Can You Say Pterodactyl?

LEVELED BOOK • J
A Reading A–Z Level J Leveled Book

Can You Say

Word Count: 393

Pterodactyl?

Written by Stephen Cosgrove

Illustrated by Carolyn LaPorte

Visit www.readinga-z.com www.readinga-z.com

for thousands of books and materials.
Can You Say
Pterodactyl?

Written by Stephen Cosgrove

Illustrated by Carolyn LaPorte

www.readinga-z.com
There once was a very rare creature
called a pterodactyl.
She had big, leathery wings.
She had a big, bony beak.
But her name she could
barely speak.
Her name was Pterodactyl.
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J 3
There once was a very rare creature
called a pterodactyl.
She had big, leathery wings.
She had a big, bony beak.
But her name she could
barely speak.
Her name was Pterodactyl.
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J
The pterodactyl couldn’t say
“Pterodactyl.”
The word got caught between
her beak and tongue.
She would take a big breath.
She would scrunch up her beak
and blurt, “Patero Whack Datal!”
3 4
Now, if you can’t say your name,
it is very hard to meet someone new.
One day, as she was flying along,
she met a duck.
The duck said, “Hi, I’m Duck.
Who are you?”
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J 5
Now, if you can’t say your name,
it is very hard to meet someone new.
One day, as she was flying along,
she met a duck.
The duck said, “Hi, I’m Duck.
Who are you?”
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J
She took a deep breath.
She scrunched up her beak and said,
“Patero Patero-Whack Whack-Datal!”
The duck thought she was making
a rude noise and flew away.
5 6
Later that day, she happened
upon a small bird in a tree.
The little bird chirped,
“Hi, I’m Wren. Who are you?”
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J 7

Later that day, she happened
upon a small bird in a tree.
The little bird chirped,
“Hi, I’m Wren. Who are you?”
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J
The pterodactyl took
a really big breath.
This time she was going to get it right.
This time she was going to
make a friend.
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.
The pterodactyl was as sad
as sad could be.
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J 9
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.
as sad could be. “Who are you?” he asked.
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J 9 10
“I’m nobody because I can’t
pronounce my name,” she said.
“But you must be somebody,”
chuckled Owl, “because I know
your name.”
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J 11

“I’m nobody because I can’t
pronounce my name,” she said.
“But you must be somebody,”
chuckled Owl, “because I know
your name.”
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J
“When you rip something,
what do you do?” he asked.
“You tear it,” she answered.
“Good,” said Owl. “And you use
what to pin a paper to the wall?”
“A tack,” she answered brightly.
11 12
“Now make the T in tack a D and
set it next to this tree, which is
really what?”
“Tall!” she laughed.
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J 13

“Now make the T in tack a D and
set it next to this tree, which is
really what?”
“Tall!” she laughed.
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J
“Now put it all together,” he whooed.
“Tear Tear-A A-Dack Dack-Tall.”
“You got it,” laughed Owl as he
flew away. “I’m an owl and you are
a pterodactyl. Tear A Dack Tall!”
13 14
From then and thereafter, the
pterodactyl had lots of friends.
Together they sat on the bending
branch and sipped tea.
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J 15

From then and thereafter, the
pterodactyl had lots of friends.
Together they sat on the bending
branch and sipped tea.
Can You Say Pterodactyl? • Level J
She would murmur, “You are Wren.
You are Duck. I am the Tear Tear-A
A-Dack Dack-Tall, Pterodactyl!”
And she was, and she is to this
very day.
15 16
Can You Say Pterodactyl? LEVELED BOOK • J
A Reading A–Z Level J Leveled Book

Can You Say

Word Count: 393

Pterodactyl?

Written by Stephen Cosgrove

Illustrated by Carolyn LaPorte

Visit www.readinga-z.com www.readinga-z.com

for thousands of books and materials.
Can You Say
Pterodactyl?

Can You Say Pterodactyl?

Level J Leveled Book
© 2007 Stephen Cosgrove
Written by Stephen Cosgrove Learning A–Z Correlation
Illustrated by Carolyn LaPorte Written by Stephen Cosgrove
Illustrated by Carolyn LaPorte
LEVEL J
Fountas & Pinnell J
All rights reserved. Reading Recovery 17
www.readinga-z.com www.readinga-z.com
DRA 18