1 of 1 copy available
When his father takes a new job in Massachusetts, Ben Moroney must leave behind his best friend Tony, a western banded gecko named Lenny, and worst of all, the Arizona desert home he has loved and explored. Ben's adjustment to his new environment is not going well until he unexpectedly finds a kindred spirit in his eccentric fifth-grade science teacher, Mrs. Tibbets. She introduces him to the rare and elusive Eastern spadefoot toads that make their home on her rural property.
When Ben discovers that Mrs. Tibbets's land may be sold to developers, he knows he has to do something. As Ben's obsession with saving the spadefoot toads' habitat grows, his schoolwork and his relationships with his family and new friends suffer. But just when it seems things can't get any worse, Ben finds a way to meet his responsibilities to the people around him and demonstrates the importance of even the smallest efforts to save the earth's rapidly disappearing habitats.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
July 16, 2013 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781561457519
- File size: 2582 KB
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781561457519
- File size: 2582 KB
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Languages
- English
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Levels
- ATOS Level: 3.7
- Lexile® Measure: 610
- Interest Level: 4-8(MG)
- Text Difficulty: 2-3
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Reviews
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March 1, 2009
Gr 3-6-Fifth-grader Ben Moroney has just moved from Arizona to Massachusetts. While struggling to adjust to his new home, he becomes unlikely friends with his science teacher, Mrs. Tibbets. She introduces the young nature enthusiast to the wildlife inhabiting her rural property, including the fascinating, rarely seen spadefoot toad. Despite his initial loyalty to his previous home, Ben finds himself increasingly interested in his new environment, and when he learns that the spadefoot toad's habitat will soon be sold to developers, he makes it his mission to save the threatened species he has grown to love. This title does not contain the same level of mystery, action, and suspense as Carl Hiassen's "Hoot" (Knopf, 2002), but the narrative does move along at a quick enough pace to keep the book interesting, and the main character is a well-developed, realistic "child hero." An additional purchase with a positive message that may appeal to readers interested in science and nature."Melinda Piehler, Sawgrass Elementary School, Sunrise, FL"Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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January 1, 2009
Having just moved from Arizona to Massachusetts, Ben unexpectedly makes friends with his teacher, a fellow nature lover. Soon Ben finds himself defending Mrs. Tibbets's land, and the rare toads that live there, from developers. Exploring topics such as environmentalism, friendship, and personal responsibility, the story is overblown but effective in getting across its message.(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
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