Leslie Helakoski – författare

When the rain came down and the water rose up . . .thousands fled but many couldn’t leave.When the rain came down and the water rose up . . .a community came together.When the rain came down and the water rose up . . .hope grew from heartache.When the rain stopped, volunteers helped families get to safety. The sun rose and workers helped clear debris,provided food, and rebuilt houses. Neighbours encouraged each other, and slowly, joy, healing, and music found its way back into the city.

Nibbles, Sweet Pea, and Clean Bean each want the coveted title of Biggest Pig. An afternoon of contests will determine who will be the first to squeeze through the garden fence, gobble a row of veggies, and sink to the bottom of the mudhole. Each pig has his talent, and in the end it's clear to their mama that they're all big pigs. But they'll also always be her little piglets. With a wonderful, wry sense of humor, a rhythmic text,and two fun twists in the ending, this is a tale of sibling rivalry that kids will want to read again and again.

Kid reporter Scoop Jackson asks readers to consider what is fake news and what is fact, while looking for the gnus — pronounced nooz — that have escaped from their pen at the zoo.The gnu pen is empty! So where are the gnus? There are many different clues to follow, and it’s up to Scoop to decide if the evidence he hears and sees is true … or not! Someone tells Scoop they saw the gnus eating ice cream in Central Park. But this news site says they’re climbing the Empire State Building. And here’s a photo showing the gnus at a dairy farm. Can all of these sources be real gnus? Or are they fake gnus? Scoop reminds us that a fact is something that can be proven to be true. With every new source, Scoop always checks the facts!This tongue-in-cheek introduction to fake news asks kids to think critically about what they see and hear from media sources. The book includes a quiz and an author’s note that touches on AI and expands on the concept of reputable sources.Key Text Featuresillustrationsspeech balloonsquizauthor's noteCorrelates to the Common Core States Standards in English Language Arts:CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.4Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.1Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.