Pinky and Rex and the Mean Old Witch

Level 3: Reading Alone

From the earliest stages of sounding out words to the excitement of reading a whole book without help, Ready-to-Read books open up a world of possibilities to children at three different levels:

Level 1: Starting to Read

Level 2: Reading Together

Level 3: Reading Alone

Pinky and Rex's neighbor Mrs. Morgan isn't really a mean old witch. But she sure acts like one, yelling and waving her broom around every time the kids step onto her lawn. Now she's taken their ball, just because it accidentally rolled into her yard.

So Rex and Pinky and Pinky's sister, Amanda, come up with the perfect trick to play on the Mean Old Witch. But somehow, seeing Mrs. Morgan sitting all alone in her living room makes Pinky think getting even isn't such a good idea after all. He tries a different plan, with results that surprise the kids as well as their neighbor.

Melissa Sweet has illustrated more than eighty children’s books, including the Caldecott Honor books The Right Word and A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams both written by Jen Bryant. She also wrote and illustrated Tupelo Rides the Rails; Carmine: A Little More Red, which was a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book; and Balloons Over Broadway, a picture book biography that was named a 2011 Publishers Weekly Best Nonfiction Picture Book. When she is not in her studio, Melissa can be found taking an art class, hiking with her dogs, or riding her bicycle. She lives with her family in Rockport, Maine.

James Howe?is the author of more than ninety books for young readers.?Bunnicula, coauthored by his late wife Deborah and published in 1979, is considered a modern classic of children’s literature. The author has written six highly popular sequels, along with the spinoff series?Tales from the House of Bunnicula?and?Bunnicula and Friends.?Among his other books are picture books such as Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores?and beginning reader series that include the Pinky and Rex and Houndsley and Catina books. He has also written for older readers.?The Misfits,?published in 2001, inspired the antibullying initiative No Name-Calling Week, as well as three sequels,?Totally Joe, Addie on the Inside,?and?Also Known as?Elvis.?A common theme in James Howe’s books from preschool through teens is the acceptance of difference and being true to oneself. Visit him online at JamesHowe.com.