Three in a Tub

About the Book

One fall day, Roberta, who lives in the country, decides it’s time to harvest the wild, rare apples she knows should be ripe. This outing was carefully planned; she put on her special shoes, pants with lots of pockets, and a shirt to protect her from the sun and set off with her cat, Kitty Kay, and her dog, Gracie Jane.

As the trio start out, Roberta is excited to gather the apples she’ll need during the winter. When they arrive, Kitty Kay and Gracie Jane do their part helping to collect the fruit to put in the tub. Unfortunately, as they finish, a storm strikes! What can they do to stay safe when a flash flood arrives shortly after the storm ends? Roberta, Kitty Kay, and Gracie Jane rely on instincts and former knowledge to make it through a dangerous situation.

This illustrated verse offers a humorous adventure with examples of making correct choices, and features an appendix of facts about key elements in the story to initiate self-guided learning. A second appendix, STRETCH2SMART helps the reader practice skills that promote higher level thinking .

About the Author

Mary Jane Zakas has been an educator for more than thirty years, teaching all grades in both rural and urban settings. She holds degrees in elementary education, counseling and administration. She participated in writing the standards for No Child Left behind in Nevada.

Illustrator Roberta Jean Owen has been a painter for more than fifty years. She works quickly using decisive, almost reflective strokes with a minimum of color to express her philosophy to be honest and natural in painting. Some of her work is on permanent display at the libraries in Arvin, Lamont, and Frazier Park, California.