The Barnyard Bandit

The Barnyard Bandit by LaToya Simms illustrated by John Wallner HOUGHTON MIFFLIN

The Barnyard Bandit by LaToya Simms illustrated by John Wallner Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner unless such copying is expressly permitted by federal copyright law. Requests for permission to make copies of any part of the work should be addressed to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt School Publishers, Attn: Permissions, 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, Florida 32887-6777. Printed in China ISBN-13: 978-0-547-02733-3 ISBN-10: 0-547-02733-8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0940 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 If you have received these materials as examination copies free of charge, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt School Publishers retains title to the materials and they may not be resold. Resale of examination copies is strictly prohibited. Possession of this publication in print format does not entitle users to convert this publication, or any portion of it, into electronic format.

Spinner the spider was hungry. She hurried to her web to see if she had trapped any bugs for breakfast. That was when she saw that her web was missing. “A bandit has been here!” Spinner cried. 2

Hank the horse poked his head over his stall door. “What happened?” “My web is gone.” “Maybe you just forgot where you made it,” said Fuzz the cat. 3

Spinner looked hurt. “I worked hard to weave that web. Now I have no food, and it will take all day to make a new web.” Just then, Hank let out a snort. “My hay!” he cried. 4

“Someone took my special hay!” he said. “Each day, I collect the sweetest bits of hay from my meal. I save them for a treat.” “We need to catch the bandit who is taking our special things,” said Spinner. 5

Just then, Fuzz let out a loud “Meow!” He held up a tiny ball of red yarn. “I had a big ball of yarn and NOW look at it! Someone has been stealing it.” Fuzz looked at Hank and Spinner. “Don’t just stand there. Go catch that yarn bandit!” 6

“I have an idea,” said Spinner. “I’ll make a new web. When the bandit tries to take it, we’ll catch him.” Spinner’s new web was almost six feet wide! Hank, Fuzz, and Spinner hid behind a pile of hay and waited. 7

The three friends grew tired and fell asleep. They woke up and saw that the web was gone! The bandit had struck again! Spinner studied the ground. “There aren’t any footprints,” she said. “But I see something.” 8

Spinner came closer. “I see feathers,” she said. “Now I know why we didn’t find footprints. Our bandit can fly!” The clues led to a big bush. Hank, Spinner, and Fuzz peeked through the leaves of the bush. 9

“Hello,” said a bird. She was sitting on a nest made out of the yarn, hay, and web. Eggs sat in the nest. The three friends smiled. The bird needed their special things more than they did. 10

Responding TARGET SKILL Cause and Effect What does the barnyard bandit do in this story? Why does she do it? Make a chart. Talk About It Text to Text Think of another story about someone who loses something. How does he or she feel? How does he or she find what was lost? 11

WORDS TO KNOW almost gone idea any behind happened leaves hello LEARN MORE WORDS bandit collect weave TARGET SKILL Cause and Effect Tell what happens and why. TARGET STRATEGY Visualize Picture what is happening as you read. GENRE A mystery is a story about a character who solves a puzzle. 12

Level: K DRA: 20 Genre: Mystery Strategy: Visualize Skill: Cause and Effect Word Count: 371 1.6.29 HOUGHTON MIFFLIN Online Leveled Books ISBN-13:978-0-547-02733-3 ISBN-10:0-547-02733-8 1032767