Reading

Just You and Me 

by Bill E. Neder
illustrated by Jeremy Tugeau

I had no friends at school. The kids clustered in groups. They ran and roared, but I never played in the groups.

Mom said, “Make a friend at school.” Dad said, “Make a friend at school.” So I did make a friend-a snow friend. My snow friend was Bob.

How did I make my snow friend Bob? It was a big job! I gathered snow into balls. Then I sat a ball on a ball, on a ball! I got a pot for a hat. Then I got a mop.

My snow friend Bob was my one friend at school. We played a lot. I could jog, and Bob watched. I could hop, and Bob watched. I sat at my desk, and Bob watched. What a friend Bob was!

The kids gathered to see my snow friend. Some wandered over to look. Some raced over. They all loved Bob a lot! They said, “How did you make that snow friend? It is amazing!”

One kid said, “Come and be in my group!” Then all the kids said, “No, play in my group!” I played and played in all the groups.

It is hot now. There is no snow. I sit at my desk and look out. Bob is not there. A snow friend cannot be there when it is hot.

I am not sad. I have friends at school now. When the snow comes back, we can all make snow friends!

One Fine Night

by Jean Grace
illustrated by Gregg Valley

Hal sat alone. “Being at home all alone is sad,” he said. “But there is no reason to be alone. I will Call Rip.”

“I am sad to be all alone, Rip,” said Hal. “Come over!”. “Sorry,” said Rip. “I’m napping. Call when I’m not napping.

Hal sat alone. “There’s no reason to be alone,” he said. “I will call Mack.” “Come over, Mack, my friend!” he said. “I don’t like to be alone” “Sorry,” said Mack. “I’m digging in the meadow. Call when I’m not digging.”

Hal sat alone. “There’s no reason to be alone,” he said. “I will call Gil.” “I am glad I found you at home, Gil,”” he said. “Can you come over? I’m sad because I’m alone.” “Sorry,” said Gil “I have to swim I the river. I cannot come out.”

“My nap is spoiled now,” said Rip. “Hal is Sad. I will call and cheer him up.” “I have had it digging,” said Mack. “I will find Hal. He does not like to be alone.”

“I could zip down the river alone,” said Gil, “but I’m going to call Hal, he is sad because he is alone.”

Being alone is fine for some. Being with friends is fine for all. It is fine to have friends!

A Walk in the Woods

By Barbara Diaz

Illustrated by David McPhail

Kim and Tip loved fall. They loved to go for walks in the woods.

Kim loved walking in the fall leaves. Tip loved sniffing the fall leaves.

Kim loved apple trees south of the woods. She picked some apples. Tip love chipmunks. He loved looking for chipmunks.

“Look over there, Tip!” said Kim. “I see a chipmunk! Can you find his tree?”

“Look at the chipmunks zip up that big tree!” said Kim. “We will sit for a bit.” Kim and Tip did not make a noise. Them Kim said, “When will you come down, chipmunk?” They could see the

chipmunk, but it did not come down.

“We have to go, Tip,” said Kim. “We have to walk back. I loved picking apples. You love sniffing leaves. And you and I loved seeing a chipmunk!”

Company Is Coming!

By Celeste Albright

Illustrated by Keiko Motoyama

“Company is coming in 30 minutes! Get ready, everyone!” says Dad. Little Brad is not ready. Brad is eating. He eats most of his banana treat. Then he wants an apple. Fran is not ready. Fran is doing homework. This always takes a long time. She has made a map of Japan. She wants to add black. Now she can’t find the black! “8 minutes down. 22 minutes to go. Let’s go, everyone!” says Dad. “Where is Cass?” Dad asks. Cass is not ready. She is out playing with her cat, Alf. She wants to snuggle with him. Alf wants to play in the grass. “14 minutes are up. You have 16 minutes to be all ready!” says Dad. Stan is not ready. Stan is flat on the mat. Up and down go his legs. He always does this for a long time. “20 minutes down and 10 to go, Stan,’ Says Dad. “Help me here! Company’s coming! 23 minutes down. 7 minutes to go. No one is ready. Dad is in a flap! He claps his hands. “Come on, everyone!” he says, “Our Company is coming in 7 minutes. Let’s go!” At last! Brad is ready, Fran and Stan are ready. Cass and Alf are ready, too. Two minutes to go. Not bad! But where is Dad? Now Dad is not ready “Dad! You can’t nap now!” says Cass. “Our company will be here any minute! 30 minutes down. 0 minutes down to go, Dad!”

Mac’s Wish Comes True

By Celeste Albright

Illustrated by Lisa Guy

Mac sat with his pals. “This is dull,” he said. “Come to the Zoo. Zoo animals are too exciting.” “This is not dull,’ said his pals. ‘Then I will go myself,” said Mac. Mac went to the zoo. He spotted two hungry animals. ‘”They are handsome,” Mac said. “I wish I could look like that.” Wap! Zap! Mac’s wish came true. Now Mac could look up and down. He could look sideways, too. “This is exciting,” he said. He has hardly said it when an animal ran up. “What is that animal?” said Mac. “It has a sparkling fan. I wish I could look like that.” Wap! Zap! Now Mac was handsome AND sparkling Mac went to this pals. He said, “Look at me!” “Who are you?” his pals said. That made Mac sad. “I am handsome now, but I have no pals,” he said. “I wish I could be myself.” Wap! Zap! Mac’s wish came true. Mac was Mac, his pals were his pals. That was not so bad!