Part of the Reading Quest series
Silly Fun! Tommy and Mabel play a game of keep it in the air. The Timbertoes try riding a unicycle. Tommy and Mabel go snow shoeing. Mabel digs a whole, try to guess what she plans to do with it. Stories by Rich Wallace and Marileta Robinson.
Flopping Frogs and Other Real Frog Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Frogs! Learn about the unique jump of the Tailed Frogs in the Pacific Northwest. Figure out where the mysterious sound of a thousand bells comes from. Discover the dangerous journey of a wood frog. Get a close look at the tiny famous frogs from the rain forest. Stories by Pamela Brunskill, Barbara Cole, Carole Smith Berney, and Chris Dietel.
Voyage to Pluto and Other Real Planetary Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Our planets! Get to know all about Pluto's size, landscape, and more! What are the different phases of the moon? Where did Saturn get its rings? Is the earth really spinning? Learn the answers to these questions, and more! Stories by Ken Croswell, Ph.D. and Highlights for Children.
Everella's Wand and Other Fairy Tale Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Fairy tales! A young fairy becomes selfish and loses her powers. Can she earn them back? Curley needs clean uniforms to deliver mail, but the dry cleaner is closed for the week. His sister supplies him with fairy tale costumes to make his mail deliveries! A lazy man is visited by a lazy fairy godmother, and an ambitious girl finds a job along with a fantastic adventure! Stories by Marjorie R. Sheffer, Linda Kao, Bradford H. Robie, and Maggie Murphy.
Ask Arizona: Summer Camp Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Summer Camp! Arizona learns the importance of paying attention to her instructors while riding a horse. During a scavenger hunt, Arizona discovers the importance of a positive attitude when working with a team. Arizona discovers that everyone is worried about going to camp for the first time. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Bert, Beth, and Grandpa: Family Outings
Part of the Reading Quest series
Fresh air adventures! Bert Beth and Grandpa explore the forest, walk around a lake, watch the stars, and play at the beach. Stories by Valeri Gorbachev.
Mike Gets a Library Card and Other Reading Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Reading! Mike gets his first library card. Megan and her classmates prepare for story time. Tex and Indi join a summer reading program at their local library. Toby writes a book report and learns that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Stories by LaDonna Frankenheim, Marianne Mitchell, Lissa Rovetch, and John J. Bonk.