ELA

Emma loves her human, George, but he can be so difficult! This time he has a visitor, who won't let go of his hand. Worse, she's brought along her dog, Hankie, and they've taken over Emma's spot next to George on the couch. What's a desperate dog to do? Emma hurries off to the library to write to her favorite canine columnist for advice. But this may be one problem that even Dear Queenie can't solve. Will Emma's happy home ever be the same again?

In 1883, Emma Lazarus, deeply moved by an influx of immigrants from eastern Europe, wrote a sonnet that gave a voice to the Statue of Liberty. Originally a gift from France to celebrate our shared national struggles for liberty, the statue, thanks to Emma's poem, came to define us as a nation that welcomes immigrants. The text of that now famous poem, "The New Colossus," appears in this free-verse biography, illustrated in an exquisite folk art style.

The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus has been selected as a Common Core Text Exemplar (Grades 4-5, Poetry)

When the old Tooth Mouse announces that it is time to name her successor, Sophie, the small mouse who would NOT go to bed, desperately hopes to be chosen. The three tasks she is assigned are difficult and dangerous, and some of the other mice believe that she is just too little to succeed. At times, Sophie even doubts herself. But sometimes, the wisest answer really is the simplest one -- and sometimes the best mouse for the job just might be the very smallest one.

The Erie Canal comes to life in this classic children's book, illustrated by award winning artist Peter Spier, to the words of the familiar folk song, "Low Bridge, Everybody down." Enjoy reading and singing this song with your children. Teachers use this book to introduce curriculum subjects and to tell stories about what is happening in the paintings of canal town life. Every child, library and school should have this book.

Our nation's unique identity has been formed, in large part, by the monuments and landmarks we have erected. Structures such as the famous Gateway Arch in St. Louis or the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., stand today as permanent reminders of the people and events that have built a strong America. Many of these structures made history even as they were created -- most integrated the latest in design and technology and required the skills of thousands of workers.

Native American author and teacher Joseph Bruchac has collected 26 tales from Northeast tribes in this book. Some are gentle and humorous, like "Sunny Wundy's Skipping Stone", about a boy who outwits a stone giant. Others, like "The Origin of Medicine", are darker in tone.

An anthology of contemporary Iroquois writing, edited by Joseph Bruchac.

Magnificent illustrations and captivating texts tell the legends of Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Americas, and Native America.