Can You Say Pterodactyl?

Can You Say Pterodactyl?
A Reading A–Z Level J Leveled Book
Word Count: 393
LEVELED BOOK • J
Can You Say
Pterodactyl?
Written by Stephen Cosgrove
Illustrated by Carolyn LaPorte
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Can You Say
Pterodactyl?
Written by Stephen Cosgrove
Illustrated by Carolyn LaPorte
Can You Say Pterodactyl?
Level J Leveled Book
© 2007 Stephen Cosgrove
Learning A–Z
Written by Stephen Cosgrove
Illustrated by Carolyn LaPorte
All rights reserved.
www.readinga-z.com
www.readinga-z.com
Correlation
LEVEL J
Fountas & Pinnell
Reading Recovery
DRA
J
17
18
There once was a very rare creature
The pterodactyl couldn’t say
called a pterodactyl.
“Pterodactyl.”
She had big, leathery wings.
The word got caught between
She had a big, bony beak.
her beak and tongue.
But her name she could
She would take a big breath.
barely speak.
She would scrunch up her beak
Her name was Pterodactyl.
and blurt, “Patero Whack Datal!”
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J
3
4
Now, if you can’t say your name,
it is very hard to meet someone new.
She took a deep breath.
One day, as she was flying along,
She scrunched up her beak and said,
she met a duck.
“Patero Patero-Whack Whack-Datal!”
The duck said, “Hi, I’m Duck.
The duck thought she was making
Who are you?”
a rude noise and flew away.
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J
5
6
The pterodactyl took
Later that day, she happened
a really big breath.
upon a small bird in a tree.
This time she was going to get it right.
The little bird chirped,
This time she was going to
“Hi, I’m Wren. Who are you?”
make a friend.
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J
7
8
Only this time, she said her name
louder and worse than before.
“Paw Paw-Tero Tero-Wrack
Wrack-Tow Tow-Whack Whack-Tile
Tile-Tattle!”
Even worse, she burped
at the same time.
She blasted the little bird
right off the branch.
She had been sitting for a time
The pterodactyl was as sad
when an owl landed beside her.
“Who are you?” he asked.
as sad could be.
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J
9
10
“When you rip something,
“I’m nobody because I can’t
what do you do?” he asked.
pronounce my name,” she said.
“You tear it,” she answered.
“But you must be somebody,”
“Good,” said Owl. “And you use
chuckled Owl, “because I know
what to pin a paper to the wall?”
your name.”
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J
“A tack,” she answered brightly.
11
12
“Now put it all together,” he whooed.
“Now make the T in tack a D and
“Tear Tear-A A-Dack Dack-Tall.”
set it next to this tree, which is
“You got it,” laughed Owl as he
really what?”
flew away. “I’m an owl and you are
“Tall!” she laughed.
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J
a pterodactyl. Tear A Dack Tall!”
13
14
She would murmur, “You are Wren.
From then and thereafter, the
You are Duck. I am the Tear Tear-A
pterodactyl had lots of friends.
A-Dack Dack-Tall, Pterodactyl!”
Together they sat on the bending
And she was, and she is to this
branch and sipped tea.
very day.
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J
15
16