Week 1: The Snowy Day

Vocabulary

friend: someone you like and trust
smack: a sharp slap
pretend: to make believe
climber: a person that climbs
adventure: an exciting activity

The girls like to pretend they are flower fairies.
When building a snowman, they smack the snow to make it stick together.
Carl has a best friend who shares his toys with him.
The twins were excited about their upcoming camping adventure.
The climber was well prepared for his trip to the Rocky Mountains.

Vocabulary Usage in the Book

After breakfast he called to his friend from across the hall, and they went out together into the deep, deep snow.
…- a stick that was just right for smacking a snow-covered tree.
He pretended he was a mountain-climber.
“He pretended he was a mountain-climber.
He told his mother all about his adventures while she took off his wet socks.

Comprehension

When Peter woke up and looked out his window he saw snow.
After eating breakfast Peter put on his snowsuit and went outside.
Peter made a crunching noise as he walked.
Peter’s feet sank in the deep snow.
As Peter walked he made patterns in the snow with his feet.
When Peter found a stick, he had fun smacking a snow-covered tree.
Because he was too young, Peter could not join the bigger boy’s in their snowball fight.
Peter had fun making a snowman and snow angels.
Peter had fun pretending he was a mountain climber.
Peter made a snowball and put it in his pocket for the next day.
Peter told his mother all about his adventures.
Peter was sad when the snowball was no longer in his pocket.

Week 2: Whistle For Willie

whistle: to make a sound with your lips
practice: to do something over and over again
shadow: a dark area
scramble: to mix together
errand: a short trip taken to do something

In order to play the song perfectly, Abby had to practice her piano everyday.
The dog wagged his tail when he heard his master’s whistle.
Jack liked to scramble his eggs for breakfast.
My elderly neighbor asked me to run an errand for her when she was sick.
The bright sun cast a shadow of my body on the wall.

Vocabulary Usage in the Book

Oh, how Peter wished he could whistle!
He looked into the mirror to practice whistling.
Then he tried to run away from his shadow.
Peter scrambled under the carton.
Peter’s mother asked him and Willie to go on an errand to the grocery store.

Comprehension

Peter saw a boy playing with his dog and wished he could learn to whistle.
Because he couldn’t whistle, Peter decided to twirl.
When Peter hid in the carton, Willie didn’t see him.
Peter tried so hard to learn to whistle that his cheeks were tired.
Peter had fun pretending to be his father.
Peter tried to run away from his shadow.
When Peter reached the corner where the carton was he saw Willie.
Peter hid under the carton and blew and blew.
Willie heard Peter’s whistle and looked around to see who it was.
Peter proudly showed-off his whistle to his father and mother.
Peter whistled all of the way to the grocery store.

Week 3: Peter’s Chair

Vocabulary

fussing: busy with activity
arrange: to put in order
special: better than usual
rascal: a mischievous child
idea: a thought

Mother made a special dinner every Sunday.
Grandma Shirley was fussing over the new born baby.
My brother was a rascal when he hid my doll from me.
The teacher loved the idea of setting aside a day for sharing stories.
After picking wild flowers on her hike, Jane wanted to arrange them nicely in a vase.

Vocabulary Usage in the Book

His mother was fussing around the cradle.
He arranged his things very nicely and decided to sit in his chair for awhile.
“…We have something very special for lunch.”
“That rascal is hiding behind the curtain,” she said happily.
But Peter got an idea.

Comprehension

When Peter’s block tower came crashing down, he was told to be quiet.
Peter was upset because his family painted his cradle pink.
Peter’s father wanted Peter to help him paint.
Peter was happy his family had not painted his chair.
Peter decided to run away from home with his dog Willie.
Peter filled a shopping bag with cookies and dog biscuits.
Peter took his blue chair, his toy crocodile, and a picture when he was a baby.
Peter and Willie only ran away to outside his house.
When Peter sat on his chair he discovered that he was too big for it.
When mother called for Peter, he pretended that he didn’t hear.
Peter’s mother was happy when she saw signs that he was home.
After Peter ate lunch in a grown-up chair, he decided to help his father paint the little chair pink.

Week 4: A Letter To Amy

Vocabulary

invite: to ask someone to come
glance: a quick look
reflection: an image in a mirror or shiny surface
wish: a strong hope for something
chant: to repeat something over and over

If you see a falling star, make a wish.
I will invite all my family and friends to my party in April.
The crow began to chant, “score, score, score,” during the final quarter of the soccer game.
The reflection of the trees on the still lake looked almost like a photo.
Each day as she passed, Ellen would glance into the store window at the beautiful dresses.

Vocabulary Usage in the Book

“I’m inviting her to my party,” announced Peter.
He glanced up at Amy’s window.
He saw his reflection in the street.
“Make a wish!” cried Amy.
“…Bring it out now!” chanted the boys.

Comprehension

Peter wrote a letter to Amy to invite her to his party.
When he went to mail the letter, his mother told Peter to wear a raincoat.
He told his mother he was writing a letter because this was a special invitation.
There were dark clouds in the sky when Peter went out.
When Peter looked into Amy’s window he saw her parrot.
Peter wondered what the boys would think about a girl being at his party.
The letter to Amy was blown out of Peter’s hand by a strong wind.
Peter chased the letter but was not able to catch it.
As Peter was chasing the letter, Amy came around the corner.
When Peter and Amy both chased the letter, Peter bumped into Amy.
Because Amy ran home crying, he was afraid she would not come to the party.
In the end, Peter was glad that Amy came to the party.

Week 5: Pet Show

Vocabulary

brag: to boast
hangout: a place to be with friends
handsome: good looking
entrance: a way in
judge: a person who decides the winners in a contest

On his wedding day, my brother looked very handsome.
The kids spent a lazy summer day reading books in their hangout.
Sam liked to brag about his exotic boa constrictor.
The judge announced that Sally won the art contest.
The entrance to the concert was blocked with people.

Vocabulary Usage in the Book

“I’m gonna bring my mouse!” bragged Roberto.
Archie and Willie looked in he cat’s favorite hangouts, while Peter and Susie searched up and down the street.
There was the noisiest parrot, the handsomest frog, the friendliest fishes, the yellowest canary, the busiest ants…
They got to the entrance.
“Line up with your pets, please!” the judges called.

Comprehension

Matt, Roberto, Archie and their friends were excited about the pet show.
When it came time to get ready for the show, Archie could not find his cat.
When Roberto’s mouse took off, everyone chased it.
At the beginning of the pet show the judges asked the owners to line up with their pets.
All of the pets in the show got a prize.
Archie arrived just when the last prize was being awarded.
Archie told the judge the pet in the jar was a germ.
Archie’s pet was given a blue ribbon for being the quietest pet in the show.
The old woman wanted Archie to have her blue ribbon because the cat was really Archie’s cat.
Archie told the old woman she should keep the ribbon.
Archie told the old woman the ribbon looked good on her.