In Pastores, a small town in Guatemala, José and Esmilda work hard to care for their three children. But even with two jobs each, it’s not enough. One day, José makes the difficult decision to travel all the way to the United States to earn money to support his family. Join José on a brave and dangerous journey as he travels by foot and train, thinking of the people he loves every step of the way. Will he make it to California.

Matías is a 7-year-old boy who participates in so many activities. Of course, he enjoys everything he does, but he really loves soccer. He loves the sport so much that he can often be found wearing different jerseys of the many professional soccer teams. He wants to take his favorite jersey on a family trip, but he can’t find it. What will Matías do? Brayan is a 6-year-old Guatemalan boy who lives in a small town on Lake Atitlán in Guatemala. He is very active and also loves soccer. There is nothing more he wants for his birthday than to receive a jersey of his favorite professional soccer team, so he asks his parents for that special gift. Will Brayan be granted his wish? Get to know these two boys by reading about how alike they are.

Matías is a 7-year-old boy who participates in so many activities. Of course, he enjoys everything he does, but he really loves soccer. He loves the sport so much that he can often be found wearing different jerseys of the many professional soccer teams. He wants to take his favorite jersey on a family trip, but he can’t find it. What will Matías do? Brayan is a 6-year-old Guatemalan boy who lives in a small town on Lake Atitlán in Guatemala. He is very active and also loves soccer. There is nothing more he wants for his birthday than to receive a jersey of his favorite professional soccer team, so he asks his parents for that special gift. Will Brayan be granted his wish? Get to know these two boys by reading about how alike they are.

Meet Rhumus, a clever little rat who lives under the busy streets of Rome. Rhumus isn't an ordinary rat—his parents have taught him many useful skills, and he takes pride in being just like them. He enjoys living a quiet life with his family under the bustling streets of Rome. But one weekend, something unexpected disrupts his normal routine, leaving Rhumus to wonder what it could mean.

Luigi is different: a cat that is not a fan of attacking mice. He lives in Italy in the forest. But Luigi is not happy. He wants to be brave like the other cats in the forest.

Jamil and his family lived in Port-au-Prince, the capital city of Haiti. Their life, which was simple and good, became challenging when their earnings were insufficient to maintain the family. Both Jamil and his wife, Noémie, worked two jobs to make ends meet. Concerned for the welfare of his family whom he loved, Jamil made the difficult decision to undertake the voyage by boat to the United States in order to search for work hoping to earn the money needed to support his family. How would Jamil fare navigating the rough waters of the Caribbean and what effect did his absence have on the loved ones he left behind? Teachers: In French, the passé simple is the usual tense for narrating stories in the past, especially in literary texts, fairy tales, and historical accounts. However, for our purpose in this reader, we are focusing on teaching students the passé composé and imparfait, which are the tenses most commonly used in everyday speech and writing. The passé composé is used for completed actions, while the imparfait describes ongoing situations, habits, or background details. By using these two tenses instead of the passé simple, students can better understand how to express past events in practical and conversational contexts.

Antonio is not like other mice —he isn’t afraid of anything, not even cats. Living in an old forest in Québec, Canada, with his strict father and kind mother, Antonio is unhappy. He doesn't have any friends. Antonio dreams of exploring the world and making a friend. One day, he sneaks off into the forest, and what happens is not quite what he had expected.

Mathieu was a typical 7-year-old boy from the U.S. But, he was a huge fan of the professional soccer teams in Europe, especially the teams in the French league, Ligue 1. When Mathieu was not playing soccer, he was watching soccer videos on his iPad. He always looked the part, too, wearing uniforms of players on his favorite team, Paris Saint-Germain. His focus on the ball continued when he traveled to the Ivory Coast with his family on an annual trip where he met Jean. Jean was a 6-year-old Ivoirien boy who also loved soccer. Like Mathieu he played every chance he got. Also like Mathieu, Jean idolized his favorite player on the National Ivory Coast team, Didier Drogba. He wanted nothing more than to wear a jersey with the famous forward’s name and number, but those were difficult to find where he lived in the south of the Ivory Coast near the North Atlantic Ocean. In this level 2 book in the past tense, readers learn about the culture of the Ivory Coast and how a soccer jersey further connects two soccer-obsessed boys from two different countries.

Thirteen-year-old Sofia feels overwhelmed by anxiety, making everyday activities difficult. But she finds comfort and courage with her loyal dog, Marco, by her side. As Sofia faces each new day, she leans on Marco's steady presence and friendship to help her find the confidence to overcome her fears. Join Sofia and Marco on their journey to finding courage in the face of anxiety.

When Vern arrives at his new home, it’s clear something isn’t right: his feathers are dull, his body is weak, and he won’t eat. Unlike the other lively birds in the house, Vern stays quiet, keeping to himself. As the days pass, his new family worries—will Vern ever feel at home? What will help restore Vern to his true self?

It has been a week since Alice’s best friend Dominique disappeared. Since that day, Alice’s world has turned upside down, and her life has begun to spiral out of control. Will Alice see her best friend again? Did Alice pay enough attention to the details leading up to her friend's disappearance? Will an old Louisiana legend come to life? Will she discover a far greater mystery that has haunted the marshes of Louisiana for years?

Thomas loves baseball more than anything. He dreams of wearing a jersey, stepping up to the plate, and playing on the local community team just like the other kids. There’s just one problem—Thomas can’t catch. Not fly balls, not grounders… not even slow tosses from his dad. But Thomas isn’t ready to give up. With a big heart and a whole lot of determination, he practices every day. He learns that the biggest victories don’t always come quickly—and they often come when they are least expected.