ACCELERATED READER PROGRAM SELECTION "Each element introduced, whether traditional or offbeat, syncs up with a representative letter and features a few short but information packed sentences geared to spark reader curiosity and prompt future exploration of the topic." --Kirkus Reviews "Butler goes beyond the typical explanations of fire trucks and fire stations by providing information on vehicles rarely included in such basic nonfiction." --School Library Journal Each entry includes a few sentences describing procedure and providing fun facts about this exhilarating profession. Here is everything about firefighting, from bucket brigades to mobile command vehicles. Examples are J is for Jaws of Life, M is for Mobile Command Vehicle, and T is for Thermal Imaging Camera. Vehicles and high-tech equipment are described in a manner that is action packed and informative. Find out why firehouses use dogs as mascots, how fire trucks can override traffic signals, why fire hydrants are color coded, and which vehicle carries scuba gear.

Come along on an animal adding adventure. Add baby animals to the adults to see how many there are all together. And while you are at it, learn what some of the zoo animals eat or what the baby animals are called. Follow the lost red balloon as it soars through the zoo. At the end of the day, count up all the animals you have seen. The For Creative Minds educational section includes: How many animals do you see?, Tens make friends, Adding by columns, Fact families, Food for thought, Animal matching activity, and Animal classes.

Discover the world of Henri Matisse through the eyes of his cat, La Puce. Join him and his two companions, Minouche and Coussi, as they spend their days in Matisse's sunny seaside apartment watching the artist create his paintings. As La Puce observes Matisse painting his masterpiece The Cat with the Red Fish, featuring Minouche, he too longs to be the subject of one of his paintings. After Matisse falls ill and can no longer paint standing up, La Puce tries to coax him back into painting by using himself as a model. When an accident happens, La Puce inspires the artist to create again . . . but this time using paper and scissors!

Finley is a piebald dachshund who just wants a new family! But with this new experience comes some very big feelings. Finley was sad. Finley was scared. Finley was anxious. Follow along with this little dog as he deals with all the emotions of being adopted. From initially feeling shy and curious to eventually feeling playful and happy, Finley slowly adjusts to his new home and a jealous kitty. Through playful illustrations, young readers will easily identify with this sweet puppy, especially the excitement he feels when his new best friend comes home for school. All pets deserve a loving home, and this adoption story leaves you feeling just as loved as Finley is by his new family. Sweet story mirrors what a young child might feel during a similar experience such as adoption, attending a new school, or moving to a new home; Sturdy board pages are designed for young children learning to read and encourages readers to build their emotional vocabulary in a kid-friendly, accessible format. Adorable board book about a little dachshund highlights the many common emotions a young child feels when experiencing something scary or unfamiliar, and then ultimately taking comfort in the fact that when they are loved, things will be okay.

A young red fox living in Monet's garden in Giverny, France, admires the collage of colors in the landscape that surrounds him. More than anything, he wants to make the colors last as the seasons pass and the winter turns cold and bleak. Try as he might, his creations are blown away, flooded, and even eaten by a deer, until the sight of Monet at his easel and an unexpected encounter with a bumble bee show the gentle fox how he can make the colors last all year long. This brightly illustrated tale is a delightful introduction to Claude Monet.

Georgia O'Keeffe's time in New Mexico and the paintings she created that were inspired by the region solidified her legacy as one of the most famous American modernists. But did you ever wonder how an artist like O'Keeffe found her inspiration to begin experimenting with new and different colors schemes and compositions? This endearing narrative hints at how Georgia O'Keeffe may have found her fresh perspective in the Red Hills of New Mexico, by imagining the relationship between the famous painter and her dog. Follow along with the fluffy black dog named Bo as he eagerly explores the stark desert landscape with his owner. But when the artist tires of exploring and painting the rust-colored landscape, Bo decides he needs to help Georgia become inspired to paint again. Unknowingly under the watchful eye of a lizard, he sets off alone in search of the lush flowers that he knows his owner is missing . . . in the desert. Will Bo find what he's looking for, or something even more beautiful? Does the desert hold the spectacular southwestern treasures that would become the subjects of the famous artist's new compositions?