Project Description
Night of the Spadefoot Toads
by Bill Harley
This satisfying story explores the powerful impact of our actions on the world around us.
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.
With great environmental themes, this appealing middle grade novel comes from renowned storyteller and two-time Grammy Award winner Bill Harley.
Price: $8.99
ISBN: 978-1-56145-638-3
Publication Date: 4/1/2012
Page Count: 192
Size: 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″
Age Range: 8 – 12
Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-56145-751-9
Age Range: 8 – 12
Language: English
Purchase this eBook through the following vendors:
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F&P: GRL T, Gr 5, Genre RF
Lexile: 610L
Themes: Bullies, Endangered Species, Moving, Snakes, Toads
BISAC 1: JUV002120 JUVENILE FICTION/Animals/Frogs and Toads
BISAC 2: JUV129010 JUVENILE FICTION/Nature and the Natural World/Environment
BISAC 3: JUV039060 JUVENILE FICTION/Social Issues/Friendship
Reviews
“The main character is a well-developed, realistic ‘child hero.’” ―School Library Journal
“Harley’s appealing story shows readers that adults and children can connect in meaningful friendships, and reminds them that conservation can begin in their own backyards.” ―Kirkus Reviews
“I found myself pulled into this intriguing novel right from the start. The characters are well-drawn and realistic…This is a sure winner for middle-grade readers who like to read about kids like themselves or have an interest in animals and the environment.” ―Great Books for Kids and Teens
“It is so refreshing reading about this little guy that has so much passion about saving this habitat. The author is not just an amazing story teller, he has written a tale about a legitimate cause” ―It’s About Time MaMaw
Awards
Green Earth Book Award (Children’s Fiction) ―Newton Marasco Foundation, 2009
KIND Children’s Honorable Mention Book ―Humane Society Youth, 2009-2010
Society of School Librarians International Book Awards (Honor Book, Language Arts, Grades K-6 Novels) ―Society of School Librarians International, 2009
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Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List (Intermediate, Starred) ―Kansas National Education Association, 2009
Golden Sower Award (Nominee, Intermediate) ―Nebraska Library Association, 2011-2012
Keystone to Reading Book Award (Intermediate, Nominee) ―Keystone State Reading Association, 2009-2010
Prairie Pasque Children’s Book Award (Nominee) ―South Dakota Library Association, SD Reading Council, SD State Library, SD Elementary School Principals, 2010-2011
Volunteer State Book Awards (Master List, Grades 4-6) ―Tennessee Association of School Librarians, 2010-2011
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Meet the Author
Bill Harley is a two-time Grammy Award-winning storyteller, musician, and writer who has been writing and performing for kids and families for more than twenty-five years. He is the recipient of Parents’ Choice and ALA awards. He won a 2007 Grammy Award for his children’s storytelling album Blah Blah Blah and a 2009 Grammy Award for his children’s spoken-word album Yes to Running! Bill Harley Live. He lives in Massachusetts. You can visit his website here.
