Big Bugs and Other Bug Stories
Part 1 of the Reading Quest series
Bugs! See the work of an artist who makes giant sculptures of some of the world's smallest creatures. Enjoy a creepy crawly counting poem. Learn about an insect eating caterpillar and get answers to questions such as "why can't bugs talk?"
Night Walk and Other Nighttime Stories
Part 2 of the Reading Quest series
In the Dark! Find the lights in the scary night. What do sheep count to fall to sleep? Enjoy a silly story about when the lights go out… dancing. Learn how bats can fly at night and how they drink water in flight.
Down a Wombat Hole and Other Fuzzy Stories
Part 3 of the Reading Quest series
Australian and arctic animals! Meet a scientist who studies wombats and another who studies arctic foxes. Enjoy a fun story about animals having a jumping competition and another about animals having a special grown-up birthday party.
Biddledee Bear's Dinner and Other Mealtime Stories
Part 5 of the Reading Quest series
Food! Make a breakfast that will make you smile, then help Biddle Bear count as he eats many types of food. Crack the code of what is in the Garbage Stew. Learn about the colorful lunches children eat in Japan.
What Will You Do Today? and Other Playtime Stories
Part 6 of the Reading Quest series
Activities are better together! There are so many fun things to do. How will you spend your day? Enjoy a poem about a visit from Grandma. Then read about animals all having fun on a teeter-totter. Then Tex and Indi go to an art museum and find inspiration.
Off to the Beach and Other Sandy Stories
Part 7 of the Reading Quest series
Fun at the beach! Alex packs toys for a beach trip. Duck and Goose have try a new sport at the lake. Emma realizes that the wild animals should be free, no matter how small. Learn a safe and easy trick for examining sea creatures up close.
Squirrel School and Other Real Squirrel Stories
Part 8 of the Reading Quest series
Squirrels! Learn about the survival of different types of squirrels.
Anita's Playhouse and Other Imagination Stories
Part 9 of the Reading Quest series
Imagination! Anita builds a creative fort. A bucket can be anything you desire. Zoey plays dress-up at school. She decides to be a cowgirl and then creatively builds a horse. The read a fun story about misunderstanding idioms and imagination taking over.
Pizza and Other Yummy Stories
Part 11 of the Reading Quest series
Culinary traditions! Enjoy mouthwatering poems about pizza and pancakes. See the importance of family traditions and that food can bring people together. Learn how pizza became a popular food and make a mini pizza of your own.
Robot on the Ice and Other Real Technology Stories
Part 12 of the Reading Quest series
Science and technology! Learn advances in keyboard technology, how computers find websites, and answers to questions such as "why are computers slow?" Discover how astronomers make an important outer space discovery and follow a robot as it roams Antarctica.
Splish-Splash and Other Water Stories
Part 15 of the Reading Quest series
Splash! Bert, Beth, and Grandpa make a splash in the pond. The Timbertoes have a fun time on a rainy day. Visit a waterpark with Tina, Kevin, and Aunt Dora. Pick a favorite marine animal with Camila's class at the aquarium.
Mariana Gives Thanks and Other Grateful Stories
Part 16 of the Reading Quest series
Giving Thanks! Join Mariana, various children and Spot in deciding what they are thankful for. Enjoy poems featuring what food animals are grateful to eat. Explore a traditional Thanksgiving feast with a fun light story about a girl who wants to have an authentic Pilgrim meal.
What Will You Wear? and Other Dressy Stories
Part 20 of the Reading Quest series
A perfect outfit for every occasion! Mom helps Isabel get dressed and ready for school. Bella's Dad helps her get ready for a birthday party. Dona Rosa tries to stand out from her flamingo friends by buying colorful new clothes. Arizona and her friends have fun with a clothes swap.
Flopping Frogs and Other Real Frog Stories
Part 26 of the Reading Quest series
Frogs! Learn about the unique jump of the Tailed Frogs in the Pacific Northwest. Figure out where the mysterious sound of a thousand bells comes from. Discover the dangerous journey of a wood frog. Get a close look at the tiny "famous" frogs from the rain forest.
Mike Gets a Library Card and Other Reading Stories
Part 29 of the Reading Quest series
Reading! Mike gets his first library card. Megan and her classmates prepare for story time. Tex and Indi join a summer reading program at their local library. Toby writes a book report and learns that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
Catty Jane and Friends
Part 36 of the Reading Quest series
Friends! Catty Janes goes to the lake with her friends. Catty Jane shows her new trike to her friends. Catty Jane finds a way to play in the water without getting wet. Catty Jane's friends cheer her up on a bad day.
Lulu's Adventures
Part 37 of the Reading Quest series
Fun with Lulu! Lulu acts like different animals, rides an imaginary train, plays dress-up, and saves the day with her flashlight.
Ask Arizona: Making Choices
Part of the Reading Quest series
Friends! Arizona uses an old trick to make a decision. Arizona learns that true friends like you for the person you are not for the things you have. Arizona helps a friend figure out what it means to be a true friend. Arizona discovers that her fantastic friend acts differently when other friends are around. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
The Adventures of Spot: Wacky Weather
Part of the Reading Quest series
Make the best of a cold day with Spot! Spot plays outside on a windy day. In autumn Spot collects different color leaves. When it snows, Spot plays outside, watches snowflakes, and makes a snowball. Stories by Marileta Robinson and Highlights for Children.
Tex and Indi: Outdoor Adventures
Part of the Reading Quest series
Play outside! Tex and Indi plant tomato seeds, play catch in the park, and go for a picnic. At the beach they make a new friend. After swim class, Tex and Indi pretend to be frogs. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
The Timbertoes: Silly Fun
Part of the Reading Quest series
Silly Fun! Tommy and Mabel play a game of keep it in the air. The Timbertoes try riding a unicycle. Tommy and Mabel go snow shoeing. Mabel digs a whole, try to guess what she plans to do with it. Stories by Rich Wallace and Marileta Robinson.
Tex and Indi: Playtime with Friends
Part of the Reading Quest series
Friends! Tex and Indi help their friend clean her pet bird's cage. Mole's friends find a way to help get rid of the clutter in his house. Indi sees Tex having fun with his friend and wishes she could be too. Tex Indi and their family meet their new neighbors. Tex and Indi's friends share their gingerbread house decorations. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Bert, Beth, and Grandpa: Playtime!
Part of the Reading Quest series
Playtime! Grandpa gets creative to make Bert and Beth play together. Grandpa reads a bedtime story. Bert and Beth make bath time fun with their imaginations. Bert and Beth play basketball with their friends. Stories by Valeri Gorbachev.
Voyage to Pluto and Other Real Planetary Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Our planets! Get to know all about Pluto's size, landscape, and more! What are the different phases of the moon? Where did Saturn get its rings? Is the earth really spinning? Learn the answers to these questions, and more! Stories by Ken Croswell, Ph.D. and Highlights for Children.
Ring Around the Asteroid and Other Real Discovery Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Space discoveries! Learn all about how modern scientists are making new discoveries about objects in space. Read about the tools, techniques, and research that goes into making these fascinating discoveries! Stories by Ken Crosswell Ph.D., Vicki Oransky Wittenstein, and Amy Cattapan.
Tex and Indi: Cow the Cat Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Taking care of Cow! Tex and Indi take good care their pet cat. They give him a bath, take him to the veterinarian's office, and even write him a poem. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Dragons Race in the Water and Other Real Chinese Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
China! Natasha Yim tells of her experiences of watching dragon races in Hong Kong. Discover the art of a handwriting technique called calligraphy. How is silk made? Discover the women who make silk by hand in Hotan, China. Learn how people in China honor their loved ones who have gone before them. Stories by Natasha Yim, Linda Petrucelli, Gary Hoff, Josanne LaValley, and Christine Liu Perkins.
High in the Mountains of Ecuador and Other Travel Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Travelers! A traveler shares what he learned about life in the Andes. Dad and Sam usually see Mom off when she leaves for a work trip, but this time they get to go with her. Grandpa reads exciting stories to Bert and Beth. A hiker writes about his journey around Lake Superior. A traveler visits an island to see puffins, and learns much more than she expects. Stories by David Meissner, Pamela Love, Valeri Gorbachev, Scott Erickson, and Nancy Marie Brown.
Saving Snow Leopards and Other Real Big Cat Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Big cats! Learn how radio collars aide in conservation and answers to questions, such as, why can't humans run as fast as cheetahs? Follow researchers as they track Siberian tigers. Find out about efforts to conserve snow leopards in the wild. Stories by Andy Boyles, Pamela S. Turner, Linda Zajac, and Highlights for Children.
Ask Arizona: Helping Hands
Part of the Reading Quest series
Lend a hand! Arizona helps her sister, Indi, find her missing lost tooth. Indi helps Arizona clean her room. Arizona, her friend Ollie, and Abuela help out at a soup kitchen. Read along as Arizona learns how rewarding helping can be. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Open Wide and Say Roar and Other Real Lion Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Big animals! Find out about the biting career of a zoo animal dentist. Learn about ways in which people cure, respect, and preserve big cats in Africa and California. Stories by Pamela S. Turner, Highlights for Children, Nina Kidd, and David Richardson.
Bert, Beth, and Grandpa: Winter Wonderland
Part of the Reading Quest series
Winter Wonderland! Bert and Beth and Grandpa go ice skating and sleigh riding. Grandpa teaches Bert and Beth a fun way to bring winter indoors. Bert, Beth, and Grandpa make snowmen together. Stories by Valeri Gorbachev.
Mrs. Dooley's Dog Dilemma and Other Pawsome Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Woof, woof! Mrs. Dooley has six dogs, but her house is too small. What will she do? When everyone else leaves for school, a girl spends her time with her best friend-- a dog named Sam. Rosie the dog loves smelling the neighborhood smells, but nothing smells as good as home. Autumn thinks that when her dog howls, it is a sad sound. However, when she meets Laura and her beagle, she learns that sometimes a howl means something else. Stories by June Swanson, Nancy K. Wallace, Ruth Donnelly, Nancy White Carlstrom, and Erin Berger.
Flopping Frogs and Other Real Frog Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Frogs! Learn about the unique jump of the Tailed Frogs in the Pacific Northwest. Figure out where the mysterious sound of a thousand bells comes from. Discover the dangerous journey of a wood frog. Get a close look at the tiny famous frogs from the rain forest. Stories by Pamela Brunskill, Barbara Cole, Carole Smith Berney, and Chris Dietel.
The Adventures of Spot: Let's Play!
Part of the Reading Quest series
Let's Play with Spot and Splinter! Spot and Splinter play hide and seek. Splinter finds lots of fun things hiding in nature. On a rainy day Spot plays outside, while Splinter stays dry inside. Spot can't decide whether to play with his ball or chew his bone. Spot and Splinter play tag. Stories by Marileta Robinson and Highlights for Children.
Ask Arizona: Friendship Hurdles
Part of the Reading Quest series
Challenging friendships! Arizona understands that friendships aren't always easy. Sometimes there are communication barriers, or jealous feelings. It can be difficult when friends argue and you feel like you have to pick a side. Arizona learns how to handle these challenges. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Lulu's Adventures
Part of the Reading Quest series
Fun with Lulu! Lulu acts like different animals, rides an imaginary train, plays dress-up, and saves the day with her flashlight. Stories by Eileen Spinelli and Highlights for Children.
Tex and Indi: A Cat Named Cow
Part of the Reading Quest series
Pet cats! Cow gets stuck in a small space, Tex and Indi have to find a way to free him. The whole family plays animal charades. Tex, Indi, and Mom go to the store to buy cat food for Cow. Tex and Indi explain why they named their cat Cow. Tex and Indi play with their kitten. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Five Frosty Friends and Other Snowy Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Brr! Five snowmen race down a hill, but only one makes it to the finish line. In another kind of snowstorm, Jem uses her quick thinking to save her new friend, Vianna. Issac is excited to see snow for the first time, and Angela finds a new way to fly. Stories by Kathleen Doherty, Roxanne Werner, Nancy Dearborn, and Wendy Hogarth.
The Adventures of Spot: Get Moving
Part of the Reading Quest series
Get Moving! Spot chases his shadow until they both stop for a rest. Spot knocks down a pail of paint on to himself and leaves, sticks, and a bird nest stick to his body when he runs. Spot chases hi ball around on a windy day. Spot helps a turtle on a journey. The sounds of the forest inspire spot to dance. Stories by Marileta Robinson and Highlights for Children.
The Adventures of Spot: Time for a Nap
Part of the Reading Quest series
Time for a nap! Spot tries to find a peaceful place to nap. On a sunny day, Spot naps in the shade. Playing with a new toy can be exhausting for a puppy like Spot. Spot wants to take a nap but Splinter wants to play. A fly disturbs Spot as he tries to nap. Stories by Marileta Robinson and Highlights for Children.
The Timbertoes: Meeting Animals
Part of the Reading Quest series
Animals! The Timbertoes try to protect their garden from hungry animals. The Timbertoes copy an otter. A goat rings the porch bell. Tommy hears peeper frogs for the first time. Stories by Rich Wallace and Marileta Robinson.
Flying Galaxies and Other Real Galactic Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Swirling galaxies! Scientists and astronomers have determined that there are other galaxies just like ours, and have even calculated how old they are. Learn about how scientists determined that our galaxy is a giant swirling pinwheel of stars. Stories by Ken Croswell Ph.D., Tony Helies, and Highlights for Children.
The Timbertoes: Family Teamwork
Part of the Reading Quest series
Family teamwork! The Timbertoes know that teamwork makes the dream work and that when things go wrong no one has your back like family. Stories by Rich Wallace and Marileta Robinson.
Adventuring in the Outdoors
Part of the Reading Quest series
Outdoor activities! While camping the Timbertoes, look at the stars. Pa, Tommy, and Mabel go fishing. The family sees a meteor shower. Tommy goes to find a pumpkin for Ma. Stories by Rich Wallace and Marileta Robinson.
Big Bugs and Other Bug Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Bugs! See the work of an artist who makes giant sculptures of some of the world's smallest creatures. Enjoy a creepy crawly counting poem. Learn about an insect eating caterpillar and get answers to questions such as why can't bugs talk? Stories by Jennifer Mattox, Mary Meinking, Charlotte, Gunnufson, and Highlights for Children.
Roommates in Space and Other Real Astronaut Stories
Part of the Reading Quest series
Astronauts in space! Hear from real life astronauts and learn about what they do when they're in space. Hear answers to kids' questions, and see beautiful pictures taken by an astronaut from the International Space Station. Stories by Jack Myers Ph.D., Highlights for Children, and Amy Hansen.
The Three Little Worms
Part of the Reading Quest series
Little worms! Squirmy Wormy and Mortimer are three little worms who know how to have big fun! See what happens when they play jump rope, or when they enter a talent contest. What will they get up to next? Stories by David L. Roper.