2nd-3rd Grade
Digital Resources
August:
Cover Letter
X Marks the Spot
Activity Guide
Buttons the Kitten
Activity Guide
The Incredible Journey
Activity Guide
Activity Sheets
Additional Resources
X Marks the Spot
Erin Soderberg Downing is an American author best known for her engaging books for kids, tweens, and teens. She has worked as a children’s book editor, a cookie inventor, and at Nickelodeon before becoming a full-time writer. Erin has published more than 75 books and lives in Minneapolis with her husband, three adventurous children, and a mischievous goldendoodle named Wally, who inspired the Puppy Pirates series. X Marks the Spot is the second book in this fun-filled chapter-book series that brings together her love of dogs, pirates, and humor. She is also the author of several popular series, including The Quirks, The Great Peach Experiment, and Disney’s Daring Dreamers Club. Her stories blend fast-paced adventures with warmth and humor, making them favorites among young readers.
The Incredible Journey
Sheila Burnford was a Scottish-born author best known for her classic novel The Incredible Journey. Born in Edinburgh in 1916, she later moved to Canada, where the rugged landscapes inspired much of her writing. During World War II, she served as a volunteer ambulance driver, and her adventurous spirit carried through to her stories. The Incredible Journey, based on her real-life pets, tells a tale of loyalty, perseverance, and the bond between animals and humans. Though often seen as a children's book, Burnford considered it a story for all ages. She continued to write both fiction and nonfiction until her death in 1984.
Buttons the Author
Buttons the Kitten by Debbi Michiko Florence Debbi Michiko Florence is a third-generation Japanese American author whose love for animals and storytelling shines in all her books. With a degree in zoology and experience working at a zoo, raptor center, pet store, and Humane Society, she brings authenticity and heart to her animal-themed stories. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, a rescue dog, a bunny, and two ducks, and writes from her cozy creative space called The Word Nest. Debbi is the author of more than twenty books, including the popular Jasmine Toguchi and Dorothy & Toto series. Buttons the Kitten, part of the My Furry Foster Family series, tells the sweet story of a shy kitten learning to trust and find a forever home. Her warm, inclusive stories celebrate friendship, family, and the joys of caring for others.