Readers inAction!
Award-winning French-language teacher/author Jacqueline Kelly, multi-talented educator and songwriter Matt Maxwell, creator/author of the AIM Wendy Maxwell, and David Cameron teamed-up to design a series of readers for ESL students. These readers – designed for shared and guided reading – help students develop their language and literacy skills. All of the readers seamlessly incorporate cultural and thematic elements in their simple but captivating narratives. These stories emphasize the utmost importance of treating each other and the Earth with kindness and respect. The readers are divided into levels according to student's age and reading ability.
Discount information (any combination of titles):
• Five or more readers: 10% discount
• 20 or more readers: 15% discount
Please confirm discounts by phone: 1-800-668-6288
Readers for Elementary Students
Andrew and his Family |
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Story: Matt Maxwell
Illustrations: Adrien Deggan View an excerpt from this reader This story takes place in Québec in the early 18th century. A family of pioneers are settling into rural life. One day the family goes off into the woods to pick berries. Seven-year-old Andrew gets separated from his older sister and his parents. A young Huron boy finds him and returns him to his thankful family. Suitable for all elementary students with a basic fluency. |
Albert the Acrobat |
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Story: Matt Maxwell Illustrations: Jana Tublinshlak View an excerpt from this reader Albert is a 12-year-old boy who lives in Belize, in the city of Belmopan. This talented young fellow uses his acrobatic skills to earn money with which he buys his mother a birthday present. This story can used as a point de départ for a whole range of activities, including ones that focus on Caribbean francophone culture, and on poverty and social-justice issues. |
Stephanie's Adventure |
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Story: Matt Maxwell
Illustrations: Jana Tublinshlak View an excerpt from this reader Stephanie is an 11-year-old girl who is a resident of a small town in northern Quebec. The town folk decide to put on a Festival du Voyageur. Stephanie becomes bored with the cultural activities – the singing and dancing, the costumes, the sugaring off – and wanders down to the riverside, where she gets in one of the Voyageurs’ canoes. The canoe gets caught in the rapids; only the heroic actions of a young villager save the day. Stephanie comes away from her adventure infinitely more appreciative of the community of which she is a part. |
Manigan the Giant |
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Story: Jacqueline Kelly
Illustrations: Jana Tublinshlak View an excerpt from this reader Manigan is a gentle giant and steward of the Earth who uses his bounty to aid those in need. He helps a couple of people who unfortunately take advantage of his kindness and eat up his stores of food. When the giant becomes weak, the couple realize that they have to give back to the one who has given them so much– they nurture Manigan back to health. This tale, which evokes First Nations wisdom, is a parable that reminds us of the need to treat our world with respect, and not just as something to be viewed as a resource for human consumption. |
Prince Gimee-Gimee |
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Story: Jacqueline Kelly Illustrations: Jana Tubinshlak View an excerpt from this reader Prince Albert has been brought up in the lap of luxury. The more material goods he has, the less satisfied he feels; because of his greedy nature, he becomes known as Prince Gimme-Gimme. One day, while speeding on his motorbike, he almost runs over an old man; this event triggers a sense of remorse in him and causes him to re-evaluate his life. One night, looking up at the stars, Prince Albert decides to become a space explorer. He heads off into the heavens in his spaceship. Years later, he returns to his home with his new-found alien friends. |
Simon the Grump |
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Story: Jacqueline Kelly Illustrations: Adrien Deggan View an excerpt from this reader Simon is a somewhat peculiar boy who loves rain, snow, sleet and wind, and despises sunny, pleasant weather. One day he is swept up into the air by a ferocious hurricane. As he is flying through the sky, he notices a baby that has also been caught up in the wind. Risking his own safety, he rescues the child and returns him to his mother. He is heralded by the villagers as a hero. Simon the Grump becomes Simon my friend. This book is written in verse. |
Readers for Junior High School Students
Ali and the Rain |
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Story: David Cameron
Illustration: Jana Tubinshlak View an excerpt from this reader Ali lives in a North African village with his wife, Nadia. One day he decides to clean his water tank, a job that he has not done for ten years during which time his waistline has expanded considerably. His problems start when he has trouble fitting through the opening at the top of the tank; then he is attacked by mosquitoes and finally, when rain starts to fill the tank, he remembers that he does not know how to swim. Nadia has been practising her dance routine during this time so has not heard his cries for help, but eventually she arrives and rescues him from drowning. |
Mad Mabel's Christmas |
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Story: David Cameron View an excerpt from this reader |
