World of Wonder

Smithsonian Readers: World of Wonder Level 3 continues children’s journeys to becoming lifelong readers with new and engaging content and more challenging texts. Developed in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution and esteemed childhood literacy expert Dr. Adria Klein, World of Wonder Level 3 contains six 32-page topics for engaged readers looking to learn more about the world around them: Ancient Egypt, Wild Weather, Rain Forest Animals, The United States, The Planet, and Sharks. Children can also practice their reading skills and share their newfound knowledge with the included 36 topical fact cards.

Level 3: Engaged Readers
-Interesting factual and informational text that contains new and unfamiliar content
-Includes glossary to reinforce reading comprehension
-Repetition of longer sentence patterns with variation of placement of subjects, verbs, and adjectives
-Most of the vocabulary should be familiar to first graders
-Introduction of more complex spelling patterns and letter-sound relationships
-Photos, illustrations, and diagrams are included for further concept exploration

Brenda Scott-Royce is a lifelong lover of beasts and books—and whenever possible her work combines the two. For more than a decade, she served as editor ofZoo View, the award-winning magazine of the Los Angeles Zoo. Her books include the comedic novelMonkey Love, about a New Yorker who becomes the temporary guardian of a mischievous monkey. She also wrote several episodes of the children’s television seriesChuggington. Brenda likes to say that she majored in monkeys in college (she earned a bachelor’s degree in primatology and anthropology from California State University, Fullerton) and that some of her best friends are chimpanzees (she worked as a chimp keeper at a wildlife sanctuary). She lives in Covina, California.

Courtney Acampora holds a B.A. in art history from San Diego State University and a M.A. from the University of Arizona. Currently working in publishing, Courtney's lifelong love for both art and books fused together and gave her the opportunity to write and create engaging activities for kids. When she's not engrossed in a book, Courtney enjoys hiking, spending time with friends, and swimming in her backyard pool with her Labrador Retriever, Remington.

Kaitlyn DiPerna is an award-winning writer, developer, and editor of all kinds of children’s books. Kaitlyn has authored everything from young adult art and craft titles to school textbooks, and children’s chapter books to board books for toddlers. Originally from Boston, where she earned a degree in writing, literature, and publishing from Emerson College, she has spent the last ten years on the West Coast, chasing the surf and the snow. She lives in San Diego, CA.

Emily Rose Oachs is a graduate of the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. She currently works as an editor at a Los Angeles-based educational company. In her spare time, she writes nonfiction books for elementary readers. She lives in Los Angeles.