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Reading Rockets offers a wealth of reading strategies, lessons, and activities designed to help young children learn how to read and read better. Our reading resources assist parents, teachers, and other educators in working with struggling readers who require additional help in reading fundamentals and comprehension skills development.

Featured books by

Jane Yolen

Reading Rockets recommends the following books by Jane Yolen.

Commander Toad and the Space Pirates
Commander Toad and the Space Pirates
By: Jane Yolen
Illustrated by: Bruce Degen
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

Commander Toad and the crew of the Star Warts are back, this time to confront villainous space pirates. As in other Commander Toad books, puns and silliness are complemented by humorous illustrations.

Commander Toad in Space
Commander Toad in Space
By: Jane Yolen
Illustrated by: Bruce Degen
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

Sort-of-serious illustrations are perfect for this comical parody of familiar science fiction films. The brave commander of the Star Warts spacecraft is a Toad who saves his ship from the dangers of a watery planet and its resident monster, Deep Wader.

Here There be Dragons
Here There be Dragons
By: Jane Yolen
Age Level: 9-12
Reading Level: Independent Reader

Yolen wrote all of these varied entries about the delightful dragon, and relates the poems, and short stories from a variety of genres, complete with a background as to their inspiration.

Here's a Little Poem: A Very First Book of Poetry
Here's a Little Poem: A Very First Book of Poetry
By: Jane Yolen & Andrew Fusek Peters
Illustrated by: Polly Dunbar
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

A young child's world is presented in a variety of poems, each illustrated with verve and humor. The large pages support the well-organized collection sure to be appreciated by young children and the adults who share the poems with them.

Hoptoad
Hoptoad
By: Jane Yolen
Illustrated by: Karen Lee Schmidt
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

A boy and his father in a big red camper come to the aid of a toad attempting to cross a desert road. This surprisingly tense story is told in few words and strong illustrations from a toad’s eye view.

How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food?
How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food?
By: Jane Yolen
Illustrated by: Mark Teague
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

They’re back! This time, the creators of How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? take on obnoxious and downright gross behaviors at mealtime. While kids will find delight when the Amargasaurus flips his spaghetti into the air or the Lambeosaurus blows bubbles in milk, adults will appreciate the presentation of calm and more appropriate behavior.

How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon?
How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon?
By: Jane Yolen
Illustrated by: Mark Teague
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

Short rhyming text contrasts with illustrations of huge dinosaurs who are ailing with sniffles and coughs. Of course, the dinosaurs (with their names tucked into each page) are being helped by a caring but seemingly small adult in this companion to How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?
By: Jane Yolen
Illustrated by: Mark Teague
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

Ten sleepy dinosaurs get ready for bed in this celebration of funny, endearing, and naughty bedtime behavior. Young children will laugh out loud as they recognize themselves in this larger than life silliness.

Mightier Than the Sword:  World Folktales for Strong Boys
Mightier Than the Sword: World Folktales for Strong Boys
By: Jane Yolen
Illustrated by: Raul Cohen
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

Instead of brawn, imagination and intelligence save the day in these tales from various countries around the world.

Nocturne
Nocturne
By: Jane Yolen
Illustrated by: Anne Hunter
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

A mother and son celebrate the gentle coming of nighttime as they walk in the countryside. Textured illustrations are as poetic as the simple text.

Owl Moon
Owl Moon
By: Jane Yolen
Illustrated by: John Schoenherr
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

A father and daughter go out “owling” on a cold, snow-filled evening with only moonlight to guide them. An introduction by the author to this edition opens the now-classic, luminously illustrated story in which hope "…flies on silent wings under a shining Owl Moon."

Sleep Black Bear Sleep
Sleep Black Bear Sleep
By: Jane Yolen & Heidi Stemple
Illustrated by: Brooke Dyer
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader

The long, cold nights of winter are the time when bear, frog, and a host of animals hunker down for sleep. Soft watercolors illustrate the drowsy text as the animals await spring and hibernate. Humorous touches augment the tone of the lullaby as everyone — including the listener — settles down.

Sleeping Ugly
Sleeping Ugly
By: Jane Yolen
Illustrated by: Diane Stanley
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

What is beautiful and how beauty is demonstrated is the subject of this funny and rather surprising Sleeping Beauty parody. Comic illustrations augment the humor and satire.

The Barefoot Book of Ballet Stories
The Barefoot Book of Ballet Stories
By: Jane Yolen & Heidi Stemple
Illustrated by: Rebecca Guay
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

A brief history of classical ballet opens this handsome, richly told collection of seven stories from ballets. Each story is introduced with information on the production and time period in which the ballet was first performed.

The Emperor and the Kite
The Emperor and the Kite
By: Jane Yolen
Illustrated by: Ed Young
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

Though largely ignored by her family, it is the youngest daughter, tiny Djeow Seow, who saves her father, the Emperor, from imprisonment. Handsome illustrations evoke traditional Asian art to create a memorable portrait of love and loyalty.

The Perfect Wizard: Hans Christian Andersen
The Perfect Wizard: Hans Christian Andersen
By: Jane Yolen
Illustrated by: Dennis Nolan
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

Life as fiction comes together in this attractive and engaging picture book biography of the man who is known for his fairy tales. Excerpts from these tales are juxtaposed with real events in Andersen’s life to provide a fresh look at the stories and their creator.

This Little Piggy: Lap Songs, Finger Plays, Clapping Games & Pantomime Rhymes
This Little Piggy: Lap Songs, Finger Plays, Clapping Games & Pantomime Rhymes
By: Adam Stemple & Jane Yolen
Illustrated by: Will Hillenbrand
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader

Even the uninitiated adult will be able to follow the clear directions and language in this handsome oversized book, ideal for sharing one to one, adult and child. A lively music CD of select rhymes from the text accompanies the book but is not essential for the sharing.

Wild Wings:  Poems for Young People
Wild Wings: Poems for Young People
By: Jane Yolen
Illustrated by: Jason Stemple
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

This book contains artful photographs in full color with the rich images evoked by short poems. The result is a handsome and memorable aviary for young people.

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