Thematic Unit/Bibliography for Wanted... Mud Blossom by Betsy Byars Presnall, Judith Janda. Rodeo Animals. Stamford, Conn.: Thomson Gale, 2004. This book discusses many different aspects of rodeo life. It focuses specifically on the animals and the responsibilities they carry in the rodeo. It also discusses the different events that men, women, and children participate in. The book is full of photos that show excitement of rodeo life as well as the meticulous training involved. Brett, Jan. Armadillo Rodeo. New York: Putnam s Son s, 1995. This is a wonderful book about a nearsighted armadillo named Bo. He follows a girl to the rodeo, because he mistakenly thinks her pair of new red cowboy boots is a red armadillo. He has lots of adventures at the rodeo. He goes for a horse ride, goes to a barn dance, and even gets to taste a Jalapeno pepper. Grogan, John. Marley: A Dog Like No Other. New York, NY: Harper Collins West, 2007.
This book is about a Labrador retriever named Marley. This book is an adaptation from Marley and Me by John Grogan. It was rewritten with the teenage reader in mind. It is a humorous and fun filled book that makes a great read for those students who prefer nonfiction. Bunting, Eve. Fly Away Home. New York: Clarion Books, 1991. This is a touching book about a homeless boy who lives in the airport with his father. They do their best to not be noticed so that they will not be put back out on the streets. Although it deals with sad issues it leaves the reader with hope for the boy s future. As he sees a trapped bird finally escape the terminal the boy knows that he too will fly away home. Carlson, Natalie Savage. The Family Under the Bridge. New York: Harper, 1958. This is an endearing story about an old homeless man who meets and befriends a family living underneath a bridge. He knows he has to find a better home for
them and to do so he gets himself a job. They have many adventures throughout Paris. Peck, Richard. A Year Down Yonder. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2000. This book is about a 15 year old girl named Mary Alice. She goes to Illinois to stay with her grandmother during the Depression. Her grandmother is a high spirited, crafty, fun loving, and manipulative old woman that the whole town calls Grandma Dowdel. She unwittingly gets caught up in the antics of her grandmother, and learns some valuable lessons. This book is a sequel to A Long Way to Chicago. MacLachlan, Patricia. All the Places to Love. New York: HarperCollins, 1994.
This story is about a young boy named Eli that grows up on his family s farm. The narrative is told through the voice of the boy. This book has stunning pictures that open up the beautiful world of the countryside. With cows, turtles, meadows, flowers, and all sorts of wonderful things to see and to love. but Sterling finally realizes that Rascal is still a wild creature and he must let him go. Gibbons, Gail. Horses! New York: Holiday House, Inc., 2004. This book is all about horses. It talks abut all aspects of the horse. The different types of horses, and what horses need, the importance of bloodline are all discussed within the text. It has fun pictures, and a lot of interesting facts. North, Sterling. Rascal. New York: Dutton, 1984. This book is about a crafty raccoon that finds himself in a lot of trouble. The raccoon, Rascal, belongs to Sterling. Sterling s father is preoccupied with his work and his mother is deceased. Sterling has a lot of time on his hands and he and Rascal quickly become best friends. They have many adventures over the course of a year,
understandable, and easy to read. Jonas,Ann. Round Trip. New York: Greenwillow Books, 1983. This book is about a trip to the city. It shows all the sights you would see while traveling away from the country towards a larger city. Then when you flip the book over and start from the other direction it gives you the sights and images you find when leaving a major city. The pictures are the most clever part about the book. Students love to see the new meaning of the picture and to discover things they did not see before. Kelly, Miles. 1000 Facts on Horses. New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 2004. This is a fun information book about horses. It has fantastic illustrations and pictures. Students can look up many facts about horses. The layout is clear,