A funny, entertaining introduction to Ben Franklin and his many inventions, including the story of how he created the "magic square." A magic square is a box of nine numbers arranged so that any line of three numbers adds up to the same number, including on the diagonal! Teachers and kids will love finding out about this popular teaching tool that is still used in elementary schools today!

Babe Ruth Saves Baseball!

by Murphy Frank and Frank Murphy

Published 1 February 2005
Batter up! It’s 1919 and baseball is in trouble! All across the country, people are throwing down their bats, and giving up America’s national pastime. It’s up to Babe Ruth to win back fans and save baseball! Can he do it, or will he strike out?

Thomas Jefferson's Feast

by Frank Murphy

Published 1 September 2003
Whether they're preparing for President's Day or whether they just like to eat, children will find much to devour in this leveled reader about Thomas Jefferson's role in America's culinary history!

Did you know that every time you munch on a french fry or snack on ice cream, you have Thomas Jefferson to thank? It’s true! This founding father was one of America’s first foodies. After a visit to France, he introduced all sorts of yummy treats to America—including one that upset more than just tummies and created a culinary controversy!

Get the scoop in this deliciously funny, true story—guaranteed to tempt even the most reluctant readers!

Take a Hike, Teddy Roosevelt!

by Frank Murphy

Published 22 December 2015
A Step 3 Step into Reading Biography Reader about Theodore Roosevelt—America's 26th President—and his efforts to protect our environment and establish national parks. Roosevelt battled asthma all his life, and the list of things he shouldn’t do was long. But when people told him “you can’t,” he set about proving them wrong. This book focuses on his inexhaustible enthusiasm and his commitment to preserving America’s natural resources.
 
Step 3 Readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots about popular topics. These books are for children who are ready to read on their own.

Children will delight at this little-known-story about our nation's first president, George Washington, that makes for perfect President's Day readers!

Boom! Bang! Guns fire! Cannons roar! This Step 3 History Reader is about George Washington fighting in the American Revolution. He sees a dog lost on the battlefield. Whose dog is it? How will it find its master? Early readers will be surprised to find out what happens in this little-known true story about America’s first president.

Step 3 Readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots about popular topics. These books are for children who are ready to read on their own.

Frederick Douglass

by Frank Murphy and Nicole Tadgell

Published 31 December 2019
Learn about the abolitionist Frederick Douglass and his fight for freedom in this Step 3 Biography Reader!

Frederick Douglass was a keystone figure in the abolitionist movement, and his story has impacted generations of people fighting for civil rights in America. He was born to an enslaved mother and grew up with the horrors of slavery. In the course of his childhood, he was able to learn to read, and soon realized that reading and language were a source of power, and could be the keys to his freedom. Frederick Douglass spoke and wrote about injustice and equality, and his words profoundly affected the conversation about slavery in America. His activism will resonate with kids today who are observing and participating in our activist culture.

Step 3 Readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots about popular topics--for children who are ready to read on their own.


Brave Clara Barton

by Frank Murphy and Sarah Green

Published 27 February 2018
A Step 3 beginning-reader biography of Civil War nurse and founder of the American Red Cross Clara Barton!

Meet a woman who outgrew her girhood shyness to became a fearless "Angel of the Battlefield"! This Step 3 biography follows Clara as she helps her brother recover from a terrible injury, overcomes her timidity and works as a teacher, and finally fights her way to the front lines of the Civil War, where she helps soldiers wounded in battle. Clara's story is a testament to the strength and grit of women, and is a role model who trancends history. Sarah Green's lovely and delicate illustrations render Clara's life in an appropriate and approachable way for young readers.

Step 3 Readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots about popular topics. For children who are ready to read on their own.