First Day Jitters By Julie Danneberg

downstairs The compound word downstairs means “down the stairs.” The girl walked downstairs to get the mail. What word means the opposite of downstairs?

nervous I feel nervous when I ride on an airplane. A person who is nervous is afraid or worried. I feel nervous when I ride on an airplane. When do you feel nervous?

chuckled I chuckled when I heard the joke. You may have chuckled, or laughed quietly when you saw something funny. I chuckled when I heard the joke. How is chuckled different from laughed out loud?

nonsense Nonsense is a silly or untrue idea or thought. I was afraid to go to the library. My friend said my fears were nonsense. What is something you think is nonsense?

fumbled He was tired and fumbled into his pajamas. If something is fumbled, it is done in a clumsy way. He was tired and fumbled into his pajamas. When have you fumbled something?

trudged The tired student trudged up the hill to his house. Trudged describes a way of walking slowly or dragging one’s feet. The tired student trudged up the hill to his house. Can you think of a reason why you might have trudged somewhere?

Dear Juno By Soyung Pak

crackle Dry leaves crackle when I step on them. When objects crackle, they make small, sharp, snapping noises. Dry leaves crackle when I step on them. What are some other things that might crackle?

announced They announced the opening of a new store on the radio. When something is announced, it is told to people in a loud or official way. They announced the opening of a new store on the radio. Why is information sometimes announced to the school?

soared The plane soared into the clouds. If something soared, it flew high in the air. The plane soared into the clouds. What other kinds of things have soared in the air?

starry We saw hundreds of little lights in the starry sky. When the sky is full of stars at night, it is starry. We saw hundreds of little lights in the starry sky. How is a starry sky different from a cloudy sky?

envelope An envelope is a flat container that usually holds a letter or a card. I opened the envelope and found a birthday card from my uncle. What else can you send in an envelope?

photograph I have a photograph of my grandfather when he was a boy. A photograph is a picture made with a camera. I have a photograph of my grandfather when he was a boy. How is a photograph different from a drawing?

Who’s Habitat Is It? Time For Kids

neighborhood She grew up in a neighborhood near the school. A neighborhood is an area that is part of a town or city. She grew up in a neighborhood near the school. What are some special places in your neighborhood?

content Molly is content to just sit and read her new book. Someone who is happy and satisfied is content. Molly is content to just sit and read her new book. What are you content doing?

addressing After dinner Sam will be addressing his math homework. Addressing something means that you are working on it. After dinner Sam will be addressing his math homework. What is a problem that you are addressing?

resort We’ll resort to playing inside today because it is raining. You resort to doing something when you have no other choice. We’ll resort to playing inside today because it is raining. What are other times when you resort to playing inside?

Penguin Chick By Betty Tatham

fierce The fierce wind blew a tree down. Something that is fierce is very strong or violent. The fierce wind blew a tree down. What word means the opposite of fierce?

whips During a tornado the wind whips around and around. If something whips, it moves or hits quickly and suddenly. During a tornado the wind whips around and around. What else whips besides the wind?

echoes My voice echoes in the cave. When you make a noise and the sound is repeated, it echoes. My voice echoes in the cave. In what other places can you hear how a sound echoes?

shuffles My little brother shuffles when he puts on Dad’s shoes. A person who shuffles walks without lifting his or her feet off the ground. My little brother shuffles when he puts on Dad’s shoes. Why do you think someone shuffles?

huddle A huddle is a group of animals or people that is close together. The football players formed a huddle to decide on their next play. What does a huddle usually look like?

junior There were to grown seals and one junior seal at the zoo. The word junior means younger or smaller. There were to grown seals and one junior seal at the zoo. What is the difference between a junior animal and a grown animal?

down Down helps protect birds from cold. The fine, soft feathers on a bird are called down. Down helps protect birds from cold. The word down can also mean going from a higher to lower place. How can you keep warm when the temperature goes down?

The Perfect Pet By Margie Palatini

perfect I need to find the perfect birthday present for my sister. Something that is perfect has nothing wrong with it. I need to find the perfect birthday present for my sister. Can you think of a perfect gift?

challenge Playing the piano is a challenge for me. A challenge is a task the requires extra effort. Playing the piano is a challenge for me. Is doing your homework a challenge for you?

healthy To stay healthy, I get enough sleep. A healthy person or pet is well, not sick. To stay healthy, I get enough sleep. What do you do to stay healthy?

satisfy I hope that my performance will satisfy my piano teacher. We satisfy people if we meet their needs or make them happy. I hope that my performance will satisfy my piano teacher. What things do you do to satisfy your family?

manage I manage to do my chores after school. If you manage to do something, you are able to do it even if it is not easy. I manage to do my chores after school. Will you manage to do everything you want today?

scratch A thorny bush can scratch. Things that scratch cut or scrape. A thorny bush can scratch. What can we scratch from our list of things to do today?

appetite When I wake up, I have a big appetite. An appetite is a feeling of wanting to eat. When I wake up, I have a big appetite. When do you have a big appetite?