M5

Title: Strange Noises Series: Paramount Happy Readers Level: 5 Book: 1 Main Characters: Mama and Papa Bear – Wise and protective parents. Cubby – The curious and slightly nervous bear cub. Other Forest Animals – Appear in supporting roles. Setting: A cozy bear family home in the forest, mostly at night. Chapters / Scenes: Night Falls – The family settles in for bedtime. The Strange Noise Begins – Cubby hears unfamiliar sounds. Investigating the Sound – The family cautiously checks outside. The Surprise Discovery – The source of the noise is revealed. Lesson Learned – Cubby learns about being brave and curious. Vocabulary Focus: nocturnal whisper creak curious brave Literary Features: Repetition for emphasis Dialogue to build suspense Onomatopoeia (e.g., creak, whoosh) Illustrations support text comprehension

"Strange Noises" tells the story of a bear family who hears eerie sounds during the night. Cubby, the young bear, is both frightened and fascinated. Encouraged by his parents, the family investigates the cause of the sounds, which turns out to be something natural and harmless — like the wind rustling branches or a harmless animal outside. The story ends with Cubby feeling proud and more confident, having faced his fears and learned to be curious instead of scared.

Age Group: 7–9 years old Appropriate for Grade 2 to early Grade 3 Reading Level: Early fluent readers Able to decode longer words and follow structured narrative Suitable for independent or guided reading