The Wonder of Reading

Here in the Cozy Book Corner, we read all sorts of books because the experience of reading is rewarding and full of wonder. Reading allows us to learn new things, expand our vocabulary, and connect to the world we live in. This is true for readers of any age, from five to 105, and any kind of book, from animals to Zambonis and everything in-between.

This leads me to a group of text sets in Pioneer Valley Books’ library designed to build students’ background knowledge and vocabulary while increasing their desire to learn: Knowledge-Building Text Sets. We cover lots of areas of study in our sets, including biology, geology, physiology, history, and social studies. We also have fiction sets that allow students to explore different concepts and themes in literature. So whatever your class is working on, you’re sure to find the perfect set to meet your needs. 

Let’s take a close look at one of my faves: Understanding the Human Body. This text set is full of information about the ever amazing and often baffling bodies we live in. Why do our bodies do the things they do? What makes them operate? In Say Cheese!, you’ll read about the origins of your smile. We smile for all sorts of reasons, and research suggests smiling is essential for survival. More than the ability to outrun a bad guy? Maybe! Another title in this set that’s sure to grab your and your students’ attention is Boogers at Work. We’ve heard of working dogs and working hours, but working boogers? This book provides fun facts about the yucky green debris in our noses, including why it’s there at all. How Did You Hear That? delves into how our ears turn vibrational sound waves into something our brains can understand. We aren’t usually aware of the steps our bodies take each second to hear a single noise, that’s why it’s so fun to read about. The bottom line is that just about everything our bodies do is remarkable.