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Book Reviews -
Easy Chapter Books
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Written by Alexander Stadler
Julian Rodriguez, a Federation First Officer disguised as an 8 year old boy, reports to the Mothership on the bizarre behavior of Earthlings during festivities: the ceremonial dress, the relative ("genetically linked mini-brains"), various orbs of entertainment and the associated games, and the mysterious concoction of various brown nutritional molecules.
This is a combination of a graphic novel and an easy chapter book. I found the story clever and very funny. The graphics were not as good as the first book. Although the concept is great for the intended age reader, I am wondering if the vocabulary is too difficult: "unhygienic," "breached," "subterranean containment facility," etc.
Review by Terrie Bishop, Library Media Assistant, Academy Park Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★½
Interest Level: Grades 2-6
Julian Rodriguez, Episode Two: Invasion of the Relatives
Scholastic
131 pages
ISBN: 9780439919678
Release Date: Sep 2009
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Book Reviews -
Easy Chapter Books
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Written by Matt Christopher
 Mike and Harry are best friends, such good friends that they can read each others' thoughts. However, Harry is a dog. This is a fun story about how Mike's baseball team wins with the help of Harry.
Review by Jodie Uriarte, Library Media Assistant, Copper Hills Elementary School
Rating: ★★★½✩
Interest Level: Grades 1-3
The Dog that Stole Home
Norwood House Press
42 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59953-352-0
Release Date: Feb 2010
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Book Reviews -
Easy Chapter Books
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Written by Darren King, Illustrator David Roberts
 Sensible Hare is on the case to solve the mystery of the missing carrots. Cute cover yet the dull plot progressed more like a turtle rather than a hare.
Review by Amy Gerritsen, Library Media Assistant, Stansbury Elementary School
Rating: ★★½✩✩
Interest Level: 2-3 grades
Sensible Hare and the Case of Carrots
Penguin Group/Putnam
pages 81
ISBN: 9780399250385
Release Date: February 2009
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Book Reviews -
Easy Chapter Books
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Written by Kathy Allen
 Olivia Kidney has another exciting adventure in New York City. Olivia is dealing with a new school and family drama as she embarks upon a new escapade in the subways beneath Manhattan. This book was okay but younger readers might enjoy Olivia’s silly life.
Review by Kathy Loewy, Library Media Assistant, Twin Peaks Elementary School
Rating: ★★★✩✩
Interest Level: 3-5 grades
Olivia Kidney and the Secret Beneath the City
Penguin Group
pages 32
ISBN: 978-1-4296-3338-3
Release Date: January 2009
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Book Reviews -
Easy Chapter Books
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Written by Tommy Donbavand
 This is the second book in the "Scream Street" series. Luke is still searching for the six relics and hoping to return home, but he has problems with vampires and rats. The students will like this book because of the cover and the title, but I had a hard time even finishing it.
Review by Laura Schmidt, Library Media Assistant, Fox Hills Elementary School
Rating: ★★✩✩✩
Interest Level: 3-6
Scream Street: Blood of the Witch
Candlewick Press
pages 128
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4607-3
Release Date: August 2009
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Book Reviews -
Easy Chapter Books
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Written and Illustrated by Shaun Tan
 This is a great mystery that leaves you wondering what really happened. Gavin was a young boy with a metal detector who loved to go the parks and look for lost things. One night as he is searching, he realizes that his watch is lost. He searches all over for it but can not find it. He is late returning home. He goes the next night as well and soon finds mysterious children that come out at night. They entice him to play with them. They get him to keep coming back at night. He soon realizes that he may not be able to return home.
Review by Karen Manning, Library Media Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-7
The Haunted Playground
Stone Arch Books / Capstone Press
73 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59889-860-6
Release Date: Sep 1, 2007
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Book Reviews -
Easy Chapter Books
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Written by Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore, Illustrated by Harriot Buckley
 This was a very good book. Sometimes we forget that the Internet can cause the most danger to people all over the world. The story begins with a CIA Agent going to see one of the worst criminals in the world. He is in a maximum security cell. He is a 14 year old boy who can hack into computer systems. A worm and a virus is about to be unleashed on the internet that day. It has the potential to do extreme damage throughout the world. The agent gets him to break the code and stop the worm. He does this and in the process changes the codes in the prison so he is able to escape. You then find out that he started the virus and figured that they would come to him to help stop it. He ends up walking out of prison and the one agent is stuck in Tim's cell. It will be 11 hours before he is checked on. What damage can Tim do now that he is once again out.
Review by Karen Manning, Library Media Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4-9
The Doomsday Virus
Stone Arch Books / Capstone Press
67 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59889-871-2
Release Date: Sep 1, 2007
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Book Reviews -
Easy Chapter Books
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Written by Jake Maddox, Illustrated by Tuesday Mourning
 Marissa is the main character in this story. She loves to dance. When the time comes for her studio to put on the Rose Fairy Ballet she is not very sure of herself. This is a great book and teaches a valuable lesson.
Review by Stefanie Meier, Library Media Assistant, Valley Crest Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: Grades 3-4
Ballet Bullies
Stone Arch Books / Capstone Press
65 pages
ISBN: 978-1-43421-604-5
Release Date: Aug 15, 2009
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Book Reviews -
Easy Chapter Books
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Written by Scott R. Welvaert, Illustrated by Brann Garvey
 This was an OK book. I had a hard time following everything that was going on. Buck and Agate are the main characters. They try to prevent the Mosquito King from taking over. Buck and Agate are spirit hunters. They belong to a group that has special powers and they are once again faced with an old enemy named Coyote. It may have been easier to follow if I had been more aware of old indian legends.
Review by Karen Manning, Library Media Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School
Rating: ★★★✩✩
Interest Level: Grades 5-8
The Mosquito King
Stone Arch Books / Capstone Press
105 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59889-857-6
Release Date: Sep 1, 2007
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Book Reviews -
Easy Chapter Books
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Written by Jake Maddox, Illustrated by Sean Tiffany
 Shawn Lewis has an ego the size of his go-kart when he wins the latest race. An opportunity to join a real pit crew humbles Shawn as he learns life lessons of humility and team work.
Review by Amy Gerritsen, Library Media Assistant, Stansbury Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grade 3
Race Car Rival
Stone Arch Books / Capstone Press
62 pages
ISBN: 978-1-43421-601-4
Release Date: Aug 15, 2009
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Book Reviews -
Easy Chapter Books
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Written by Marc Tyler Nobleman, Illustrated by Bradford Kimball
 Fourteen year old Simon Print is transformed into a wolfanoid: half-boy, half beast. Scary story lovers will be engaged with werewolf pictures and a frightening yet fun story line.
Review by Amy Gerritsen, Library Media Assistant, Stansbury Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 5-6
Werewolf High
Stone Arch / Capstone Press
75 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4342-1612-0
Release Date: Aug 15, 2009
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Book Reviews -
Easy Chapter Books
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Written by Megan McDonald, Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
 Judy and Stink go on a mad cap and swashbuckling escapade when the Moody family goes on vacation to "Artichoke” Island. A treasure hunt gives the pair of scallywags an adventure they will never forget. Kid will love this book.
Review by Amy Gerritsen, Library Media Assistant, Stansbury Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 2-4
The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt (Judy Moody & Stink)
Candlewick Press
115 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3962-4
Release Date: Jul 28, 2009
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Book Reviews -
Easy Chapter Books
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Written by Bernadette Kelly, Illustrated by Liz Agler
 What do you do with a lazy and naughty pony? The fun begins when Norton, the pony, takes pony lessons to become a better pet. Naughty Norton creates quite a stir but saves the day in a twist of crazy events. I will definitely order this series for my library.
Review by Amy Gerritsen, Library Media Assistant, Stansbury Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 2-3
Norton Saves the Day
Picture Window Books / Capstone Press
46 pages
ISBN: 978-1-40485-505-2
Release Date: Aug 15, 2009
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Book Reviews -
Easy Chapter Books
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Written by
 This book was not very interesting for me. However, I do feel the students will like it. It's about a boy named Luke who discovers he is a werewolf, but his parents are not. He has to get them back home and out of Scream Street.
Review by Kaye Derrick, Library Media Assistant, Fox Hills Elementary School
Rating: ★★½✩✩
Interest Level: Grades 2-4
Scream Street: Fang of the Vampire
Candlewick Press
129 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4608-0
Release Date: Aug 25, 2009 (paperback)
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Book Reviews -
Easy Chapter Books
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Written by C. Warren, Illustrated by Pete Smith
 This is a great easy chapter book. It is about two brothers who have just moved into a new home. The first night they are there, they hear strange noises. They go looking for clues the next day. They do find a buried bone in their yard. The next night they hear the noises and look out the window. They see a white dog tied to a post in the yard by the bone. THey go out and begin to chase the dog. He leads them down the street and they realize this dog is a ghost. The house he leads them to has a dog in the yard that is sick and very hungry. He has not been taken care of. They take the dog home and get him some help. They never see the ghost dog again. He was just there to help them find the other dog.
Review by Karen Manning, Library Media Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★½
Interest Level: Grades 3-8
The Ghost Dog
Stone Arch / Capstone Press
33 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59889-847-7
Release Date: Sep 1, 2007
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Book Reviews -
Easy Chapter Books
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Written by
 This was an interesting book. This is about a young girl who does not want to see herself or her parents age. She is very concerned about growing old. She reads a book about a man who ate carp guts and it extended his life. She decides to try this out on her parents without them knowing about it. She sees a big difference in their health and energy. However, she also starts to see some side effects. This in turn affects her baby brother. Her parents and brother are turning into apes. She has to come to terms with her own existence and realize that getting old is not so bad. This was interesting and made me think about getting old myself.
Review by Karen Manning, Library Media Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★½
Interest Level: Grades 4-9
The Fish Gut Experiment
Stone Arch / Capstone Press
73 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59889-862-0
Release Date: Sep 1, 2007
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Book Reviews -
Easy Chapter Books
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Written by John R. Erickson, Illustrated by Gerald L. Holmes
 Hank is tricked by Pete the cat again. Enter two lost pelicans who even the score for Hank. While this is a cute story, it does ramble at times. It also has many misspelled words, since Hank isn't too bright. They are part of the story - but do you want your students exposed to many wrong spellings? If you have other Hank books, you may want to get this one.
Review by Kathy Loewy, Library Media Assistant, Twin Peaks Elementary School
Rating: ★★★½✩
Interest Level: Grades K-3
The Case of the Dinosaur Birds (Hand the Cowdog Series, #54)
Viking / Penguin Group
123 pages
ISBN: 978-0-670-01155-1
Release Date: Jun 11, 2009
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Book Reviews -
Easy Chapter Books
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Written by David A. Adler
 There are three short mysteries in this book. Each mystery involves a sport - racing, soccer and baseball. Cam always has an interesting way of solving mysteries and these stories are no exception. I think the readers will enjoy the memory games in the back of the book. I would recommend this book for a newly independent reader. It would hold their interest.
Review by Dianne Sonzini, Library Media Assistant, Pioneer Elementary School
Rating: ★★★½✩
Interest Level: Grades 1-3
Cam Jansen and the Sports Day Mysteries
Viking / Penguin Group
118 pages
ISBN: 978-0-670-01163-6
Release Date: Apr 2, 2009
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Book Reviews -
Easy Chapter Books
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Written by Kate Banks, Illustrated by Tomek Bogacki
 Max and his older brother Pete discover much about the universe. The most important thing they learn is about themselves. Although Max and Pete are very different they discover that there is a place for both of them in this wonderful universe. This book would be a great supplement to a space unit or a unit on the family.
Review by Diane Sonzini, Library Media Assistant, Pioneer Elementary School
Rating: ★★★✩✩
Interest Level: Grades 1-2
Monkeys and the Universe
Frances Foster / Farrar, Straus & Giroux
48 pages
ISBN: 978-0-374-35028-4
Release Date: Mar 31, 2009
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Book Reviews -
Easy Chapter Books
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Written by Gary Crew, Illustrated by Gregory Rogers
Janet is a girl who has never had any friends. Lola is a new girl at school who stands out and is different. However, she befriends Janet. One day Janet is invited to spend the night at Lola's. She takes a bus and is left all alone at the end of the bus route. She is nervous. No one is there to meet her. There is nothing at all around this bus stop. Finally a dog shows up. She finally follows the dog to see if he is leading her to Lola. We never find out what happened to Lola or Janet. This book is written to leave you with a lot of unanswered questions. There are questions at the end of the story to guide you to make your own conclusions.
Review by Karen Manning, Library Media Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★½
Interest Level: Grades 5-9
The End of the Line
Stone Arch / Capstone Press
73 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59889-859-0
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