I Am the Turkey by Michele Sobel Spirn, illustrated by Joy Allen (HarperTrophy, 2004).

Mark’s second grade class is going to put on a Thanksgiving play. Mark hopes he’ll get a good part: a Pilgrim, maybe, or an Indian. To his surprise, he’s assigned the role of a turkey. His teacher says it’s a good part because without a turkey, there can’t be a Thanksgiving. But oh, boy! When the other kids find out that he’s a turkey, the teasing begins: “Mark’s the class turkey!” Mark’s brother chimes right in. “The Pilgrims and Indians eat you,” he reminds Mark.

Mark tries everything to get out of being a turkey. Still, the show must go on, and before the end of the show, Mark learns that turkeys are important. Sometimes a turkey can save the whole show!

With its bright, whimsical illustrations by Joy Allen and its accessible language, this seasonal book will appeal to young readers who are ready for a little challenge. It’s also a great read-aloud book for the Thanksgiving season.

Amazing Snakes! by Sara L. Thompson, photographs by the Wildlife Conservation Society (HarperCollins, 2006).

Big snakes and little snakes. Snakes that jump from trees and snakes that slither on the ground. Green snakes, black snakes, striped and spotted snakes. Poisonous snakes and harmless snakes. Snakes that eat mice or fish, snakes that eat birds or bats, and even snakes that eat crocodiles. If you like snakes, this is the book for you!

Sarah L. Thomson uses simple language, short sentences, and pronunciation guides within the text to create an engaging book on the lives of snakes. Emerging readers ready for Level 2 “I Can Read” books should have little trouble making their way through the text, and the brilliant photographs will help hold a reader’s attention. In brief passages, page by page, Thomson describes different kinds of snakes around the world, their methods of catching and eating their prey, their use of camoflauge, and their life cycles. At the end, Thomson describes how snakes are a necessary part of the environment and why it pays to protect snakes. She also discusses how scientists study snakes.

Written for the emerging reader, the book would also be an excellent choice for a reluctant reader who has an interest in creepy creatures.

The Day the Dinosaurs Died by Charlotte Lewis Brown, illustrated by Phil Wilson (HarperCollins, 2006)

When a giant fireball streaks down from the sky and smashes into the earth, even the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex is no match for its explosive power. Pteranodons go hurtling through the air, scorched by the explosion. Fire and flood down a Triceratops herd, and those dinosaurs that escape the destruction find themselves without food.

In this fictionalized account, based on actual fossils, Charlotte Lewis Brown tells a dramatic story of the extraordinary day in which an asteroid crashed into the earth. While it’s probable that dinosaurs were already in decline at the time, and that some may have survived the catastrophe but were out-competed by other species, the author chooses to focus on the brief moment in time when something close to 70% of species on earth, including most of the dinosaurs, may have been wiped out by a sudden global catastrophe. While there are alternative hypotheses to explain the K-T boundary (fossil traces in rocks that show a sudden global change, and that bear traces of soot and tell-tale chemicals), the most widely accepted one at present is the asteroid hypothesis.

This level 2 easy-to-read book could be just the thing for reluctant readers who need a gripping tale to keep them engaged. Dinosaurs have wide appeal for children, and this book has the added action-movie appeal of fire and explosions.

The book could also be a great tool for discussing scientific evidence. Why do paleontologists think that an asteroid struck the earth 60 million years ago? What do they use as evidence? How do they build scientfic theories (evidence-based explanations for natural phenomena) from data?

Mittens by Lola M. Schaefer, illustrated by Susan Kathleen Hartung (HarperCollins, 2006)

When a tiny kitten comes to a new house, everthing seems loud, unfamiliar, and scary. Mittens wants a place that’s just his, where he feels safe. But where? And will he find someone to be his friend?

This simple, satisfying tale is told in easy-to-read language with only a few lines on each page, perfect for children who are just learning to read on their own. The softly-colored illustrations add a sweet gentleness to the tale of how a young boy in the house helps Mittens feel safe. This book would be great for children to read just before a new kitten comes to their home, so that they can understand kitty’s nervousness and how they can help their new companion fit in.