Reading Vocabulary
anxious - nervous; excited
retire - to stop working after reaching a certain age
vacant - empty; unused
sprucing - decorating or making neat
adore - to love very much
recognizing - knowing who someone is or what something is
Donovan's Word Jar - Story 2
leisure - time free from work
disappointment - the feeling that comes when one's hopes are not met
perseverance - the habit of continuing something in spite of troubles
uneasy - worried
compromise - to reach an agreement after each side gives up a part of its demands
chortle - to laugh or chuckle loudly
My Name Is Maria Isabel - Story 3
pageant - a show based on stories or events of previous time
restless - unable to be still
tropical -found in the warm, wet regions of the earth, near the equator
rehearsals - practices for a play or other performances
attentively - in a way that shows complete concentration, with concern
troublesome - trouble-causing; disturbing
The Luckiest Man - Story 4
courageous - brave
immigrants - people who go to a country to live in it
appreciation - showing that one recognizes the value of a person or thing
tremendous - very large or great
modest - humble; not boastful
sportsmanship - playing fair and showing respect for opponents
valuable - important; worth much
salary - money paid at regular times to a worker
Amelia and Eleanor Go For A Ride - Story 5
outspoken - bold or honest in speech
practical - useful or sensible
brisk - cool and stimulating, as weather can be
elegant - tasteful, stylish, and beautiful
elevations - heights above the ground or sea level
marveled - became filled with awe or wonder
miniatures - small-scale models of larger things
starstruck - full of stars
The Baker's Neighbor - Story 6
privilege - a special benefit enjoyed under special conditions
luxury - anything of value that gives comfort but is not necessary for life
elated - filled with joy or pride
assent - to agree or approve
ad lib - to make up lines or music on the spot
shiftless - not motivated, lazy
indignantly - being angry about something that doesn't seem right
shamefacedly - a way that shows shame for having done something bad
The Emperor and The Kite - Story 7
plotting - planning in secret to do something, often something evil
loyal - constant and faithful to people or ideas
neglected - failed to care for or attend to
insignificant - lacking in importance, meaning, size or worth
encircling - forming a circle around; surrounding
unyielding - constant and never-ending ; not giving away
steely - like steel, as in strength, hardness, or coldness
twined - twisted around
Nights of the Pufflings - Story 8
uninhabited - having no people living there
burrows - holes in the ground made by animals
venture - go out into a dangerous place
stranded - left behind or in a helpless situation
nestles - moves snugly next to
instinctively - without thinking; in a way that is natural
The Garden of Happiness - Story 9
lavender - a light purple color
haze - mist; fog
inhaled - breathed in
mural - a large painting on a wall
skidded - slid or slipped across
How to Babysit a Orangutan - Story 10
displeasure - the feeling of being displeased; dissatisfaction
jealous - full of envy
endangered - in danger of dying out
smuggled - taken out of a place illegally
facial - having to do with the face
coordination - the ability to make the parts of the body work together smoothly
Sarah, Plain and Tall - Story 11
windbreak - row of trees used to block the wind
rustle - soft sound made by things rubbing together
alarmed - frightened or worried
paddock - fenced-in piece of land usually used for grazing horses
conch - large spiral shell
Stealing Home - Story 12
pastimes - pleasant ways of passing time
tutor - to teach privately
disposition - one's usual way of acting; temperament
glumly - in a gloomy way
irritable - grumpily; crossly
bicker - to disagree in a quarrelsome way
impose - to put an unwanted burden on
grudge - ill will toward someone
The Cricket in Time Square - Story 13
wistfully - longingly; sadly remembering something nice
scrounging - looking for scraps of food or abandoned materials
acquaintance - knowing someone or something
excitable - very emotional; easily excited
eavesdropping - listening secretly to a conversation
sympathetically - in a way that shows concern for someone else's feelings
logical - reasonable; to be expected
Two Lands, One Heart - Story 14
equivalent - equal in some way
interpreter - a person who translates
irrigation - furnishing water to land where crops are grown
occasionally - sometimes; once in a while
appetizing - appearing to be good to eat
overwhelm - to overpower (with feelings)
hysterically - with uncontrolled emotions
Look to the North: A Wolf Pup Diary - Story 15
ceases - stops
tundra - area in arctic regions where there are no trees and where the ground is frozen
abundant - in large amount or numbers; more than enough
bonding - establishing closer ties or friendships
piteously - sorrowfully; in a way that makes others feel sorry for someone
surrender - the act of giving up
The Kids' Invention Book - Story 16
device - something built for a purpose
prosthetic - replacing a missing body part
disabilities - conditions that make doing something more difficult
document - paper with important information
circular - shaped like a circle
modify - to change
scholarship - the qualities of a student
The Case of Pablo's Nose - Story 17
sculptor - artist who creates sculptures (three-dimensional works of art)
straightaway - right away
alibi - excuse that proves a person couldn't have committed a crime
retorted - answered sharply
muttered - said quietly and often angrily, with lips closed
strengthening - having the ability to make someone or something stronger
In the Days of King Adobe - Story 18
thrifty - careful in spending
generous - large; plentiful
rascally - naughty, dishonest
roguish - treacherous, dishonest
fascinated - amazed and intrigued
Red Writing Hood - Story 19
script - a written text of a play
desperately - in a way that is full of anxiety and worry
acceptable - capable of meeting approval or being accepted
injustice - unfairness
circumstances - the events that effect or surround a situation
repentant - regretful or sorry for one's actions
discards - gets rid of something
triumphantly - in a way that is joyful because of a victory
One Grain of Rice - Story 20
trickle - a thin stream
plentiful - in great quantity
implored - begged
famine - widespread lack of food, causing many to starve
decreed - ordered formally; commanded
Fire! - Story 21
dedication - the will to keep working hard on a task
billowing - rising in big waves
brigade - a group of people organized to do something
ventilate - to create a vent, or an opening, for letting in or out
flammable - easily set on fire
curfew - law or rule that says something cannot be out after a certain time
A Very Important Day - Story 22
apologized - said he or she was sorry
enrich - make better by adding something
obliged - cooperated; did a favor
petitioners - people officially requesting something
examiner - person who asks people questions to test their knowledge
certificate - document that states that something is a fact
resounded - echoed; filled a place with sound
Saguaro Cactus - Story 23
spiny - having thorns
decomposes - decays; rots
topple - fall over or be pushed over
brush - small trees and shrubs
habitat - natural home of a plant or animal
teeming - full; almost overflowing
perch - to sit or settle on a spot
nectar - a sweet liquid found in flowers
Blue Willow - Story 24
undoubtedly - without a doubt
loathe - to dislike immensely
certainty - the feeling or belief that something is for true
protruded - stuck out; pushed out
indifferent - not caring; unconcerned
sulkily - in a way that shows unhappiness
heartily - with enthusiasm
In My Family - Story 25
culture - the customs, beliefs, and arts of a group of people
chile - the fruit of a pepper plant, which is often used to make hot seasoning
mesquite - a shrub or small tree found in the southwestern United States and Mexico; its wood used to make charcoal
barbecue - a special kind of grill or pit used for cooking outdoors
accordion - a musical instrument with keys and hand-operated bellows
confetti - tiny pieces pf paper, often thrown during celebrations
The Gold Rush - Story 26
abandoned - deserted or left behind
profitable - bringing advantage or monetary gain
beckons - attracts or lures by tempting with something desirable
fares - money paid for rides on a ship, bus, train or airplane
rugged - having a rough, uneven, or broken surface
multicultural - showing the varied customs, religions, or beliefs of different people
I Have Heard Of A Land - Story 27
pioneer - one of the first people to settle in a region
harmony - an orderly and pleasing arrangement of something
possibilities - things that are possible or that may occur
fertile - able to support much plant life
arbor - a shelter of branches or vines
Paul Bunyan and Babe The Blue Ox - Story 28
fateful - bringing disaster
tragedy - a sad or terrible event
gadgets - small machine or other mechanical tools
bellowing - loud, deep roaring
softhearted - gentle and kind
ration - the daily allowance of food for a person or animal
Fly Traps! The Plant That Bite Back - Story 29
boggiest - very watery and spongy, like the ground in a bog or swamp
dissolve - change from solid to liquid or to cause this to happen
chemicals - substances with certain properties
carnivorous - meat-eating
accidentally - by mistake; without meaning to
fertilizer - a substance put on or in the soil or water to feed plants
victim - a person or animal that is mistreated or attacked by someone or something else
The Down and Up Fall - Story 30
transformed - changed; made to look or be different
investigate - look into thoroughly to find out something
enthusiastically - eagerly; in a way that shows strong approval
décor - the decorative style of a room
apparently - seeming to be
corridor - long, narrow hallway or passageway