First readers, skills and practice

New student Dashiell Brody wants to play baseball with the boys, which leads to problems with her family and her school.

Little Critter makes Mom his famous peanut butter, pickle, potato chips, and orange juice sandwich for lunch. Includes activities.

Since Mom is sick, Little Critter tries extra hard to help get the house ready for Grandma and Grandpa's visit.

The young hero of Emmanuel Carrere's best-selling novel is little Nicolas, whose school ski outing seems doomed from the start. First, his father (a traveling prosthesis salesman) refuses to let Nicolas take the school bus with the rest of his class because of a recent tragedy in which a number of children burned to death. Then, to make matters worse, he drops off Nicolas but forgets to take his son's suitcase out of the trunk, reducing Nicolas to begging the other children for such bare essentials as a toothbrush and pajamas (a source of particular tension since Nicolas is still accident-prone at night). Faithful to the strict logic that governs a child's mind, Carrere recounts Nicolas's feverish fantasies stoked by the lurid tales of kidnapping and organ theft he has been told by his father. The fantasies grow frighteningly real when a child from the local village disappears. Sure that the child has fallen victim to one of the organ bandits his father always warns him about, Nicolas convinces a classmate to help him investigate the matter in the best heroic school-boy style. But in this wrenching novel, the fantasy of two young boys fearlessly braving dangers to capture the bad guys gives way to a much simpler, more sinister, more devastating reality.

Despite some misadventures, Little Critter is anxious to go back to day camp.

Little Critter explores some of the fun things he can do when school is cancelled because of the snow. Includes activities.

After Little Critter helps Little Sister fall asleep, he has trouble getting back to sleep himself.

Little Critter's morning goes from bad to worse when he wakes up late, can't find his favorite shirt, and misses the school bus, but his teacher knows just how to cheer him up. Includes activities.

Although Little Critter does not win any games at the field day at school, his friends cheer for him anyway.

When no one will play with Little Critter one day, he uses his imagination to find new friends, including a mouse, a frog, and a spider. Includes activities.

When Little Critter's friends are too busy to join him in his new tree house, he finally asks Little Sister to play with him.

Mercer Mayer's Little Critter First Readers (Level 3 Gr.1-2) Winner! Children's Choices 20. Let Little Critter(R) take your child on a reading adventure! Little Critter and Gabby befriend a caterpillar. They name him Sam and take care of him until, one day, Sam builds a cocoon and turns into a beautiful butterfly. Young Readers will enjoy these simple and engaging stories written with their reading level in mind. Featuring Mercer Mayer's charming illustrations and favorite Little Critter characters, children will want to open these books again and again. To ensure reading success, the First Readers were based on McGraw-Hill's respected educational SRA Open Court Reading Program. Skills activities in the back of the book also help reinforce learning, and a word list is included for vocabulary practice. Mercer Mayer – writer and illustrator for Little Critter First Readers, as well as Little Critter Spectrum, began writing and illustrating children’s books in 1966 and since that time, he has published over 300 titles. Open almost any of the award-winning author-illustrator’s books, and out may pop dragons, cuddly monsters, wonderful creatures, and endearing critters. “Most of my books are about things that happened to me when I was a little kid,” says Mercer. “Now that I’m a big kid, I write about things that happen now, especially with my own children. They always help remind me of what it was like.” Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Mercer Mayer spent his childhood hunting lizards and snakes in the swamps near his home. During his teenage years, he attended the Honolulu Academy of Arts. He later received additional training at the Art Students League in New York City. Upon completion of his studies, he set out with pen and ink to write and illustrate a collection of children’s book, reflecting many of the adventures he experienced as a child.

Little Critter and his family observe various animals at the zoo.

Little Critter goes to Tiger's birthday party and brings a kite as a present.

While visiting his grandparents at their farm, Little Critter helps by gathering the eggs, feeding the goats, riding a horse, and doing other fun jobs. Includes activities.

Little Critter and his classmates come up with ideas to earn money for the fire department's new fire truck.