Written and Illustrated John Himmelman

Review
When Sara Ann brings home three little kittens, Katie the dog's enthusiasm frightens the kittens away and Sara Ann mistakenly thinks Katie doesn't like them. Will Katie get to be the kittens' friend?

The pictures of Katie and the kittens are adorable and help to portray the feelings of Katie as she tries to figure out how to be a friend. I liked this book more with each reading.

Keri Crane, James E. Moss Elementary Library Media Assistant

 

Written by Carolyn Crimi, Illustrated by John Manders

Review
Little Baby Mummy wants one more game of hide and seek before bed. He finds several creatures that warn him to go home. Where's my Mummy? is a great read-aloud for Halloween.  

and other Questions about the Environment

Written by Sean Callery

Review
Well written book. Answers questions about the environment such as, "What's that smell?" and "Why is there a hole in the sky?" The illustrations are wonderful!  

Written and Illustrated by Scott Goto

Review
This is a book with a good message. Although everyone wants the perfect sword that has been made, only one person truly deserves it. Taking such great pride in something you make with your hands has become rather unique in our society. This is an excellent book to share with classes when discussing personal integrity, etc. The illustrations enhance the story greatly. They tell the story as much as the written word!  

A Volcanic Eruption You'd Rather Avoid

Written by John Malam, Illustrated by David Antram

Review
Ancient Pompeii is explained, leading up to the eruption, August 25, AD 79, of Mount Vesuvius. This book is much more than a story of a volcano. It is a history of a civilzation including the Romans and their Greek servants, their culture, customs, pastimes and lifestyle. It is written as though the reader is a Greek Servant responsible for a young Roman boy and we learn of his responsibilites to the family. The book is very colorful wtih cartoon type graphics. There are small text boxes with additional facts and hints. There is also a glossary and index in the back of the book.  This book could be useful as a tie-in with 6th grade ancient civilizations curriculum.  

Written by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Review
After her father's death, Charlotte Miller,  the oldest of two daughters, becomes the owner and operator of Stirwaters, the family wool mill.   Charlotte and her sister Rosie seem to encounter problem after problem.  Charlotte is determined not to loose the mill, but no matter what she does the troubles persist. At first Charlotte thinks that all the problems are caused simply by bad luck and vandalism but eventually starts to believe the stories that the mill and her family are cursed.  Out of desperation to save the mill Rosie and Charlotte call upon the services of Jack Spinner, who can turn straw into gold.  After things go from bad to worse, Charlotte sets out on a dangerous journey to find out who the mysterious Jack Spinner is and how she can break the family curse.  This story is a delightful retelling of "Rumplestilskin."  This would be a good book of the month. 

Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Young Adult

Scholastic
400 pages
ISBN: 978-0-439-89576-7
Copyright:  March 2008







 

Written and Illustrated by Mei Matsuoka

Review
All of the books Mr. Nice Wolf has been reading portray wolves as nasty, scary, and greedy - surely he can change the minds of Duck and the other animals he finds along his way when Wolf authors his own story. Darling, simple illustrations tell Mr. Nice Wolf's story of following footprints in the snow, in an attempt to find a new friend. Surprises await the ending of this story.  

Written by Judith Viorst, Illustrated by Christine Davenier

Review
A young boy seeks attention from members of his family. No matter how badly he behaves, no one comes to stop him. The story does have a happy picture on the last page.  

Written by Erica Silverman, Illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger

Review
This is a fun variation of "There Was an Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe." It is written in rhyme. The woman and her children realize they live by all the giants and they are afraid that they will be eaten if they are found. However, they find a giant who likes them and invites them to stay in her doll house.  

Written by Mary Englar

Review
This book tells about the Comanche Warriors. It explains how they got their horses and how they came to be experienced horsmen and hunters. It talks about how the Indians were eventually put on the reservations and how the Indians could hold off the government until they took away their horses and destroyed their food. It was very interesting and gave a lot of in-depth information about the Comanche Warriors.  

Written by Suzanne Slade, Illustrated by Siri Weber Feeney

Review
I thought this was a well written and easy to understand book. It was very interesting to learn about Booker T. Washington. He was a slave who really wanted to go to school. Finally, when he was freed he was able to go. At 16, he left home to continue his schooling. He graduated from the Hampton Institute for African Americans. He then began training teachers. He soon began training industrialists. He worked very hard at getting blacks the opportunities so that they could someday become equal. I enjoyed the facts and history that was presented.  

Written by Christine Taylor-Butler

Review
With a colorful introduction to the new Food Pyramid, this book explains to the reader each part of the pyramid for a healthy lifestyle. The text is easy to read, targeting 3-6 grades, and the colorful illustrations capture attention. This book is an excellent addition to libraries because of its current up-to-date information about the importance of good nutrition and exercise.  

Written by David Burnie, Illustrated by Anthony Lewis

Review
A fun introduction to the dinosaur world, following a Tyrannosaurus Rex from continent to continent as the text explains what dinosaurs lived on each one. The pictures are colorful and informative, and would hold the attention of pre-schoolers as well as older children, who could read the text. Comes with a cute T-Rex bookmark, attached with a ribbon and a world map showing the dinosaurs talked about in the book. I would highly recommend this book to any child who has a love for dinosaurs or one just developing one. Although the bookmark and map are a great idea, they could easily get lost or damaged in a library setting.  

Written by Monk and Nigel Ashland, Illustrated by Jeff Nentrup

Review
This is the story of two children, Rom (Breaker) and Mei (Drangonfly). They have the Kaimira gene which makes them part human, mek, and beast. The locations are Las Vegas for Rom and China for Mei. They each have a book that connects their thoughts and situations. It is a time where the humans, beasts, and machines called meks battle each other for land and food. Mei's mother is captured by the meks and her father takes her to live with family in the Sky Village while he searches for his wife. Mei is unhappy to be left behind and afraid of living in the air so far from the ground. As she lives with the sky people, she finds that many things her mohter taught her relate to life in the sky. She also begins to feel a connection with these relatives and other people who live in a balloon village above ground to avoid the battles taking place on the ground. Rom must learn to battle with his alter ego, a demon he calls spot, in caverns below Las Vegas. This is a fantastic story with many interesting twists and turns. The authors plan to have five books in this series and it will be interesting to see how the story develops. In the end of book one, Rom and Mei have unleashed a monster to help them defeat their enemies. Once the monster is unleashed they find they have made a mistake that may cost everyone their lives. I look forward to the next book.  

Written and Illustrated by Randy Cecil

Review
Duck is a wood carousel animal who longs to fly. One day a small, lost duckling wanders into Duck’s life. They become inseparable. However, Duckling doesn’t show any signs of flying so Duck straps the duckling to his back and sets out to find some real ducks. Will Duckling learn to fly and if he does will he leave Duck? It is a charming tale with a strong message of love and friendship. The illustrations are fun and colorful (oil). Although the book is for children K-3, the message is for any age. I highly recommend this book.

Cindy Moyle, GSD Library Media Specialist

Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

Duck,by Randy Cecil
Candlewick Press
40 Pages
Interest Level: K-3
ISBN: 9780763630720
Copyright: 2/12/2008

 


 

 

Written by Annie Jane Leavitt

This great nonfiction book explains the background of the Declaration of Independence and then pulls it apart by section and explains the meaning. Words are highlighted and definitions are listed to these words on the side of the page. It also describes the reasons the declaration was written and what it has meant throughout history. There are color photographs and illustrations that support the text. This book must be part of a series, maybe "fact finders: kid's translations." I would like to see additional titles in this series.

Review by Sandy Brigman, Robert Frost Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★

Thomas Jefferson was, by today's standards, quite the sesquipedalian when he penned the Declaration of Independence. This book nicely explains the verbose eighteenth century language of  the Declaration to today's elementary school age student.  This book is useful for everyone who lives in our less literary age and would like an easier to understand explanation of what the Founders were about when they broke ties with Great Britain.

Review by Thomas Phipps, Upland Terrace Elementary School Technology Specialist  

Written by Ernest Drake, Edited and Illustrated by Dugald Steer

Suppose that monsters really existed. One would then need an authoritative guide, written by an authoritative Monsterologist to inform the would be student of Unicorns, Yetis, Minotaurs, Chimeras, etc. of any and all facts pertaining to said creatures. This is that guide, written in late Victorian style in 1893 by the esteemed Monsterologist, Dr. Ernest Drake!

Children will love this book. Along with written descriptions and histories of the various monsters, it includes numerous surprises. A real example of skin from a sea serpent's tail? Actual ashes of the phoenix? A patch of six legged salamander skin? Hairs from a unicorn's mane? You'll find them all here, and much more.

Please leave them with the book, though, and beware the misfortune that befalls the thief of such exotic specimens!  

Written by Heather Dyer, Illustrated by Peter Bailey

Ibby spends a few days with her two cousins while her parents attend a convention. Her cousin Francis finds an old magic kit. This is not just tricks but real magic. The three cousins try evey trick in the kit without thinking about the consequences. The next few days are spent "un-doing" what the tricks did or waiting for the "magic" to wear off and trying not to let Aunt Carole find out about the magic box. There is shrinking, levitation, invisibility and more that starts out as fun but always ends up causing trouble. It has a nice surprise ending.

This book is a fun beginning fiction book. After just 4 pages this book became fun. The pace is smooth and it held my attention.  

Written by Carl Deuker

Mick Johnson wanted to be the starting running back on his football team from the moment his father put a football into his hands at the age of four.  Mick believed his father was a tremendous football player who played for the NFL, but later realizes he did not get the full story.  He vows never to make the same mistakes his father made, but Mick makes his own mistakes.  Can he overcome them?  Carl Deuker tells a meaningful story with a great lesson mixed in.  I give this book 5 stars as the best sports book I have ever read.  

Written by Richard Platt, Illustrated by Manuela Cappon

I was really excited about this book because of the Olympics being there. It went through all of time. It was interesting and the illustrations were very good with little notations explaining the details.  

Written by Kate DiCamillo, Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen

This is the fifth book about troublsome Mercy, a pig who is always at odds with her neighbor Eugenia. In this story Mercy eats the petunias Eugenia is busy planting. The animal control officer is called and is outsmarted by Mercy. The art work captures all of the fun of Mercy's capers. K-3 graders love the Mercy books and they are checked out weekly with waiting lists.  

Written by Juliana, Isabella, and Craig Hatkoff and Dr. Gerald R. Uhlich

This is a true story of a polar bear cub who needed a family. When Knut was born, the first polar bear cub at the Berlin Zoo in more than thirty years, he was no bigger than a snowball. His mother was unable to care for him, so a zookeeper at the zoo, Thomas Dorflein, became Knut’s foster father. It’s the story of how Thomas devoted four months of his life to caring for the polar bear cub. While the details about cub care are interesting, it's the pictures that really sell this book. Who doesn’t love pictures of cute baby animals! The book ends with a short section on polar bears, and a page on what the reader can do to help protect their habitat. I highly recommend this book to animal lovers, people with children and anyone who just enjoys a great true story! This is a book that will capture your heart.  

Written by Jody Sullivan Rake

Review
The Frogfish is one title in the new Weird Animals set published by Capstone Press. This is a nonfiction book that is written on a K-1 reading level with an interest level of PreK-2. This Pebble Plus book lives up to the quality of other Pebble Plus books I have read. The pictures are large, bright, and colorful, with large simple print. Early readers will find this book enjoyable to read. The author uses a map to illustrate where these fish are found and a diagram that labels photographs to build vocabulary (pectoral fins and dorsal fin). The photos-text match to aid in student comprehension.

I am really impressed once again with the quality of books produced by Capstone Press.  Young readers can't help but be pulled in and engaged with the content found here. If you are looking for books that cover animal adaptations for younger readers this set of books fits the bill.  

Written by Will Peterson

Rachel and Adam Newman, twins, receive an extremely unfriendly welcome when they go to England to visit their grandmother.  At first the town appears to be deserted.  Then two brothers show up and attack Adam.  Even their grandmother seems oddly distant.  And then there are the bees that appear to follow a mysterious force.  Everything seems to be connected to the Triskellion (a symbol etched in chalk on the moors).  As the twins get closer to the truth about their ancestors and the secret the village has protected they put themselves in a very dangerous situation.  

Written and Illustrated by Barney Saltzberg

Stanley is back again at our school! Stanley is chosen to take the class pet home for the weekend. At the encouragement of his friend, he opens the cage and the class pet, a parrot, flies away. It is difficult for them to decide who is responsible for the bird being gone. Stanley and Larry take responsibility and apologize to the teacher and class. This is a great book to use for peer pressure and responsibility and consequences for actions. Our school has the other two Stanley books and will certainly enjoy this new one.  

Written by Nancy Farmer

Matteo Alacran is the young, naive clone of El Patrón, a one-hundred-forty-year-old drug lord who has carved out for himself a true empire in the border valleys between Mexico and the USA.  In a world where most clones have their intelligence destroyed at creation and are despised by all, Matt, after a young childhood spent in isolation, is brought into the Alacran household to be raised in luxury and provided a fine education.  Matt excels and blossoms in this situation, although ignored and hated by most everyone in the house and allowed to exist only at the whim of El Patrón.  Matt infers that his education, talent and DNA mean that he will one day rise to a level of influence and prestige in El Patron's empire, but he is painfully oblivious to the mechanations of El Patrón and the actual fate that awaits a clone such as himself.  Matt is a fascinating character for whom the reader roots, yet great tension is generated by the distinct possibility that he may turn toward amorality and ruthlessness, as his progenitor did. 

It appears that this book was awarded a truckload of honors when it was first released, so it doesn't necessarily need my accolades, but in all truthfulness you can't really expect to find a young adult novel any better than this one.  It pushes all the right buttons: an intriguing premise, strong likeable and hateable characters, masterful plotting, clear descriptions and dialogue that allow you to perfectly visualize the worlds and situations described, numerous moral, scientific, political and theological issues to contemplate and discuss, all while acting as an exciting page-turner and a coming-of-age story.  This book has slight echoes of works as diverse as Great Expectations, 1984, and Ender's Game.  I recommend this book to anyone age 13 and up, and possibly younger if they are precocious readers.  

Written and Illustrated by Mary Ann Fraser

The story is really cute and has a good lesson to it that what you think that you really want is what you want. The illistrations are great. My girls read this story and they loved it, they were pretty bumbed that we did not get to keep it.  

Written and Illustrated by Mélanie Watt

Melanie Watt's fiesty cat, Chester, is back. This time he wants Melanie to write a book about him, but he thinks her book is boring, so he takes over again. Melanie gets so frustrated that she holds auditions for a replacement for Chester. Chester scares off his replacement and Melanie gives in to Chester's demands, but with her own twist. The book ends with Chester advertising for a replacement for Melanie to write his next picture book.

This book is sure to be a big hit with the kids. They love Chester, and this book is just as delightful as the first. The illustrations are eye-catching and bright. Chester's illustrations and text are all done in red marker, so there is no mistaking what he wants.
 

Written by Carole Gerber, Illustrated by Leslie Evans

This book presents a boy and his dog walking through an Eastern woods on a winter day exploring the various kinds of trees they find. The illustrations are digitally enhanced linoleum block print, watercolor, and collage in lovely predominately winter shades. A nonfiction selection to help children learn how to identify trees in their winter presentation. Very beautiful book; only drawback I see is that it focuses on eastern trees rather than on trees we are familiar with here in Utah. Other than that a solid 5-star winner. AR level 3.7, 1/2 point.  

Written by Christine Taylor-Butler

Very informative information on how the respiratory system works. It talks about how we breathe and how the heart and lungs work together to make this happen. The color pictures are very helpful and informative.  

Written by Jean F. Blashfield

This beautifully laid out book gives a broad overview of the country, from geography and history to current lifestyles. I especially like how the author combines information about modern Italian life with brief glimpses into history. Maps provide information on both ancient and current population as well as resources, geopolitical facts and topography. Students will find all the information they would need for a comprehensive report on the country.  

Written by Elaine Landau

This is an excellent book to gain information about Mexico. It tells about the geography of Mexico, along with government, language, food, and customs. The pictures are very colorful and informative.  

Written by Tara Walters

This is a very informative book on Brazil. It gives information about the geography, history, culture, language, and government. The pictures are very colorful and informative. This is an excellent book for young students who are in need of report information. It is easy to read and will hold the student's interest.  

Written by Mel Friedman

This is an excellent book on China. It has information about the geography, history, culture, language, and government. It is full of colorful photographs that help keep the interest of the reader. This is a very helpful book to a student who needs to do a report. It is easy to read and very informative.  

Written by Wendy Corsi Staub

The mysteries continue in the second book of the Lily Dale series. After spending the summer with her grandmother, Calla decides to stay in Lily Dale, hoping to unearth more about her mothers untimely death. When Calla helps authorities find the body of a missing girl, she becomes the next target of Kaitlyn's killer who has perpetrated a string of abductions. While trying to understand more about her new found gift she uncovers the whereabouts of a recent victim that has been dumped while still alive. Will Calla be able to help her before she dies?  

Written and Illustrated Barney Saltzberg

I loved the message in this book. I think it is so uplifting to any age.  

Written by Rebecca L. Johnson

An interesting look at climate change with its effect on global warming, endangered species, melting ice flows and much more. Colored illustrations and pullout text boxes help keep the reader's interest. Includes glossary, index and bibliography. A good ilbrary addition for understanding of this current issue.  

Written by Tim O'Shei

From Capstone's Blazers books, Kung Fu introduces children to this form of martial arts with origins, techniques, and skills. The photographs are large and interesting. The text is easy to read and all the information you need to learn about Kung Fu is readily accessible without overloading on words. There is a glossary to help readers, an index and additional websites for further information. I was also impressed, after reading this book, with how much research went into the movie Kung Fu Panda. I thought WOW, these things are true. I recommend these highly interesting, low level books for reluctant readers as they truly interest children and get them to read a book from cover to cover.

Review by Renee Larsen, Hillside Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-9 (High Interest/Low Reading Level)


A very easy book for younger children to read about how the sport came into being. The illustrations are very good at showing each of the different postions that can be learned from Kung Fu. There is a glossary to help one to pronounce the different words that they may not understand and find the definiton of the word. It is a book that one could buy for a beginning student of the art so they could understand the sport.  

Written and Illustrated by Mike Venezia

The text of the book gives you a knowledge how Einstein lived and what was important to him. It showed that no matter what people thought that he was true to himself and tried to help people understand the universe.  

Written and Illustrated by Eric Carle

Eleven of Aesop's fables retold and illustrated by Eric Carle. What can you say about Aesop's fables besides the great lessons learned from the fables?

Great reading for all ages.  

Written by Markus Zuzak

 

Written and Illustrated by Nick Sharratt

This is a very clever shadow book! Children will be fascinated with the effect of the clouded pages and unusual shadow figures that appear in color on the opposite page. This book is sure to be a hit!  

Written by Alexis O'Neill, Illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith

Mike and Conrad are "best, BEST" friends. A new student (Victor) who is boisterous and flashy, splits up the two friends. Conrad finds out what a real friend means and Mike seems to grow as he finds positive ways to interact with others after Conrad becomes friends with Victor. In the end all is well. The way the two work through it is a great example of how to act without acting out.  

Written by Jane Bingham

This book begins with an excellent brief history of who the Romans were, how they came to power and how the empire collapsed, complete with a timeline and map all on the first page. In subsequent pages we learn about Augustus, Julius Caesar, Hedrian, Nero and Pliny, as well as several of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. Information is given about the classes of people, their jobs, and what they did for recreation. The photography of Roman relics is excellent with good explantions and descriptions.  

Written by Sneed B. Collard III

This is very informative for the 5-8 grade readers. It addresses how species that are not natural to an environment are destroying it. Ways to combat the problems, failures and successes are discussed. Each page is full of beautiful color pictures (if you like close ups of larvae and stuff) with detailed captions. The information is smooth in delivery, informative but not boring.  

Written by Karen Wallace, Illustrated by Bob DeWar

This chapter book is a charming Christmas story about an anteater who travels to the North Pole to ask Santa why anteaters don't get presents. The illustrations are comical and beautifully done. I especially love the page that shows Alice crying. I really enjoyed finding out the answer to Alice's question.  

Written by Mark Bergin

Magical creatures come alive in Bergin's latest drawing book.  By following his techniques, any budding artist can learn the art of sketching magical creatures.  In addition to providing help with sketching, Bergin also details the elements of art.  The book keeps the reader's interest by explaining the origins of magical creatures like Centaur and Gryphon.  Providing an understanding of the magical creatures helps the the would-be artist draw characters in their "natural" and more traditional environments.

Review by Amy Gerritsen, Stansbury Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-8

How to Draw Magical Creatures and Mythical Beasts
Rosen Publishing Group
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4358-2518-5
Release Date: September 2008  

Written and Illustrated by Nick Bruel

This book will definitely will be a favorite for any age. I found myself laughing out loud as I read the humorous gags of giving a kitty a bath. The illustrations give the book good comedic timing. Fun facts about cats adds to the full dimension of Kitty.  The book closes with a funny epilogue on bathing puppies.

Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: All Ages

Bad Kitty Gets a Bath
Roaring Brooks Press
125 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59643-341-0
Release Date: August 2008





 

 

Written and Illustrated by Carmela and Steven D'amico

Warm red and blue hues are the palette for another Mediterranean adventure of Ella the Elephant on Elephant Island. When Ella goes to a carnival and loses her lucky hat, she learns a valuable lesson about the real meaning of luck. I was surprised that Ella would “borrow” a boat and sail it in a storm without the permission of her mother or the boat owner. It’s just another day in a fun adventure of Ella the Elephant.  

Written and Illustrated by Cambria Evans

Finnigin, famous for his monstrous appetite, finds himself hungry and in a new town on Halloween. However, all the creatures have hidden their food. In a fun retelling of the French traditional story “Stone Soup,” Finnigin sets out to make a macabre soup of eyeballs, frog legs and other traditional zombie ingredients that the entire town enjoys. I liked the watercolor and digital color illustrations followed by an author’s note of tasting eyeball stew in Cusco, Peru.  

Written by Matt Doeden

This book tells us just who Jeff Gordon is and also gives information about the Nascar race circut. Find out how young he was when he started racing.  

Written by Linda Leopold Strauss, Illustrated by Malene Reynolds Laugesen

Hanna's Father is making a wedding dress for the Princess's upcoming marriage. Everyone in the family is involved. On the final inspection, Hanna finds a small smudge on one panel of the skirt. With no money to replace nor time to redo, Hanna gives her Grandmother a clever suggestion.

I love to sew, therefore I loved this beautiful book! What a brilliant idea to save the dress! I hope when the children read this they get the message that not all is lost when something bad happens but to put your brain in gear to make something good come of it.

Review by Kathleen Okelberry, Woodrow Wilson Elementary Library Media Assistant  

Written by Connie Colwell Miller

Beginning Reader Book. Great Photos. Introduces care, life cycle, and physical characteristics of this breed of cat . Very nice photographs. Also includes a table of contents, glossary, bibliography, and index.

Margo France, Morningside Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-2

Sphynx Cats
Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-42961-717-8
Release Date: July 2008




 

Written by Martha E.H. Rustad

Beginning reader. An accurate introduction to the planets with the revision of Pluto. Great photos. Includes table of contents, glossary, bibliography, and index.  

Written by Janice Behrens

Very easy reading book about riding horses. Good for very early readers. Has words to look for in the reading with definitions.

Sara Justet, Carl Sandburg Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-2

Let's Talk Riding
Scholastic Children's Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-0-531-13826-7
Release Date: September 2008






 

Written by Colleen Sexton

Well written, easy book about Coral Reefs. Interesting facts and wonderful pictures will pull children in.

Sara Justet, Carl Sandburg Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-2

Coral Reefs
Bellwether Media / Scholastic
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-60014-228-4
Release Date: August 2008

 

Written by Kay Manolis

Very easy reader with great pictures and easy text for early readers to explore. Glossary of highlighted terms in the back of the book.

Sara Justet, Carl Sandburg Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-2

Skid Steer Loaders
Bellwether Media / Scholastic
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-60014-181-2
Release Date: August 2008

 

Written by Anne Wendorff

Easy reader book with interesting facts about tornadoes. Well written with a glossary of terms which are highlighted in the text. Great pictures.

Sara Justet, Carl Sandburg Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-2

Tornadoes
Bellwether Media / Scholastic
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-60014-187-4
Release Date: August 2008


 

Written by Matt Doeden

This book is about weapons used in the ancient times. Ancient times are described as anything over 2000 years ago. Weapons used for killing food and for fighting are described.

Sara Justet, Carl Sandburg Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 5-8

Weapons of Ancient Times
Capstone Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4296-1967-7
Release Date: July 2008






 

Written by Jennifer Dussling

Did you know that a tiny bright yellow frog could kill a tarantula? Well, you could learn that and a lot of other interesting facts about poisonous frogs in this book. This is a wonderful beginning nonfiction book. It has many interesting facts with big colorful pictures. The text is easy to read and includes extra information on each of the pictures. I would definitely recommend this book for any elementary library. The kids will love it.

Irene Taylor, Vista Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

Deadly Poison Dart Frogs
Bearport Publishing
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59716-720-8
Release Date: August 2008
 

Written by Howard Zimmerman

Introduced eight armored dinosaurs, showing fossils, how to pronounce their names, how big they were compared to man, and other information about each one. I found it informative and am sure children will find it interesting.

Kathleen Okleberry, Woodrow Wilson Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

Armored and Dangerous
Bearport Publishing
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59716-712-3
Release Date: August 2008

 

Written by Li Cunxin, Illustrated by Anne Spudvilas

A young boy from an impoverished family in China is chosen to become a student at the Beijing Dance Academy. After years of hard work he was able to travel to America. From there he danced all over the world.

Kathleen Okleberry, Woodrow Wilson Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

Dancing to Freedom
Walker & Co.
40 pages
ISBN: 978-0-8027-9777-3
Release Date: July 2008


 

Written and Illustrated by Anthony Browne

A signing gorilla had everything he needed, everything except a friend. He's given a kitten to take care of. When the gorilla breaks the TV, the kitten takes the blame so they can stay together. I love "Happily Ever After" stories! It's an easy read for the children.

Kathleen Okelberry, Woodrow Wilson Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-4

Little Beauty
Candlewick Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3959-4
Release Date: January 9, 2009

 

 

Written by Bruce Coville

This is the third volume in the Unicorn Chronicles. It is more complex than the other two. Cara embarks on her own dangerous mission to seek the truth about Whisper and to prevent Beloved from destroying the unicorns.  Multiple plot lines. Recommended for grades 5th and up.

Margo France, Morningside Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 5 and up

Dark Whispers (The Unicorn Chronicles #3)
Scholastic
480 pages
ISBN: 978-0-590-45951-8
Release Date: August 2008
 

by the Editors of Yes Magazine

Very eye-catching cover.  I do not like how distracting the back of the title page is; it contains photo credits, etc. The table of contents page is visually pleasing and well set up. The dot-dots around some of the pictures are an invitation for students to cut them right out of the book. Great inclusion of a time line - but why does it only go up to 1969? I like the set up of the book--it even includes some trivia sections. Students will enjoy the variety of photographs and illustrations. A very high interest book that will appeal to students of all ages and reading abilities.

Review by Amber Palmer, Bennion Elementary 4th Grade Teacher
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Preschool - Grade 12

Robots: From Everyday to Out of This World
Kids Can Press
48 pages
ISBN: 978-1-55453-203-2
Release Date: September 2008
 

Illustrated by Robert Crowther, text by Paul Harrison

This cool pop-up book describes ships and boats, from the earliest raft to ocean liners and modern ports. Clearly defined vocabulary helps the reader understand bow from stern and clippers from junks.

Review by Catharine Armstrong, Jim Bridger Elementary Library Media Assistant
Curriculum Ties: Greece, Rome - 6th Grade (America Strand), Explorers - 5th Grade (World Strand)
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-6

Ships: A Pop-Up Book
Candlewick Press
10 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3852-8
Release Date: November 11, 2008  

Written in a brief and easy reading text for both English and Spanish readers, this book reviews the history, design, and construction of the Lamborghini automobile, a superfast car made in Italy. The readers will be fascinated to see a picture of the company founder, Ferruccio Lamborghini driving his Lamborghini tractor. Though his business was tractors, Lamborghini's real love was sports cars!  Features color photographs, descriptions of the different models, and discusses its performance on the open road.

I found this book to be an interesting read, and know that the boys will be racing and waiting in line to check this book out. Book has an nice cover with reinforced library binding. Features Blazer Fact side bars that present some added and useful information to the reader. Book is complete with a table of contents, glossary, and index.

Review by Bonnie Prime, Taylorsville Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 1-4
Bilingual: English/Spanish

Lamborghini
Capstone Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4296-2381-0
Released July 2008  

Written by Norm Barnhart

This book is excellent - from the eye-catching cover to the colorful and easy to follow instructions for the magic tricks. I think it will instill confidence in the reader as they try to do what all children love - perform a magic trick.

Review by Marsha Clark, Granger Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

Amazing Magic Tricks: Expert Level
Capstone Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-42961-945-5
Release Date: July 2008
 

Written by Natalie Lunis

This is a well-written book about black widow spiders for younger readers. It gives age appropriate information as well as excellent, colorful pictures. I'm sure it will be checked out frequently from our nonfiction shelves.

Review by Marsha Clark, Granger Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

Deadly Black Widows
Bearport Publishing
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59716-667-6
Release Date: August 2008
 

Written and Illustrated by Walter Wick

Kids love the I Spy series so I know this will be a welcome addition to our library. The pictures are vivid and appealing and will give readers an opportunity to search for details. I am of the opinion that, even through there isn't a lot of reading, anything that gets a book in a student's hands is a good thing.

Review by Marsha Clark, Granger Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-6

On a Scary Scary Night (Can You See What I See?)
Scholastic
35 pages
ISBN: 978-0-439-70870-8
Release Date: August 2008
 

Written by Deborah Nuzzolo

This is an excellent nonfiction book for younger grades. Books about sharks are very popular and this one has great colored pictures and easy-to-read text.

Review by Marsha Clark, Granger Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-2

Whale Shark
Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-42961-731-4
Release Date: July 2008
 

Written by Pamela F. Service, Illustrated by Mike Gorman

Zack has a cousin, Ethan, moving to his town. Zack bails him out of problems he gets into because he thinks he is an alien left here as a baby. Zack thinks Ethan is crazy but begins to change his mind when strange things happen to them at the mall and on vacation. The ending was not expected. It kept my attention and was a fun story to read.

Review by Sue Woods, Cottonwood Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-5

My Cousin, The Alien
Carolrhoda / Lerner Publishing
152 pages
ISBN: 9780822576273
Release Date: September 2008


 

Written by Ethan Edwards

A short informative book on the football player's life and his accomplishments. Nice format with highlighted words and glossary.

Review by Kim Liston, Woodstock Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-6

Meet Tom Brady
Rosen Publishing Group
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-40424-492-4
Release Date: September 2008

 

Written by Juliana Hatkoff et al, Photos by Peter Greste

A true story about a mountain gorilla family who rescued the baby gorilla Miza. Same authors of Owen and Mzee. Great info and pictures.

Review by Kim Liston, Woodstock Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-6

Looking for Miza: The True Story of the Mountain Gorilla Family Who Rescued On of Their Own
Scholastic
27 pages
ISBN: 978-0-545-08540-3
Release Date: October 2008  

Written by Musharraf Ali Farooqi, Illustrated by Eugene Yelchin

If you like shoes you will love this book. How many pairs of shoes would you need if you were an ant? The poor cobbler was worn out from making shoes for all the ants. He took a holiday. He never came back. What were the ants to do with no one to make shoes? It was a very fun book to read and I loved the illustrations.

Review by Jodie Uriarte, Copper Hills Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-6

The Cobbler's Holiday, or Why Ants Don't Wear Shoes
Roaring Brook Press
29 pages
ISBN: 978-159643-234-5
Release Date: September 2008
 

Written and Illustrated by James Marshall

I love George and Martha. These two friends have a lot of the same issues in life as we do. They deal with things in a very simple but very honest way. It has an added bonus: several of the late author's friends have written tributes to him and told stories about his life.

Review by Jodie Uriarte, Copper Hills Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-6

George and Martha: The Complete Stories of Two Best Friends
Houghton Mifflin
359 pages
ISBN: 978-0-618-89195-5
Release Date: September 2008
 

Written by Margaret Hall

In both English and Spanish, this book introduces beginning readers to the seasons of the year. They learn how the changes take place and a brief introduction to each of the four seasons. The text is simple, the print large, and the illustrations compliment the text and are colorful. There is a glossary, index, and websites for further study of the study.

Review by Renee Larsen, Hillside Elementary School Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: PreK - Grade 2
Bilingual: English / Spanish

Las estaciones del ano / Seasons of the Year
Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4296-2373-5
Release Date: January 2008
 

Written by Trisha Speed Shaskan, Illustrated by Todd Ouren

A delightful story of the octopus told in first person, with additional information given in sidebars. Includes colorful illustrations, glossary, index, fun facts and diagrams. A great addition for elementary library low-level nonfiction shelves.

Review by Becky Wakefield, John C. Fremont Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

I Am an Octopus: The Life of a Common Octopus
Picture Window / Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4048-4729-3
Release Date: July 2008
 

Written by Christine King Farris, Illustrated by London Ladd

MARCH ON! tells the story of the day Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired the nation with his "I Have a Dream" speech and the march for jobs and freedom in Washington D.C.  Written by Dr. King's sister, MARCH ON! tells a simple and straightforward story of that historic day in 1963. This book does not get too caught-up in surrounding details and the events leading up to the day. This book is dedicated to the Author's granddaughter and the beautiful illustrations and flowing text will make you feel like you listened in on a family reminiscing.

Review by Keri Crane, James E. Moss Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-7

March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World
Scholastic
15 pages
ISBN: 978-0-545-03537-6
August 2008  

Written by Libby Koponen

This was a very good book on the continent of South America. If a student was doing a report it would be
excellent for that. It has some interesting facts about the cultures, religions, people and land. It also has pictures that are real from the countries to see what they look like. It is written on about a 3rd grade level, but upper grades would find it very useful too. Besides the beautiful pictures, the best part, I think, is that everything you read about is TRUE.  

Review by Kaye Derrick, Fox Hills Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

South America (A True Book)
Scholastic Children's Press
48 pages
ISBN: 978-0-531-16869-1
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Deborah Kent

The format of this book, as well as the entire series, is excellent for reading and getting information quickly. It also includes more in-depth information on the state if you read it all the way through.  The book also provides definitions for words that one might not know and web sites for more information.

Review by Judy A Mitchell, Calvin Smith Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 5-8

Hawai'i (America the Beautiful Series)
Scholastic Children's Press
144 pages
ISBN: 978-0-531-18573-5
Release Date: May 2008
 

Written by Allan Ahlberg, Illustrated by Bruce Ingman

Pencil is lonely and starts to draw a boy, a dog, and a cat. Trouble begins after he also draws a paintbrush and an eraser. This is a darling book with very cute illustrations and a totally unpredictable plot and ending. A great read aloud.

Review by Terrie Bishop, Academy Park Elementary School Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

The Pencil
Candlewick Press
48 pages
ISBN:978-0-7636-3894-8
Release Date: October 2008  

Written by Roddy Doyle, Illustrated by Freya Blackwood

Siobhan and her father continue to feel sad in the years following the death of Siobhan's mother, until Siobhan follows the advice of a mysterious woman.

What a charming story! I loved it. It will be a comfort to children who've lost a loved one--as well as a good incentive for adults to share stories of "gone but not forgotten" friends and relatives.  The only sad part of this story is how long it took for Siobhan to tell her father what her mother had told her--and how long it took for her father to share his memories of her mother.

Review by Leanna Griffiths, Crestview Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

Her Mother's Face
Arthur A. Levine / Scholastic
40 pages
ISBN: 978-0-439-81501-7
Release Date: November 2008
 

Written by Jeanne DuPrau

Over years the evacuation instructions for the underground city of Ember have been unknowingly misplaced. The city is long past the time when "the builders" knew the people would need to leave the city. This story is about Lina and Doon, two young citizens of Ember, who find the instructions. I really liked this book. It is well written so you don't want to stop reading. There is adventure, mystery, and suspense up to and including the ending. It definitely leaves you wanting to read the sequel.

Review by Vicki Lewellyn, Pleasant Green Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4-8

The City of Ember (the first Book of Ember)
Random House
270 pages
ISBN: 978-0-375-82273-5
Release Date: 2003  

Written and Illustrated by Viviane Schwarz

Oh what a fun book! Children will love the realistic play time with cats. They won't be able to wait for their turn to check it out! I do question how the cut pages will hold up, but it would be a shame not to let them handle it. It's bound to be as loved as "Go Away Big Green Monster."

Review by Leanna Griffiths, Crestview Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Pre-K and up

There Are Cats in This Book
Candlewick Press
22 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3923-5
Release Date: November 2008
 

Written by Amanda Lumry & Laura Hurwitz

This book is about Riley and his family, who travel to Churchill, Canada to watch polar bears hunt seals on the ice of Hudson Bay. When they find no ice, they learn about the dangers of losing polar bears, as well as other arctic animals, to the ravages of global warming.

This is an excellent book for teaching about global warming and its effects on polar bears. Many scientists collaborated on this book. The facts are presented in a fun, informative way. The illustrations are a mixture of photographs and artistic drawings which depict the actual Arctic with the perceived activities of the family. Information boxes on most pages tell the scientific knowledge and theories. A glossary at the back adds to the information as well as the internet website. Much is learned in a fun way in this storybook. It has many cross-curricular connections. We will enjoy using it in classrooms as well as the library.

Review by Leanna Griffiths, Crestview Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades Pre-K - 6

Polar Bear Puzzle (Adventures of Riley)
Scholastic Children's Press
34 pages
ISBN: 978-0-545-06837-6
Release Date: November 2008  

Written by Amanda Lumry & Laura Hurwitz

Again, this "Adventures of Riley" book is a scientific storybook that teaches about the animals and environment of the world. This time the Antarctic is their subject. The pictures drawn over photographs are appealing and creative. Scientists have collaborated to make this a very informative book. The glossary and internet web site add to the effectiveness of the book. The students will want to buy more Riley adventures as they feel like they are right there on the trip with him.

Review by Leanna Griffiths, Crestview Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 2-6

South Pole Penguins (Adventures of Riley)
Scholastic Children's Press
34 pages
ISBN: 978-0-545-06835-2
Release Date: November 2008
 

Written by Jan Ormerod, Illustrated by  Carol Thompson

Molly's father lives so far away that she makes up stories about him to tell at school, but when he comes to visit she discovers that they have a lot in common.  There will be quite a few children who will relate to this little girl who doesn't really know her dad, but finds out how much he loves her even though they seldom see each other. This could be a good book for helping separated and divorced parents to see the importance of sharing part of the child care. The pictures are a charming reflection of the personalities of the characters.

Review by Leanna Griffiths, Crestview Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades Pre-K - 4

Molly and Her Dad
Roaring Brook Press
40 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59643-285-7
Release Date: August 2008
 

Written and Illustrated Mike Venezia

A brief biography of Marie Curie, that discusses her childhood, career as a governess, education, marriage, work with radium, and her achievement as the first women to earn a doctorate degree in France.  This is a great book on the life of Marie Curie, who was one of the first women scientists who truly made "glowing discoveries" in her lifetime.

I loved the black and white photos of Marie Curie from when she was a little girl until she had her own family of two little girls. In this series the author has also included his own colorful, humorous cartoon-like illustrations and simple text that will hold the interest of most readers.

This book would be an great resource to use with your class when doing a unit on scientists, their research work, and other contributions that they made to better the world.  Book is complete with a glossary, index and reinforced library binding.

Review by Bonnie Prime, Taylorsville Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

Marie Curie: Scientist Who Made Glowing Discoveries
Scholastic Children's Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-531-14977-5
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Hans Christian Andersen, Retold by Naomi Lewis, Illustrated by Christian Birmingham

The Snow Queen lures Kay away from his home and friend. Gerda sets out to find him. With the help of many unusual helpers, she finds him and saves him from the Snow Queen.

Review by Kathleen Okelberry, Woodrow Wilson Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4-6

The Snow Queen
Candlewick Press
56 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3229-8
Release Date: October 2008
 

Written by Kimberly Lane

Asian Art is a wonderful addition to the cultures, religions, geographic areas, languages, and traditional and contemporary art of Asia. There are are values of fine art that can be explored on every page of the books with all grade levels. This is a teacher-friendly book - not just for the art teacher.

Review by Rosie Mitchell, Woodrow Wilson Elementary Art Specialist
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

Asian Art (Come Look With Me)
Charlesbridge Publishing
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-890674-19-9
Release Date: July 2008  

Written by Neil Tonge

A brief but quite thorough summary of the Holocaust, beginning with the build-up of antisemitism to Hitler's pogroms, concentration camps and his final solution. The book has excerpts from speeches by Nazi officials and a number of effective illustrations to help illustrate the tale of Nazi brutality.

Review by Fay Mason, Churchill Jr. High Library Media Teacher
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4-9

The Holocaust (Documenting World War II)
Rosen Publishing Group
48 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4042-1860-4
Release Date: September 2008  

This is a story about an 11-year old boy by the name of Reynie Muldoon. He is very intelligent, so much so that he has read all the texbooks at the Stonetown Orphanage where he lives, even those for high school students. When he reads the morning paper one day with a special tutor (a kind and intelligent woman) Miss. Perumal, he notices an advertisement directed specifically for children which says: "Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?" When Reynie decides to answer the ad he finds himself involved in an adventure he never thought possible and finds friends (children and adults) who become his family. He and these friends are the last hope as they try to stop an evil genius who tries to take control of the world.

Review by Marjorie Briggs, Oquirrh Hills Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4-7

The Mysterious Benedict Society
Little, Brown
341 pages
ISBN: 978-0-316-03211-7
Release Date: March 2008

 

Written by Kremena Spengler

Describing the Egyptian's ancient hieroglyphic writings, this book simplifies the information.  Written in beginning format, it contains fun facts and amazing photos of their system. Several words are defined on the same page they are used, and the mystery of this form of communication is cracked. A great book for students.

Review by Sandy Brigman, Robert Frost Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 1-4

Hieroglyphs
Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-42961-917-2
Release Date: July 2008  

Written by Markus Zusak

Who better than Death to narrate a story of World War II?  He knows all the intimate details better than anyone.  In The Book Thief, Death unburdens upon the reader a story that haunts even him, that of the girl Liesel Meminger of Molching, Germany.   Liesel, after watching her younger brother die on a train ride, is inexplicably abandoned by her mother.  She becomes the foster daughter of Hans and Rosa Hubermann.  Hans is a supremely good and patient man, while Rosa has a rough exterior and a filthy tongue that hide a heart of gold.  In the impoverished and absurd circumstances of Nazi Germany during the war, Liesel and her best friend Rudy negotiate the trials and adventures of early adolescence and develop a taste for thievery; particularly, in Liesel’s case, book thievery.  In due time, in their own dangerous and brave act of thievery, Liesel’s foster parents “steal” something of great worth from the very Fürher himself.  The world of the book is that of a very real and dangerous circumstance in which patriotism and duty to one’s country seem far distant from morality, and often there are no good choices to make.  So many innocent, decent people get caught in horrific realities because of rhetoric and definitions.  The power of words for both good and evil is a central theme of the book.

Death, in addition to telling the story with his expectedly dark and ironic humor, tired voice, and outsider perspective, also reveals to the reader that he has a heart.  This is one of those rare and precious books that, while describing dire and heartbreaking circumstances, are also filled with joy, life, humor, and humanity.  Death voices his perplexity over the paradox that so much good and so much evil can come from humanity, and, by the end of the book, I was left pondering upon the same quandary.   I highly recommend this book to any reader, probably 9th grade to adult.

Review by Joshua Whiting, GSD Library Media/Instructional Technology Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★

Interest Level: Grades 9 and up
A Printz Honor Book, 2006

The Book Thief
Random House
560 pages
ISBN: 978-0-375-83100-3
Release Date: March 2006  

Written by Dennis Brindell Fradin, Illustrated by Larry Day

This book documents the historical feud between Andrew Hamilton and Aaron Burr in a picture book format. It begins by describing their similarly difficult childhoods and what brought them together. It describes the dishonest acts that existed in politics (similar to today) and what brought them to a duel. The results of the duel are explained and the fate of each man and their history. The illustrations are excellent and support the text. The story is clearly written, with the facts well presented. I highly recommend this book.

Sandy Brigman, Robert Frost Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 1-6

Duel! Burr and Hamilton's Deadly War of Words
Walker & Company
40 pages
ISBN: 978-0-8027-9583-0
Release Date: June 2008
 

Written by Joanne Randolph

This is an easy-to-read bilingual book about animal feet. The text is large print and I loved the beautiful, colorful pictures that emphasize each animal foot. There are words to know and an index in the back. This book is one of a series called Animal Clues. I think this book would make a fun guessing game to share with young children.

Review by Renee Larsen, Hillside Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-2
Bilingual: English / Spanish

Whose Toes Are Those? / De Quién Son Estas Patas?
PowerKids Press / Rosen Publishing
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4358-2529-1
Release Date: September 2008
 

Written by Danny Fingeroth, Illustrated by Cynthia Martin

From Capstone's Cartoon Nation Series, The U.S. Supreme Court is fascinating. Learning true facts with fun text and cartoon illustrations was a joy. The reader learns the history (with a time line) and exactly how the Supreme Court works. Using funny cartoons to compliment the text adds to the fun. There is a glossary, read more and websites for additional information. If you want to know all about the Supreme Court with concise writing and humor, this book is for you.

Review by Renee Larsen, Hillside Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-9

The U. S. Supreme Court (Cartoon Nation Presents)
Capstone Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4296-1985-1
Release Date: July 2008  

Written by Spencer Blake

We have several of the "-ology" books, and students love them. This one will be just as popular as the others! It is full of information about spycraft, secret intelligence organizations, spy training, disguises, codes, gadgets, etc. It has kind of an Indiana Jones feel to it as the reader is guided through a mission as it might have been in 1957. I took this book home and my son couldn't get enough of it! The only drawback is all the flaps and compartments filled with extra notes that can be easily lost. Luckily, our students have been pretty careful with the other "ology" books we have, so I'm sure this one will last as long as the other ones have.

Review by Vala'dee Tanner, Rosecrest Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-9

Spyology: The Complete Book of Spycraft
Candlewick Press
30 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4048-4
Release Date: October 2008  

Written by James R. Arnold

The Aftermath of the French Revolution makes reading history enjoyable. The author takes us from the storming of the Bastille in 1789 and the gruesome guillotine executions of the war years, through the aftermath of the revolution, explaining the social and political changes this period brought to all of Europe.

The clear, concise text and parenthetical (if redundant) vocabulary helps aide the 7th-10th grade student in understanding this crucial movement.  The book is illustrated by beautiful reproductions of French oil paintings from the late 18th-early 19th centuries.  Highly recommended.

Review by Jane Crockett, Cottonwood High School Library Secretary
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 7-10

The Aftermath of the French Revolution
Twenty-First Century Books / Lerner Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-8225-7598-6
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Geri Clark

This updated edition is an excellent book on the country of Finland. The layout is easy to navigate, and the index provides quick work of finding specific information. The photographs are current, colorful and well-placed. A timeline of the history of Finland is very helpful. There are four pages of fast facts that make it easy to quickly find the information students most often need. The last page, entitled, "To Find Out More" includes references to other books, videos and websites for further research. Highly recommended.

Review by Carole Burmester, Evergreen Jr. High Library Media Specialist
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 5-Adult

Finland (Enchantment of the World Series)
Scholastic Children's Press
144 pages
ISBN: 978-0-531-12098-9
Release Date: September 2008  

I thought this was a good book. It gave a lot of information on what a day would be like in the life of a baby stegosaurus. There were many dangers they faced everyday. The illustrations were very well done. They were graphic but not gory. It was sometimes hard to follow which dinosaur they were talking about doing something, because they kept introducing new ones.

Review by Karen Manning, Lincoln Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 1-8

Stegosaurus: The Plated Dinosaur (Graphic Dinosaurs)
PowerKids Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-43582-503-1
Release Date: September 2008


 

Written by Elisa Peters, Translated by Eduardo Alaman

This is a bilingual book (English/Spanish) in the "Everyday Wonders" series by this publisher and discusses the very basics of an apple tree in simple sentences and easy vocabulary (example: "Do you like apples? Apples grow on apple trees.") Perfect for non-English speakers just learning the language. Lovely full-page photos accompany each page of text to help explain each simple concept. Includes a table of contents, an index, and a glossary which may help students learn the parts of a book even though these might not be necessary in a book this short. A delightful little book, very well done.

Review by Cathie Cox, Plymouth Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Lower Grades, or non-English speakers in upper grades
Bilingual: Spanish/English

It's an Apple Tree! / ¡Es un Manzano!
PowerKids Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4358-2522-2
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Dr. Mike Goldsmith

This is a great book with so much information about our galaxy and others. It begins with how stars are formed, then gives information about the universe, galaxies, solar system, sun, and then each individual planet. It gives such good information about how they have come about and how they are changing. It then goes beyond that with space rubble, space clouds, strange stars, star death, space warps, space pioneers, beyond the sky, cities in the sky, starships, and life beyond. It tells how we relate with space and how we influence it also. The pictures are great and really pull you into the information. Each section is concise and gives very pertinent facts.

Review by Karen Manning, Lincoln Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 2-6

Stars & Planets
Kingfisher
48 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7534-6230-0
Release Date: September 2008  

Written and Illustrated by Ruth McNally Barshaw

I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me of the Wimpy Kid books, but for girls. It is a great novel written like a graphic novel with sketch pictures. The story line is uplifting, funny and informative. I truly enjoyed reading this book.

Review by Susan Seegmiller, Roosevelt Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-7

Ellie McDoodle: New Kid in School
Bloomsbury
188 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59990-238-8
Release Date: June 2008



 

Written and Illustrated by David Macaulay

This book is just as delightful and insightful as Macaulay's other books. I enjoyed the illustrations, however, I realize that for a book about the human body some would like more photography. I thought the format was well planned and laid out in an easy to follow method.

Curriculum Ties: Health and Life Science, 7th/8th Grade
Review by Jean Hagen, Library Media Specialist, West Lake Jr. High
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: Grades 5-8

The Way We Work is very well organized and has a lot of great information that is easy to understand.  The illustrations are frequent; they are simple and informative as well.  The glossary is a great additional feature.  There is an incredible amount of really good information in just one book.

Review by Connielyn Perkins, West Lake Jr. High Library Clerk
Rating: ★★★★★

The Way We Work
Houghton Mifflin
336 pages
ISBN: 978-0-618-23378-6
Release Date: October 3, 2008  

Written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Retold by Martin Powell, Illustrated by Daniel Perez

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are asked to help find out how Sir Henry Baskerville's uncle died. Is there a hound that is attacking the heirs to the Baskerville estate? Read this graphic novel retelling of Doyle's classic.

Review by Debbie Luke, Westbrook Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

The Hound of the Baskervilles (Graphic Novel)
Stone Arch / Capstone Press
63 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4342-0755-5
Release Date: July 2008






 

Written by M.T. Anderson

In the Novanglian College of Lucidity in Boston, the young boy Octavian is raised as the noble son of an African princess.  He is waited upon and receives an education in science, history and philosophy, has become proficient in Latin and Greek, as well as a virtuoso of the violin.  And yet, his every action and bodily function is observed and recorded, and his mother, though a personage of royalty, is sometimes constrained from her own will by the men of the college.  In actuality, Octavian is a slave and the subject of a scientific experiment.  The philosophers of the college wish to ascertain whether, given the same opportunities, an African has the same capacities as a European.  When the college’s longstanding patronage falls through and the slave-owning funders of the college make it clear that they want the “experimental” education of the boy to fail, Octavian becomes personally aware of and subjected to the true horrors and rigors of slavery in the American colonies.  In the midst of the turmoil of the Revolutionary War, Octavian makes his escape, but has nowhere to turn in a land where people are crying out for liberty, and yet would hold him captive.  Written as a first-person manuscript that incredibly recreates the diction and writing style of the late 18th century, as well as incorporating actual letters and documents from historical figures of the period, this is a fascinating, harrowing book with a hint of hope, as the story of Octavian continues in a companion volume, Kingdom on the Waves.

Review by Joshua Whiting, Library Media / Instructional Technology Dept., Granite School District
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 9+

Winner of the 2006 National Book Award for Young People's Literature

The Pox Party (The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I)
Candlewick Press
351 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-2402-6 (hardcover) / 978-0-7636-3679-1 (paperback)
Release Date: September 2006  

Written by M. T. Anderson

Kingdom on the Waves continues the fascinating narrative of the young man Octavian, describing his time in the royally controlled and besieged city of Boston, as well as his subsequent adventures in seeking out and joining the Royal Ethiopian Regiment of Lord Dunmore, exiled governor of the colony of Virginia. Dunmore has issued a proclamation promising freedom to all slaves who will escape from their rebel masters and join the King’s Army in suppressing the rebellion of the American colonists. Much of the volume recounts the battles, trials and tragic circumstances of these African-American soldiers devoted to the cause of liberty, fighting others also devoted to the cause of liberty, albeit a different liberty. This book brings back to light the real moral ambiguities of the American Revolution by presenting the circumstances from the often-ignored perspectives of royalists and slaves in the American colonies. As in the first Octavian Nothing volume, Anderson reveals himself as a master at re-creating authentic 18th Century language and tone, having immersed himself for six years exclusively in writings of or about this historical period. These are smart, challenging books that illustrate that books with the “Young Adult” label do not necessarily have to be patronizing or insulting to the intelligence and capacity of teenage readers.

Review by Joshua Whiting, Library Media Department, Granite School District
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: High School / Adult
A 2009 Printz Honor Book

Kingdom on the Waves (The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II)
Candlewick Press
561 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-2950-2
Release Date: October 13, 2009 (paperback)  

Written by James M. Deem

This is a very high interest book. The facts and information within the text material were very interesting and were written on a comfortable reading level. The images on the pages also made the content very interesting. This would be a great book to have on the shelves for students to just browse.

Review by Cindy Dunn, Olympus High School Library Media Specialist
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4-12

Bodies from the Ice
Houghton Mifflin
51 pages
ISBN: 978-0-618-80045-2
Release Date: October 2008

 

Written by Brooke Taylor

Kori and Serena did not know when they first met what a great friendship would develop. Kori was the "dark angel' type: she was beautiful, mysterious, and always talked about behind her back. Serena was what you would consider the average type, never really noticed by those around her. Two years have passed and the girls, having grown so very close in the meantime, are now sophomores. They're given an assignment to list the five things they want to happen in the next six months--their five ways to tempt fate. Then tragedy strikes Kori, and Kori's list of five things becomes an important artifact to help figuring out the mystery behind her tragedy. Serena finds it important to follow through with Kori's desire not to leave anything undone.

This is not only a story about two young girls who work together to find themselves, it is also a wonderful mystery. It has a captivating plot and pulls the reader into the story.

Review by Cindy Dunn, Olympus High School Library Media Specialist
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 9-12

Undone
Walker & Co.
310 pages
ISBN: 978-0-8027-9763-6
Release Date: July 2008  

Written by Brekka Hervey Larrew

A great introductory book for children about this designer dog, the Labradoodle. With clear, informative and easy to read text and many colorful and complimentary photographs, children will learn all the necessary facts about these dogs. There are also definitions for highlighted words on many pages that can also be found in the glossary in the back of the book. If children want additional information, safe internet sites are also found in the back. This book is part of a series from Capstone's Edge Books, All About Dogs.
If interesting, colorful, easy to read books about dogs are what you are looking for, I highly recommend this book.

Review by Renee Larsen, Hillside Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-9
Labradoodles
Capstone Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-42962-009-3
Release Date: July 2008  

Written by Tammy Gagne

Did you know the chihuahua could be the oldest dog breed on the continent? This and other interesting facts can be found in the book Chihuahua, from Capstone's Edge Books. I really liked the readable, informative text and the many colorful photographs that add to the written words. Highlighted vocabulary words, also included in the glossary, help readers with words unfamiliar to them. There are safe internet sites and an index in the back.

If you ever thought of owning a Chihuahua, all you need to know is found in this highly recommended book.

Review by Renee Larsen, Hillside Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-9

Chihuahuas
Capstone Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-42961-947-9
Release Date: July 2008  

Written by Lisa Bullard

Learning about animal opposites has never been so much fun and in a bilingual format too! In the Capstone series, Animales opuestos/Animal Opposites, I read Veloces y lentos/Fast and Slow. The interesting facts, with large colorful pictures, are written in simple sentences with large print. For example, did you know the sailfish is the world's fastest fish? Do you know what a pangolin is? Is it a fast or slow animal? I didn't know these examples before reading this book.  In the back of the book you will a helpful glossary, safe internet sites and an index. I highly recommend this book.

Review by Renee Larsen, Hillside Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades PreK - 2
Bilingual: Spanish/English

Veloces y Lentos / Fast and Slow
Capstone Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-42962-390-2
Release Date: July 2008
 

Written by Jody Sullivan Rake

What is an Aye-Aye? Do you know? In this wonderful series, Weird Animals, from Capstone's Pebble Plus Collection, young readers learn exactly what an Aye-Aye is by reading large-print, easy to read sentences and large colorful photographs. I loved this book and highly recommend it for all children who love and are interested in all kinds of animals. It would also be a resource for 2nd grade when studying Africa.

Review by Renee Larsen, Hillside Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Pre-K through 2nd Grade

The Aye-Aye
Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-42961-737-6
Release Date: July 2008  

Written by Donald Lemke, Illustrated by Douglas Holgate

After constantly being picked on by bullies at school, little Zack Allen learns how to become the superhero he's been dreaming of. With much trial and error, he learns how to use his powers for helping others and scaring the bullies away.
A cute and funny story for everyone to enjoy. This book is an easy to read beginning graphic novel. The text is simple and easy to follow on the pages. The illustrations add to the text and humor.  I liked the way it builds positive character traits in the hero, too. There are discussion questions and other information in the back, such as the history of comics. This would be great for groups. I highly recommend this book.

Review by Renee Larsen, Hillside Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 1-3

Zinc Alloy: Super Zero
Capstone Press
33 pages
ISBN: 978-1-43420-762-3
Release Date: July 2008  

Written by James Kennedy

After a mysterious absence of forty years, aged Hollywood starlet Lily Larouche suddenly finds herself back in the Ruby Palace, her old mansion in the California Desert, with no memory of where she has been all this time.  At the same time, she finds a crying baby girl in her washing machine, with a note: “This is Jo. Please take care of her. But beware. This is a DANGEROUS baby.”  As the novel begins, Jo, now 13, is trying to stay out of the way at one of her “Aunt” Lily’s out-of-control Hollywood costume parties at the Ruby Palace, when a strange, old Russian colonel sneaks in and informs her that he has come to protect her because his intestines told him to do so.  Soon, the Russian has taken a bullet for her, a package with her name on it has fallen out of the sky, the Russian’s ascot-wearing, talking cockroach sidekick has shown up on the scene, and a Chinese billionaire who is an aspiring diabolical villain is after all of them.   And that’s only a taste of all that happens in just the first few pages.  Every time I thought the story had settled into its comfort spot and would just flow along, Kennedy turned everything on its head and upped the absurdity ante again, and again, and again.  And, amazingly, every time it works splendidly.  Overflowing with laugh-out-loud moments, totally unexpected plot twists, and off-the-wall fantastical details, this is the most fun I’ve had with a book in a long time.  Highly recommended, particularly to anyone who gets bored easily, and anyone who has ever wondered what a novel written by Dr. Seuss might be like.

Review by Joshua Whiting, Library Media / Instructional Technology Dept., Granite School District
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 7-12

The Order of Odd-Fish
Delacorte Books
416 pages
ISBN: 978-0-385-73543-8
Release Date: August 2008  

Written by Margaret Hall

This bilingual book describes, in easy to read text, the four seasons of the year in English and Spanish. I like the large, colorful photographs that support the words so beautifully.

This book kept the interest of our young children because it is written on their level and gives them just the right amount of information. I also like that it includes a glossary, safe internet sites for further study, and an index. This book is highly recommended.

Renee Larsen, Hillside Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Pre-K - 2nd Grade
Bilingual: English / Spanish

Las Estaciones Del Año / Seasons of the Year
Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-42962-373-5
Release Date: January 2008  

Written by Laura Purdie Salas

I loved this book! What a delight to have this book about the Rain Forest, a very popular subject at our school. The beautiful illustrations compliment the poetry and each short poem is easy to read. There are also descriptions of different forms of poetry in the back, as well as a glossary, safe internet sites and an index. I highly recommend this book for your poetry section for young readers.

Review by Renee Larsen, Hillside Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades Pre-K - 2

Chatter, Sing, Roar, Buzz: Poems about the Rain Forest
Capstone Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-42961-705-5
Release Date: July 2008  

Written by Janet Tashjian

Larry really can teach you the meaning of life while he is learning it himself. Larry (or Josh, if you prefer) is an 18 year old trying to find why he should live. He has run for president, blogged life questions, and now returned home-- barely getting off the couch. He doesn't want to do anything. With family and friends worried about him, Larry is pushed to Walden Pond to try and function again. His experiences at Walden Pond were funny, touching, and a world of surprises. Laughing the whole way through the book, Larry takes a journey you can only envy.

Review by Erin Tanner, Social Studies Teacher/School Technology Specialist, Cyprus High School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 8-12

Larry and the Meaning of Life
Henry Holt and Company
242 pages
ISBN: 978-0-8050-7735-3
Release Date: September 2008  

Various Authors

These books are written in Spanish. These books are all good for kids. They are very clear. They give perfect explanations of the subject. They are interesting and informative.  Examples of titles include:

Cómo crece un oso / A Bear Grows Up by Pam Zollman; ISBN: 9780531207048
Cómo crece un pollito / A Chick Grows Up by Pam Zollman; ISBN: 9780531207062
Cómo crece un renacuajo / A Tadpole Grows Up by Pam Zollman; ISBN: 9780531207079
Cómo crece un tiburón / A Shark Pup Grows Up by Pam Zollman; ISBN: 9780531207086
Cómo crece un tortuga / A Turtle Hatchling Grows Up by Pam Zollman; ISBN: 9780531207116
Cómo crece una araña / A Spiderling Grows Up by Pam Zollman; ISBN: 9780531207093
Cómo crece una mariquita / A Ladybug Larva Grows Up by Katie Marsico; ISBN: 9780531207109

Review by Perla Rivera, Diana Romero, and Debbie Robinson, Arcadia Elementary
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-2

Como crece Series
Scholastic Children's Press
24 page books
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Christine Taylor-Butler

These books are written in Spanish They are all good books. Kids will enjoy them. They give perfect, very clear, explanations of the subject. They are interesting and informative.  Examples of titles include:

La vida en el bosque tropical / A Home in the Rain Forest by Christine Taylor-Butler; ISBN: 9780531207130
La vida en el arrecife de coral / A Home in the Coral Reef by Christine Taylor-Butler; ISBN: 9780531207123
La vida en el pantano / A Home in the Swamp by David C. Lion; ISBN: 9780531207147
La vida en la pradera / A Home in the Prarie by David C. Lion; ISBN: 9780531207222

Review by Perla Rivera, Diana Romero, and Debbie Robinson, Arcadia Elementary
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-2

La vida en Series
Scholastic Children's Press
24 page books
Release Date: September 2008


 

Written by Laine Falk

I love the Scholastic News Nonfiction Readers and this one doesn't disappoint. It is a very basic, simple book covering all the aspects of the game of soccer from the vocabulary used in the game to the different plays and even the uniform worn. Excellent for lower readers.

Review by Laura Schmidt, Fox Hills Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 1-2

Let's Talk Soccer
Scholastic Children's Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-0-531-13830-4
Release Date: September 2008
 

Written by Mel Friedman

I love the "new" design of the True Book series. Africa is full of eye-catching pictures, interesting facts, and helpful information for reports.

Review by Laura Schmidt, Fox Hills Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

Africa (A True Book)
Scholastic Children's Press
48 pages
ISBN: 978-0-531-16863-9
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Elaine Landau

At the beginning of this book, you are given true or false questions about interesting facts and you have to dive into the book to find the answers. I love how the book is "peppered" with interesting little facts and big, bold pictures. The kids will love the sign language section in the middle.

Review by Laura Schmidt, Fox Hills Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

The Sense of Hearing (A True Book)
Scholastic Children's Press
48 pages
ISBN: 978-0-531-16870-7
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Mary Meinking

This book includes bright, colorful photographs and simple to follow instructions on how to make fun origami shapes such as: a bookmark, hopping frog, pinwheel and crane. I found the instructions well written and the pictures helpful. It also includes a glossary and helpful internet sites.  I really enjoyed this book and I know the kids will too as they are always asking for origami books. I will definitely buy the others in the series.

Review by Laura Schmidt, Fox Hills Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

Not-Quite-So-Easy Origami
Capstone Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-42962-021-5
July 2008  

Written by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

I loved this cute and creative book!  The author/illustrator used the numbers 1 through 10 and short, easy to read words, which are partly read through a box cut out of each page and is part of the next page. The illustrations are simple, fun and colorful. You will find the end very interesting!

Review by Marjorie Briggs, Library Media Assistant, Oquirrh Hills Elementary
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

One Boy
Roaring Brook Press
42 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59643-274-1
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Doreen Rapport, Illustrated by Shane W. Evans

This is a great book about the Civil Rights Movement. We have all heard of Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks and what they did. This book details many of the other people who played crucial roles in the movement. It gives their stories.

Review by Karen Manning, Library Media Assistant, Lincoln Elementary
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4+

Nobody Gonna Turn Me 'Round: Stories and Songs of the Civil Rights Movement
Candlewick Press
63 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3892-4
Release Date: September 2008
 

Written by David Ellwand, Illustrated by Ruth Ellwand

The cover really caught my attention right away.  I really liked it.  This is the story of a man who discovers the existence of fairies and tries to prove their existence. He also tries to stop people who are disturbing the fairies' lair. I thought it was a really interesting theory on fairies. The pictures gave me chills.

Review by a student, West Lake Jr. High
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: Grades 7+

The Mystery of the Fool & the Vanisher
Candlewick Press
100 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-2096-7
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Dougal Dixon, Illlustrated by Steve Watson and James Field

This book intrigued me, as I hadn't heard of the Torosaurus before. Also, I was interested in dinosaurs from the regional area where I live. The book is written in easy sentences with beautiful, colorful, life-like illustrations. There are size comparisons for the dinosaur described on each page too, which I really liked. A modern-day animal who exhibits characteristics similar to the dinosaur can also be found.  A glossary, index, and more information sites are in the back of the book. This is a perfect book for dinosaur lovers of all ages, but children especially will love it!

Review by Renee Larsen, Library Media Assistant, Hillside Elementary
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

Torosaurus and Other Dinosaurs of the Badlands Digs in Montana
Picture Window / Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-40484-716-3
Release Date: July 2008  

Written by Peggy Hock

Here is a book with direct text about how to keep our Earth clean. It begins with a "Word Hunt" (words are highlighted throughout the text) which helps the reader focus on important information. These words are also defined at the end of the book in a glossary. The pollution examples are stated and solutions to the problem are given. I liked this book for its up-to-date information in an easy to read format. The colorful photographs also compliment the text. I highly recommend this book for young readers.

Review by Renee Larsen, Hillside Elementary
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-2

Our Earth: Keeping It Clean
Scholastic Children's Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-0-531-13832-8
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Peggy Hock

Reduce, reuse and recycle are explained plainly and perfectly in this current book about keeping our Earth clean and limiting our garbage output. Beginning with a "Word Hunt," the reader can focus on these words throughout the pages and find their definitions in the back of the book. Examples and solutions are given for trash problems. Children can actually use these examples in their everyday life and share and encourage their families to follow the 3 R's about garbage. I highly recommend this book.

Review by Renee Larsen, Library Media Assistant, Hillside Elementary
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Kindergarten

Our Earth: Making Less Trash
Scholastic Children's Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-0-531-13834-2
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Sarah L. Schuette

Simple, easy-to-read text and large, colorful photographs give young readers all the information about the season of Fall. I like the way the photographs compliment the words on each page.  Bilingual books give students the opportunity to read in both English and Spanish which is a great plus for our readers. There is a glossary to help with words unfamiliar to the young reader as well as safe internet sites and an index. This is a perfect book for beginning or struggling readers.

Review by Renee Larsen, Library Media Assistant, Hillside Elementary
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-1
Bilingual: Spanish / English

Veamos el Otono / Let's Look At Fall
Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-42962-288-2
Release Date: August 2008  

Written by Deborah Hodge, Illustrated by Nancy Gray Ogle

Beginning readers will have fun practicing their skills as they read about cougars, lynxes, bobcats, tigers, and other wild cats. There is an "I SPY" at the start of the book to help students focus on what to look for on the pages. There is also an easy quiz at the end.  Written in simple, easy-to-read sentences with beautifully realistic and colorful illustrations, Looking At Wild Cats is a great book. I highly recommend this book for beginner readers.

Review by Renee Larsen, Library Media Assistant, Hillside Elementary
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-1

Kids Can Press
31 pages
ISBN: 978-1-55453-284-1
Release Date: September 2008

 

Written by O. Henry, Illustrated by P.J. Lynch

This classic story by O. Henry, written in 1903, is beautifully illustrated to capture the powerful message of love and sacrifice. One day before Christmas, a husband and wife each sacrifice their personal treasures to buy the other a gift for Christmas. As they exchange their gifts they learn of the true gifts of Christmas. A wonderful story that is beautifully illustrated.

Review by Debbie Singer, Library Media Assistant, Bacchus Elementary
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4+

The Gift of the Magi
Candlewick Press
36 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3530-5
Release Date: September 2008
 

Written by Lori Mortensen, Illustrated by Matthew Skeens

This book will help you to discover why Ellis Island is considered to be a symbol of freedom to immigrants coming to the United States. The book describes the processing done at Ellis Island in a clear and simple manner. It was a very important part of our history. Forty to fifty percent of Americans today can trace their family to an Ellis Island immigrant. This book offers some fun facts and information.

Review by Debbie Singer, Library Media Asisstant, Bacchus Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

Ellis Island
Picture Window / Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4048-4705-7
Release Date: July 2008
 

Written by Valerie Wyatt, Illustrated by Howie Woo

This is a great book that deals with who really discovered America. It starts with Columbus and then goes back in time to 40,000 BC. The book gives any evidence that may support claims of people earlier than Columbus that could claim the title of discovering America. It talks about all the research that is needed to verify any of these claims. It is very easy to understand with fun pictures.

Review by Karen Manning, Library Media Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-7

Who Discovered America
Kids Can Press
40 pages
ISBN: 978-1-55453-128-8
Release Date: September 2008


 

Written by Susan Hubbard

The daughter of a vampire father and a mortal mother, she is raised by her vampire father, who will not discuss her mother. She struggles to learn who she really is and where she fits in this world. She finally convinces her father to tell her about her mother and then she decides to try and find her. It is a compelling story that leads you on to its conclusion.  The conclusion leaves you only partially satisfied.  A good read for junior high and high school.

Review by Gerry Ewing, Library Media Assistant, Pioneer Elementary
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Junior High / High School

The Society of S
Simon & Schuster
304 pages
ISBN: 978-1-41653-458-7
Release Date: May 2007




 

Written by Andrew Clements

The title is eye catching to begin with. Bobby wakes up one morning and he is not there. It creates many problems, but provides some interesting answers. Some things he cannot do and places he cannot go, but there are some things he can do now that he couldn't do before. There are some places he can go if he can handle what has to be done. But does he want to stay in this condition for the rest of his life? And what about school? Things get a little crazy when the school nurse wants to know why Bobby has not been to school for three weeks. Is there a solution to his problem or is it permanent?  A typical Andrew Clements great read.

Review by Gerry Ewing, Library Media Assistant, Pioneer Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 6-9

Things Not Seen
Penguin
176 pages
ISBN: 978-0-399-23626-6
Release Date: March 2002


 

Written by Amy MacDonald, Illustrated by Cat Bowman Smith

This book is about a boy who goes to spend the summer with his great Uncle and Aunt on their farm. He is from the city and used to all the conveniences of the city such as cell phones, Gameboys and computers. I love this book because every character learns something from the other characters. I highly recommend this book for adventure and excepting other people's lifestyles.

Review by Susan Seegmiller, Library Media Assistant, Roosevelt Elementary
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-5

Too Much Flapdoodle!
Melanie Kroupa Books / Farrar, Straus, Giroux
182 pages
ISBN: 978-0-374-37671-0
Release Date: September 2008



 

Written by Jack David

Very interesting book about fighter jets. Great pictures. I think boys would really like this book.

Review by Kathy Horne, Library Media Assistant, Redwood Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4-6

AV-8B Harrier Jump Jets
Scholastic
24 pages
ISBN: 978-0-531-21050-5
Release Date: September 2008




 

Written by Marilyn Nelson and Tonya C. Hegamin

This is a story of a young black girl from New York who moves to Connecticut. Her father was killed in Iraq. They move into a 200 year old house. She sees the ghost of a slave girl who once lived in their house. The ghost has a message for her. What can she do 200 years later?

Review by Warren Child, Library Media Specialist, Cyprus High School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Jr. High / High School

Pemba's Song
Scholastic, Inc.
112 pages
ISBN: 9780545020763
Release Date: September 2008


 

Written and Illustrated by Lauren Stringer

This book makes an excellent argument that winter is the warmest season because of all the warm things that go on in winter. It has a fun perspective to get children thinking differently about winter. This book is a great read aloud with beautiful illustrations.

Review by Susan Bush, Library Media Assistant, Magna Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-4

Winter is the Warmest Season
Harcourt
32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-15-204967-6
Release Date: October 2006  

Written by Emily Dickinson, Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault

Well done art work with Dickinson poetry.
Curriculum Ties: Understanding content and poetic form. Critical thinking about poetry and visual arts.

Review by Joy Brown, Language Arts Teacher, Granite Peaks High
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3+

My Letter to the World and Other Poems
Kids Can Press
30 pages
ISBN: 978-1-55453-103-5
Release Date: September 2008


 

Written by Terri Dougherty

This book describes events before, during and after the Battle of Iwo Jima. It contains actual pictures of the event, the people involved, and maps of the area. There are captions under the pictures and definitions of words throughout the book as well as a glossary in the back of the book. This book has a lot of information for students who are interested in learning about this battle.

Review by Debbie Singer, Library Media Assistant, Bacchus Elementary
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 5-6

Raising the Flag: The Battle of Iwo Jima
Capstone Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-42961-939-4
Release Date: July 2008  

Written by Heather E. Schwartz

One of the titles in Capstone's Factfinders: Media Literacy series, Yourspace explores "new media" such as cell phones, MP3 players and the Internet and helps students learn how to make educated choices about the information that comes to them from these forms of technology. Filled with definitions on all the new terminology that the kids probably already know so we adults can keep up with them! Also contains lots of critical info to help kids learn to distinguish good i-media messages from bad (and even dangerous) ones. After reading this book I'm thinking of buying more in the series because I think our students need to be aware of what a powerful influence the media can be on them - and this book is a perfect starting place to open up classroom discussions on just that. Recommended.

Review by Cathie Cox, Library Media Assistant, Plymouth Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4-6

Yourspace: Questioning New Media
Capstone Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4296-1993-6
Release Date: July 2008  

Written by Deborah Noyes

This alphabetically-arranged book addresses nearly everything about death from historical, cultural, spiritual, and mythological information. Well illustrated.

Review by Joy Brown, Language Arts Teacher, Granite Peaks High School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Junior High / High School

Encyclopedia of the End
Houghton Mifflin
143 pages
ISBN: 978-0-618-82362-8
Release Date: December 2008


 

Written by Michael Rosen, Illustrated by Robert Ingpen

Well-written book about Dickens in a very accessible format. Great illustrations.

Review by Joy Brown, Language Arts Teacher, Granite Peaks Alternative High School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 6-12

Dickens: His Work and His World
Candlewick Press
95 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3888-7
Release Date: August 2008


 

Written by Janey Levy

Fascinating look at the origins of tattooing around the world and its continued interest. Looks at who gets tattoos and why today, as well as the various cultural traditions associated with tattooing. Gives a glimpse at famous tattoo artists of today and yesterday.

Review by Lorraine Wyness, Library Media Specialist, Taylorsville High School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 7-12

Tattoos in Modern Society
Rosen Publishing Group
64 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4042-1829-1
Release Date: September 2008
 

Written by Michael Scott

The Alchemyst is a story of twins, a boy and girl who get pulled into a conflict that includes magic, folklore, fantasy, witchcraft and a host of wonderful characters. This book is fascinating for its detail and basis in things real and things thought to be real. It is the first in a series. I highly recommend it!

Review by Susan Bush, Library Media Assistant, Magna Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 5+

The Alchemyst
Random House
375 pages
ISBN: 978-0-385-73357-1
Release Date: May 2007

 

Written by Ruth Gruener

This book is about a young Jewish child striving to survive the Holocaust. The girl gets put into hiding a couple of times. She is without her family and then loses some of her family. She is reunited with her family, but does have to move several times.
It is written front the child's point of view. It is written at a fourth grade level. It is a chapter book.

Review by Diane Scott, Western Hills Elementary
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4-6

Destined to Live: A True Story of a Child in the Holocaust
Scholastic
156 pages
ISBN: 978-0-439-89204-9
Release Date: October 2008


 

Written by Tim Hoppey, Illustrated by Ramon Espinoza

Jungle Scout is a story about 16-year-old Lam Hung, who guides an American platoon through the jungle of South Vietnam. He knows the area well. He guides troops through a dangerous area and gains the trust of troop members. I thought the book helped demonstrate the injustice between cultures. I liked the book.

Review by Diane Scott, Western Hills Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 2-5

Jungle Scout: A Vietnam War Story
Stone Arch / Capstone Press
49 pages
ISBN: 978-1-43420-747-0
Release Date: August 2008

 

Various Authors and Illustrators, Introduction by David McCullough

Excellent book on all aspects of the White House -- prose, poetry, fiction, folktales, and non-fiction accounts. 108 authors and illustrators contributed to the volume. It contains an introduction by David McCullough.

Review by Joy Brown, Language Arts Teacher, Granite Peaks Alternative High School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 5+

Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out
Candlewick Press
240 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-2067-7
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Meg Cabot

I thought that this was a great book for young girls. Allie moves to a new house and goes to a new school.  It takes a while to get settled in.  She immediately makes some new friends. She enjoys them. However, she has one girl, Rosemary, who continually wants to beat her up and make life miserable for her. She is also waiting to get a brand new kitten. She eventually realizes that Rosemary wants to beat her up because she just wants to be included by the girls. The new girl has all the friends and she doesn't. Allie decides to invite her over to her house to see her new kitten. This turns everything around with Rosemary. Allie still has her best friends but she has also included Rosemary in her activities. Allie lists all the rules that girls need to learn and follow. It is a fun book which teaches a lot about friendships.

Review by Karen Manning, Library Media Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4-7

The New Girl (Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls Series #2)
Scholastic, Inc.
222 pages
ISBN: 978-0-545-04049-5
Release Date: August 2008  

Written by David Dreier

An informative book on electrical circuits. The book is well illustrated along with text that gives the reader a basic understanding of the subject.

Review by Fay Mason, Library Media Specialist, Churchill Jr.
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4-8

Electrical Circuits: Harnessing Electricity
Compass Point / Capstone
48 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7565-3267-3
Release Date: September 2007


 

Written by Mel Friedman

This is an outstanding series that looks at various countries covering such elements as the land, history, customs and traditions, religions, and everyday life in the countries. The book is well illustrated with color photographs and includes updated current information.

Review by Fay Mason, Library Media Specialist, Churchill Jr. High
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 6-12

Thailand (Enchantment of the World Series)
Scholastic Children's Press
144 pages
ISBN: 978-0-531-1248-1-9
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel, Illustrated by H. B. Lewis

A very cute story. It would be good for Valentine's Day. It starts when Osbert the penguin shows up on his friend's doorstep. He has several friends with him, and has an invitation to Autora Autralis' party at the South Pole. Joe decides to transport them in his helicopter that he got for Christmas.

Review by Diane Scott, Western Hills Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-4

My Penguin Osbert in Love
Candlewick Press
42 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3032-4
Release Date: January 2009  

Written by Pamela S. Turner

An awesome account of how a biologist has helped make the world aware of the endangerments to many animals world-wide.

Review by Dayanne Coombs, Library Secretary, Granite Peaks Alternative High School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 8-12

A Life in the Wild: George Schaller's Struggle to Save the Last Great Beasts
Farrar, Straus & Giroux
103 pages
ISBN: 978-0-374-345-78-5
Release Date: October 2008
 

Written by Pamela Dell

An excellent book about the life and times of Egypt's first female pharaoh. This book has a time line with dates and colored pictures, a glossary of terms, index, and a list of online website resources.

Review by Dayanne Coombs, Library Secretary, Granite Peaks Alternative High School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 6-12

Hatshepsut: Egypt's First Female Pharaoh
Compass Point / Capstone Press
112 pages
ISBN: 978-07565-3835-4
Release Date: July 2008


 

Written and Illustrated by Jeff Kinney

Greg is the wimpy kid. Greg's father decides to toughen him up by putting him in organized sports. Of course Greg has no interest in sports. He spends his time hoping to get cut so he can get back to his video games. The kids love these books. I think just about everyone can relate to his every day life adventures. All the books are written in diary format with little stick figure drawings.

Review by Cindy Moyle, Granite School District Library Specialist
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4+

The Last Staw (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series #3)
Abrams
217 pages
ISBN: 978-0-8109-7068-7
Release Date: January 2009
 

Written by Katie Marsico

In Spanish. This is a great book, another in the Scholastic News Nonfiction Readers series, which my students can't get enough of. The vocab words are listed in front (rather than the back) with pictures, which is a nice touch. It’s a great lead-in for a discussion of the book and/or when reading on their own, a great way to give them a heads up on new words. The pictures are bright and beautiful. The description on each page is very factual and detailed. The length and detail is appropriate probably through 2nd or 3rd grade (although interesting enough to anyone researching the animal). The pages go through the life cycle of a baby manatee to adulthood and sums up the cycle at the end with a great graphic. Nicely presented and informational.

Review by Cathie Cox, Library Media Assistant, Plymouth Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 1-3

Como crece un manati
Scholastic Children's Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-0-531-20705-5
Release Date: 2008  

Written by Kathryn Lasky, Illustrated by Stan Fellows

This 2009 Beehive Nominee for Informational Books certainly lives up to its nomination. It begins with Muir's childhood in Scotland and spans his lifetime, ending with his involvement with Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Club. Breathtaking acrylic on paper illustrations complement Lasky's lovely writing style. Beautiful book, highly recommended. AR level 6.1, 1 point.

Review by Cathie Cox, Library Media Assistant, Plymouth Elementary
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4-6

John Muir: America's First Environmentalist
Candlewick Press
42 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3884-9
Release Date: August 2008  

Written by Andrew Larsen, Illustrated by Irene Luxbacher

Theo plans an imaginary garden with her grandpa when he moves from his home to a small apartment with a small patio. On the first Saturday of Spring, "Poppa" brings a great big canvas to the patio and the two begin painting! The first flowers of spring - crocus and scilla - soon appear, as well as a munching robin. Later, when Poppa needs to travel, Theo is put in charge of the garden. Now the old flowers are gone and new stems appear. Vines are beginning to creep along the stone wall. Theo puts on her gardening hat and picks up her paintbrush and she knows just what to do! Won't Poppa be surprised when he returns to daffodils, tulips, and Forget-Me-Nots - Poppa's favorite flower!

Review by Karen Migacz, Library Media Assistant, Howard R. Driggs Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-6

The Imaginary Garden
Kids Can Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-55453-279-7
Release Date: March 28, 2009 (not yet released)  

Written by Rose Blue and Corinne J. Naden, Illustrated by Don Tate

This is a wonderful fictionalized account of astronaut Ron McNair, who tragically lost his life when the space shuttle Challenger exploded on January 28, 1986...Readers won't want to miss the Author's Note in the back of the book.

Growing up, Ron loves going to the Lake City Public Library and looking through all of the books on airplanes and space - the only trouble is, he can't check them out because of racial segregation in his town.

Students won't want to miss this inspiring story of Ron's protest (peaceful resistance), which changes the librarian's mind about who may check out books.

Review by Karen Migacz, Library Media Assistant, Howard R. Driggs Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-6

Ron's Big Mission
Dutton / Penguin
32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-525-47849-2
Release Date: January 2009  

Written by Rebecca Hogue Wojahn and Donald Wojahn

Any teacher who teaches habitats will want to get this book (and the whole series). Bright, colorful photographs and pages invite the reader to "look and find" more information (of their choosing) while learning about the desert and its inhabitants. Students will make "connections" as they read this book. Want to learn about primary consumers or decomposers? Follow the key of shapes and be directed to the appropriate page. Later, turn to the page of your choosing to learn about different desert animals - be they the baby kit fox, Gila woodpecker, or pallid bat. Simply put, kids - and teachers - will "devour" this book (pun intended)!

Curriculum Ties: Desert Animals, Habitats, Biomes, Desert, Food Webs

Review by Karen Migacz, Library Media Assistant, Howard R. Driggs Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-6

A Desert Food Chain
Lerner Publications Company
64 pages
ISBN: 978-0-8225-7501-6
Release Date: March 2009  

Written by Joseph Slate, Illustrated by E. B. Lewis

An extraordinary book.  From the author of the Miss Bindergarten books and the illustrator of the 2009 Beehive Book Coming On Home Soon, this book tells the tale of a runaway slave with a "ring" still locked on his ankle who takes with him an orphaned child. The author's note explains that it is a retelling of a story in the sacred literature of Buddha, moved to a different setting and language. Be sure to read both the author's and the illustrator's notes at the end. The result is a "heroic story of the thirst for freedom" (a quote from the illustrator) that left me in tears as I read the amazing last page. The AR level of 1.6 will be misleading as most students reading on that level won't fully understand the content. Told in verse. I loved it and will be making sure the staff knows about it so they can share it with their students. Don't miss!

Review by Cathie Cox, Library Media Assistant, Plymouth Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

I Want to be Free
Putnam / Penguin
32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-399-24342-4
Release Date: January 2009  

Written and Illustrated by Irene Luxbacher

Clear techniques and simple concepts spark inspiration with collage activities.  I expect to see students artwork on the bulletin boards after they read about how to create different forms of collage. Many students will delight in their projects and teachers will be inspired!

Curriculum Ties: art, collage

Review by Leanna Griffiths, Library Media Assistant, Crestview Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: All Ages

1 2 3 I Can Collage!
Kids Can Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-55453-313-8
Release Date: March 2009  

Written and Illustrated by Debi Gliori

A conservation story about how the careless ways of dragons could spell the end of the Earth--unless they can find a way to turn things around.  The children are destined to love this book. The pictures are imaginative and colorful, the rhyming message is timely and catchy, if a bit obvious. This book sends a rather strong message, part of which I don't completely agree with, but it is a message that should be addressed!

Review by Leanna Griffiths, Library Media Assistant, Crestview Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades PreK-3

The Trouble With Dragons
Walker & Company
26 pages
ISBN: 978-0-8027-9789-6
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Dougal Dixon, Illustrated by Steve Weston

This book is a dinosaur resource book. My favorite parts are the size comparisons that are done with pictures like an elephant or an adult. The page before the table of contents has a key that tells if the dinosaur is a meat or plant eater. The text is easy to follow and the illustrations are so interesting. I enjoyed this book.  The "glossary "and "Where did they go " parts at the back were so informative and could easily be used for reports.

Review by Janice Hastings, Library Media Assistant, South Kearns Elementary
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-4

Saurophaganax and Other Meat-Eating Dinosaurs
Picture Window Books / Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-40485-180-1
Release Date: January 2009  

Written by Bonny Becker, Illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton

We loved this book because it teaches a lesson. Bear learns to be nice and to welcome visitors who are friends.

Review by Mrs. Pimentel's class, Hillsdale Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-2

A Visitor for Bear
Candlewick Press
52 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-2807-9
Release Date: February 2008  

Written and Illustrated by Leslie Patricelli

This is an excellent book for its illustrations, which will help younger readers to recognize words.  In this story a young girl's swing ride in the park is taken to wonderfully imaginative heights.

Review by Judy Mitchell, Library Media Assistant, Calvin Smith Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

Higher! Higher!
Candlewick Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3241-0
Release Date: March 24, 2009  

Written and Illustrated by Ruth Brown

As its subtitle says:  cat and mouse tale. Beautifully illustrated, this peek-a-boo, lift the flap pop-up book is perfect for a read-aloud to preschoolers and kindergartners.  It evokes an atmosphere for cuddling with a slight fear of hidden dangers. This book will be LOVED and if I allow students to check it out, it won't last very long. I may keep it as a pre-school through 2nd grade read-aloud.

Review by Leanna Griffiths, Library Media Assistant, Crestview Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Preschool - 2nd Grade

The Tale of Two Mice: A Cat-And-Mouse Tale
Candlewick Press
26 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4015-6
Release Date: December 2008
 

Written and Illustrated by David Soman and Jacky Davis

Ladybug Girl goes to the park and has tons of adventures getting there. When she finally reaches the park she plays with a boy but they can't agree on what to play so she decides that it was more fun being Ladybug Girl. The boy becomes Bumblebee Boy and the fun starts. Pretty soon other kids join in the fun.

Review by Nancy Jenkins, Library Media Assistant, William Penn Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-2

Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy
Dial / Penguin
32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3339-8
Release Date: March 2009  

Written and Illustrated by David McLimans

David McLimans uses fins, flippers, and tentacles to create numerical masterpieces. This aquatic menagerie will captivate readers of all ages as they count up too ten and back down again. The powers of ten are used to show amazing ocean facts from one to one billion.  I almost didn't choose this book because it was predominantly one color--blue---with a black background. After reading it, I'm filled with questions- and I'm sure that's the point. I've heard of only a few of the fish in the book. What is their threat? What can WE do? This book invites the reader to look for other books that explain more about the fish and their habitat. The math aspect is also informative.  This book is a teaser - sure to encourage research, storytelling, math questions, global comparisons, etc.

Review by Leanna Griffiths, Library Media Assistant, Crestview Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Preschool-6th

Gone Fishing: Ocean Life by the Numbers
Walker & Co
40 pages
ISBN: 978-0-8027-9770-4
Release Date: October 2008  

Written by Betty Wicks, Illustrated by Adam McCauley

Rita tries to improve her times and flip turns as she struggles to decide whether to remain the best swimmer on the dolphins team or the worst on the sharks team, where she could be with her friends.  This is a perfect story for young students trying to figure out where they fit in. Listing good and bad points of what you do is a good idea - along with weighing what each point is worth.  This is bound to be a popular series. I expected the story to go on when the book ended. That's sure to bring everyone back for the next "chapter" book.

Review by Leanna Griffiths, Library Media Assistant, Crestview Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-5

Swimming with Sharks (Gym Shorts Series)
Roaring Brook Press
55 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59643-245-1
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Deborah Noyes, Illustrated by Bagram Hatoulline

This is a great book with a good message. Hana is a young girl in Holland who is always trying to help her father feel good and be happy. He is very involved in making money by selling tulips. Rembrandt is his friend. Rembrandt teaches Hana some good lessons. When the tulip market collapses, Hana teaches her father to appreciate the beauty of the tulips and life. It is a sweet story.

Review by Karen Manning, Library Media Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-8

Hana in the Time of the Tulips
Candlewick Press
30 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4131-3
Release Date: February 2009 (Reprint from 2004)  

Written by Terry Collins, Illustrated by Brian Bascle

This is a great book about women's rights to vote. It is written as cartoons. It is very current and talks about Hillary Clinton running for president. It goes all the way back to the founding of our nation. The information is presented in a way that kids will enjoy reading.

Review by Karen Manning, Library Media Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-9

Women's Right to Vote (Cartoon Nation)
Capstone Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4296-2341-4
Release Date: January 2009  

Written by Roald Dahl, Illustrated by Quentin Blake

This book brings a delightfully well-told story to the reader, describing many of Roald's experiences while he was growing up. It is interesting to learn of the differences in the way things were in the 1920s as compared to now (2009). It's also interesting how things were in another country. He has written many books, but this one gives more of an idea of his life.

Review by S. Hiskey, William Penn Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 5-6

Boy: Tales of Childhood
Puffin / Penguin
176 pages
ISBN: 978-0-14-130305-5
Release Date: February 1999 (reprint)  

Written by Meish Goldish

Patience, practice, perseverance and good goal-setting make for a champion. Just ask Michael Phelps! Super book! 5 stars for Michael!

Review by Kathleen Okelberry, Library Media Assistant, Wilson Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-5

Michael Phelps: Anything is Possible!
Bearport Publishing
32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-14-130305-5
Release Date: January 2009  

Written by Nancy White

As much as I am afraid of snakes I found this book very interesting.  This book includes large color photographs of both Eastern and Western Rattlers.  It also provides many facts about the snakes and includes a picture glossary.

Review by Margo France, Library Media Assistant, Morningside Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 1-6

Diamondback Rattlers: America's Most Venomous Snakes!
Bearport Publishing
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59716-765-9
Release Date: January 2009
 

Written Megan McDonald, Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

As Stink, Sophie, and Webster were building the Great Wall of China it starts shaking and quaking….. and they hear "Wee, wee, wee, wee."  After some investigating, they each find a guinea pig. When the trio of friends decide to take the guinea pigs to a friend that has a pet shop, they cannot believe their eyes or ears when they arrive. Cages are toppled everywhere, animals are squealing and squawking, and guinea pigs are running everywhere! 101 guinea pigs, to be exact. Mrs. Birdwistle, the pet shop owner, has rescued the guinea pigs from a lab that was using them to test shampoo and perfume, and they have escaped from their cages. Finding homes for 101 guinea pigs provides the group with an adventure across the country, in the Piggymobile, a renovated camper. Will they all find a good home?

Review by Dana Valencia, Library Media Assistant, Oakridge Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 1-4

Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express
Candlewick Press
120 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4234-1
Release Date: February 2009 (reprint)  

Written by Connie Colwell Miller

New title in the Perritos/Dogs series, which is a great nonfiction series for young readers. Allows both English and Spanish readers to enjoy the book. I would purchase the series.

Review by Kim Jensen, Library Media Assistant, Diamond Ridge Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 1-2
Bilingual: English/Spanish

Labradores/Labradors
Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4296-3256-0
Release Date: January 2009  

Written and Illustrated by Jim Arnosky

Jim Arnosky does an amazing job with his wildlife books, and Crocodile Safari is no exception. The book starts with a concise explanation of the difference between a crocodile and alligator. This is very informative. His sketches are excellent, including one with the actual size of crocodile teeth. They include the wildlife that live where crocs live, and the type of environment. The book concludes with a song, "Counting Crocodiles," including both words and music. To top it all off, a DVD is included that shows all that is explained in the book, narrated by Jim Arnosky. He shows his boat and even sings the song, which he wrote.

Review by Sandy Brigman, Library Media Assistant, Robert Frost Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

Crocodile Safari
Scholastic
40 pages
ISBN: 978-0-439-90356-1
Release Date: March 2009
 

Written by Wade Cooper

Real photographs of vehicles, keywords and a rhyming text create an ideal setting for a beginning reader. I liked the detailed pictures of the fire truck and ambulance. Good book for an early reader.

Review by Amy Gerritsen, Library Media Assistant, Stansbury Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Kindergarten

On the Road
Scholastic
30 pages
ISBN: 978-0-545-00720-7
Release Date: January 2009


 

Written by Vincent X. Kirsch

Natalie and Naughtily are sisters, each with their own personality and their own way of doing things. The girls live in a grand house on the top of the world’s greatest department store, Nopps. When it rains outside Natalie and Naughtily are allowed to play in the store, and they love to play in the store. One rainy day the girls are asked not to play in the store because it will be very, very busy. So the girls decide they will not go to play, instead they will go to help! How much help will the girls be? Natalie & Naughtily is a great read, with an adventure waiting on each floor of Nopps department store.

Review by Dana Valencia, Library Media Assistant, Oakridge Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

Natalie & Naughtily
Bloomsbury
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59990-269-2
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Vicki Cobb, Illustrated by Andrew Harris

This book is part of a series on the body. It has great cartoon characters as part of the illustrations, which are photomicrographs of the bone. It explains on an elementary level what actually happens when a bone is broken and what the bone needs to be healthy. I think it would be a great book for a student who is actually experiencing an injury to a bone, or those who are interested in what happens. I would be interested in finding out more about other books in this series.

Review by Sandy Brigman, Library Media Assistant, Robert Frost Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 2-6

Your Body Battles a Broken Bone
Lerner Publishing Group
32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-8225-7468-2
Release Date: March 2009
 

Written by Carol Diggory Shields, Illustrated by Sophie Blackall

This whimsical counting poem features wombats from Australia. With delightful large illustrations, this book is a captivating poem that features counting down from 5-0. The book also provides a page at the beginning that introduces Australian words that might be encountered throughout the text. I loved this counting book.

Review by Michelle Asay, GSD Elementary Library Specialist
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-1

Wombat Walkabout
Dutton / Penguin
30 pages
ISBN: 978-0-525-47865-2
Release Date: March 2009  

Written by Jacqueline Jules, Illustrated by Jef Czekaj

This book is an explanation of the Constitutional Convention, why we need the Constitution, and what it means.  It is written and illustrated so that it is understandable for lower grades and those just learning about this process. The illustrations depict children dressed as individual states, arguing their reasons for certain items in the constitution. Each page is illustrated as a play on stage. The last four pages are detailed additional notes on the constitution and its background. A great addition and prequel to help students start to understand the government and U.S. Constitution.

Review by Sandy Brigman, Library Media Assistant, Robert Frost Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 2-6

Unite or Die: How Thirteen States Became a Nation
Charlesbridge Publishing
48 pages
ISBN: 978-1-58089-189-9
Release Date: February 2009  

Written by Kathryn Lasky, Illustrated by Matthew Trueman

This book is centered around the travels of Darwin on a five year voyage to South America with Captain Robert Fitzroy. It begins with the young Darwin and his interests, which conflict with what his father wants for him. It describes the life, his discoveries, and his rocky relationships with Captain Fitzroy.  The illustrations alone are very entertaining and make it worth picking up this book. The above-average reading level of the text in this picture book lends it toward the upper elementary grades.

Review by Sandy Brigman, Library Media Assistant, Robert Frost Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4-6

One Beetle Too Many
Candlewick Press
48 pages
ISBN: 9780763614362
Release Date: January 2009  

Written by Zachary Shapiro, Illustrated by Jack E. Davis

Cute ABC book. The animals on Noah's ark are getting tired and grumpy because they've been on the ark too long (i.e. "The snakes were squished.") After Noah hollers, "We're all in the same boat!" everyone changes their attitudes and we go back through the alphabet with "happy" ABCs (i.e. "Moose were merry.")

Review by Debbie Robinson, Library Media Assistant, Arcadia Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-2

We're All in the Same Boat
Putnam / Penguin
32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-399-24393-6
Release Date: January 2009  

Written by Jill Urban Donahue, Illustrated by Robert Masheris

The story is about three children learning safety as they play at the park. I liked the safety tip on each page. The illustrations are a great addition to the text. This is a perfect storytime book and could be used to introduce a safety unit in class.

Review by Janice Hastings, Library Media Assistant, South Kearns Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

Play It Smart: Playground Safety
Picture Window / Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-40484-823-8
Release Date: October 2008  

Written by Mark Teague

Mark Teague creates another beautifully illustrated book where children will fall in love with the main character, a dog. Cousin Edward visits his uncle's farm and discovers that it is a farm full of animals who like to have fun. Children will have fun discovering Teague’s subtle humor as each picture delicately paints life on this unusual farm.

Review by Amy Gerritsen, Library Media Assistant, Stansbury Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

Funny Farm
Orchard Books / Scholastic
32 pages
ISBN: 978-439-91499-4
Release Date: April 1, 2009  

Written by JoAnn Early Macken

From building foundations to installing cables and decks, young readers will learn the basics of bridge building. Photographs compliment the large text which will appeal to any struggling reader.

Review by Amy Gerritsen, Library Media Assistant, Stansbury Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-1

Building a Bridge
Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4296-2557-8
Release Date: January 2009  

Written by Cynthia Rylant, Illustrated by Nikki McClure

Beautiful paper-cut artwork illustrates Cynthia Rylant's poetic verse of a father and son celebrating a brand new day. There is promise and hope in each new day when Both father and son explore nature and realize that each day should be lived to the fullest.

Review by Amy Gerritsen, Library Media Assistant, Stansbury Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

All in a Day
Abrams Books for Young Readers
31 pages
ISBN: 978-08109-8321-2
Release Date: March 2009
 

Written and Illustrated by Lorena Siminovich

Two very different friends find that opposites do attract.  Whether chasing a ball or butterfly, it's being together that counts. Good story time read aloud.

Review by Amy Gerritsen, Library Media Assistant, Stansbury Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-2

Alex and Lulu: Two of a Kind
Candlewick Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4423-9
Release Date: March 2009  

Written by Amber Stewart, Illustrated by Laura Rankin

The children loved the story, and the pictures were great. This book is not curriculum core subject related - it's about life outside of school.

Review by Barbara Sagers, Hillsdale Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

No Babysitters Allowed
Bloomsbury
36 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59990-154-1
Release Date: October 2008  

Written by Anne Ylvisaker

Harold (Little Klein) is the fourth son in his family. His three older brothers are robust boys, full of energy and mischief. Little Klein is on the small side, a fact with which his mother has a hard time. She babies him, which contributes to his frail state. He desperately wants a dog and his mother finally gives in (much to his father's dismay). This new event allows Little Klein to experience a whole new world of adventure and drama. This is a sweet story about a family that loves one another, wants the best for each other and how they go about helping one another.

Review by Kimberly Jensen, Library Media Assistant, Diamond Ridge Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4-6

Little Klein
Candlewick Press
186 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4338-6
Release Date: February 2009
 

Written by David A. Adler, Illustrated by Barbara Johansen Newman

This book is by the man that wrote the Cam Jansen books. It houses a fabulous story about a little boy and his grandpa and a mystery they solve together while visiting an amusement park.  This book has eye-catching illustrations. Students can really become a part of the investigation as the characters retrace their steps to solve a problem. It was nice to see a grandparent share the starring role with Bones; it mirrors the growing number of children growing up under a grandparent's care. There is plenty of white space in the text which makes it visually appealing to beginning readers.

Review by Amber Palmer, Teacher, Bennion Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

Bones and the Roller Coaster Mystery
Viking / Penguin
31 pages
ISBN: 978-0-670-06340-6
Release Date: February 2009
 

Written by Van Wallach

This is an excellent 2-4 grade low level reader. Many facts are presented in four to six sentences per page. Many pages have "Fun Facts" that present even more interesting facts about black mambas. The photography is fantastic.  I would highly recommend this book.

Review by Debbie Robinson, Library Media Assistant, Arcadia Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 2-4

Black Mambas
Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-42962-271-4
Release Date: January 2009
 

Written by Martha E. H. Rustad

This is a Pebble book. It has great photos with just the right amount of text for this reading level.

Review by Kim Liston, Library Media Assistant, Woodstock Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-1

Painted Lady Butterflies
Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-42962-228-8
Release Date: January 2009  

Written and Illustrated by Hans Wilhelm

Noodles is visited by Auntie Judy, who loves to give dogs kisses. Noodles does not like kisses and decides that bath time is better than a dreaded kiss. Great beginning reader book with a lovable dog.

Review by Amy Gerritsen, Library Media Assistant, Stansbury Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-1

No Kisses, Please!
Scholastic
27 pages
ISBN: 978-545-09891-5
Release Date: January 2009


 

Written by Sandol Stoddard Warburg, Illustrated by Jacqueline Chwast

I remember reading this book as a child and loving it and then reading it as an adult and still loving it. It is a small book with black and white drawings. It is about friendship. It starts out with the lines, " I like you and I know why / I like you because you are a good person To like." My daughter gave me this book and I have given a copy to several of my friends.

Review by Cindy Moyle, Granite School District Library Media Specialist
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Elementary reading level, but a cute book for everyone.

I Like You
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
48 pages
ISBN: 978-0-395-07176-2
Release Date: June 1990 (reprint from 1965)  

Written by Anastasia Suen, Illustrated by Paul Carrick

This is a great book, especially for 5th grade students and teachers. It gives precise and easy to follow information on electricity. The illustrations are wonderful. They are large and easy to see. They connect with the text and give a clear picture of how electricity travels. It also includes a glossary and index.

Curriculum Ties: 5th grade - Science Core - Electricity.  Great book. I would recommend it to be put with interconnections for 5th grade.

Review by Dawn Chase, Teacher, Hillsdale Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grade 5

Wired
Charlesbridge Publishing
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-57091-599-4
Release Date: July 2007  

Written by Jake Maddox, Illustrated by Tuesday Mourning

Sisters Maggie and Shannon are figure skaters.  Maggie is determined to perform better than her sister. Will her secret to a better skating routine be revealed? This was a tender story with a uplifting ending.

Review by Amy Gerritsen, Library Media Assistant, Stansbury Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-5

Skater's Secret
Stone Arch / Capstone Press
58 pages
ISBN: 978-1-43421-212-2
Release Date: January 2009  

Written by Cynthia Rylant, Illustrated by Mark Teague

Poppleton, the pig, loves spring. He enjoys spring cleaning, bicycling, and camping. Great level 3 reading book. Teague's pictures dot a fun story of discovering and friendship.

Review by Amy Gerritsen, Library Media Assistant, Stansbury Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 1-3

Poppleton in Spring
Scholastic
48 pages
ISBN: 978-0-545-07867-2
Release Date: February 2009


 

Written by June McNicholas

This book is one of a series on caring for unusual pets. Topics include positives and negatives on owning a pet rat, supplies needed, and handling. It even touches on old age and saying goodbye. The book was thorough and interesting.

Review by Kay Thomas, Library Media Assistant, Eastwood Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

Rats (Keeping Unusual Pets)
Heinemann Library
48 pages
ISBN: 978-1-40340-283-7
Release Date: October 2002  

Written by Steele Tyler Filipek

Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano must overcome their differences and as they attempt to rescue Jabba the Hutt's son. Clone Wars fans will remember the characters and battles as photographs from the movie illustrate the storyline in this fun Star Wars book. For newer Star Wars fans, a glossary will help identify technical terms and far out characters.

Review by Amy Gerritsen, Library Media Assistant, Stansbury Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

Operation Huttlet (Star Wars: Clone Wars)
Grosset & Dunlap / Penguin
45 pages
ISBN: 978-0-448-44995-1
Release Date: October 2008


 

Written by Sue Whiting, Illustrated by Donna Rawlins

This is a simple book about children pretending to be firefighters. The pictures are bright and interesting, and the words are simple and easy to understand. It is a book that would be interesting to Kindergarten and First Graders.

Review by Debbie Woolsey, Library Media Assistant, Westbrook Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-2

The Firefighters
Candlewick Press
31 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4019-4
Release Date: August 2008  

Written by Betty G. Birney

I have read other Humphrey books and this one, like the others, did not disappoint me. I truly enjoy the way that Humphrey wants to encourage the children in the class. He wants the children to succeed. It also teaches that in every class there are different personalities and concerns. I really enjoy these books for a nice reading chapter book.

Review by Susan Seegmiller, Library Media Assistant, Roosevelt Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4-6

Surprises According to Humphrey
Puffin / Penguin
123 pages
ISBN: 978-0-14-241296-1
Release Date: January 2009


 

Edited by Michael Rosen, Illustrated by Paul Howard

This poetry book contains poems from 38 traditional poets. The selections provide a representative sampling of each of the poet’s work. The accompanying illustrations make this book a pleasure to read and even the size and “feel” of the book in the hands is very satisfying.

Review by Althea Bennett, Library Media Specialist, Wasatch Jr. High School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 5-12

Classic Poetry: An Illustrated Collection
Candlewick Press
160 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4210-5
Release Date: March 2009  

Written by Don Quixote, Retold by Martin Jenkins, Illustrated by Chris Riddell

I have always loved the story of Don Quixote. Quixote is an aging man who believes that he is a knight-errant. Quixote and his faithful squire, Sancho, travel through Spain fighting windmills, saving damsels in distress and trying to right wrongs. The thing that makes this edition of the book so charming are the illustrations.

Review by Cindy Moyle, Granite District Media Specialist
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 7+

Don Quixote
Candlewick Press
349 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4081-1
Release Date: April 2009  

Written by Sandy Donovan

This book is not your typical country book. The emphasis is on how a teenager lives in Thailand. The colorful pages and the information inserts all add to the appeal to this book. I wish I had the whole series because I think that 9th grade geography students would prefer this series over the other series that are in our school’s library.

Review by Althea Bennett, Library Media Specialist, Wasatch Jr. High School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 5-9

Teens in Thailand
Compass Point / Capstone Press
96 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7565-4046-3
Release Date: January 2009  

Edited by Sally Grindley

This is an adorable, nicely illustrated book that contains sixteen short stories about animals. Some of them are fables (Aesop) and some are abbreviated stories from longer books (Wind in the Willows). I know that our geography teacher would find it useful because she has her gifted/talented students write a fable after they have studied a group of countries. The fable has to incorporate the culture and religion of the country. These stories could help them learn the gist of a fable.

Curriculum Ties: writing,drawings

Review by Althea Bennett, Library Media Specialist, Wasatch Jr. High School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-8

The Kingfisher Book of Classic Animal Stories
Kingfisher
159 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7534-6210-2
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Susan E. Goodman, Illustrated by Elwood H. Smith

This was an excellent book about the campaign process. I loved the simple, easy-to-understand writing style, the illustrations, and the great bits of humor interjected throughout the book.

Review by Laura Schmidt, Library Media Assistant, Fox Hills Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 5-6

See How They Run
Bloomsbury
96 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59990-171-8
Release Date: May 2008
 

Written by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery, Illustrated by Jean Cassels

This is a very touching story about a dog and a cat (both with no tails) that were abandoned during Hurricane Katrina. When they are finally rescued it was determined that the cat was blind and depended upon the dog for protection and guidance. This is a true story.

Review by Margo France, Library Media Assistant, Morningside Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: All Grades

Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival
Walker & Co.
32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-8027-9754-4
Release Date: August 2008  

Written and Illustrated by Tony Fucile

Frankie and Sal are BORED.  From baseball to comic book reading to baking cookies to drawing pictures, they’ve already done it all, and now they don’t know what to do…until Sal comes up with the revolutionary idea to do ten seconds of absolutely NOTHING.  However, the boys’ fail in their valiant attempt, as their imaginations run wild.  They ultimately discover that it is truly impossible to do nothing.  This is a fun book about imagination, with energetic illustrations in a classic retro comic style inspired by the likes of Peanuts and Calvin and Hobbes.

Review by Joshua Whiting, Granite School District
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-4

Let's Do Nothing
Candlewick Press
40 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3440-7
Release Date: May 12, 2009  

Written and Illustrated by Michael Foreman

This is the story of a young boy who finds a seedling plant and starts to nourish it and help it grow.  This seems somewhat unremarkable, except for the fact that the boy lives in the midst of post-war rubble and ruin, separated from his former home by barbed wire and soldiers with tanks.  There is nothing green in his world.  He has to move aside broken bricks just to give the plant room to grow.

The illustrations, done mostly in gray and sepia tones with selective and striking use of color, are extremely effective at setting the moods of the story.  This is a touching tale of tenacity and hope in the face of terrible trials.  It tastefully shows some of the realities of war from a child’s perspective, hints at the idea of peaceful resistance, and will probably provoke a lot of discussion and questions from young students about these topics.

Review by Joshua Whiting, Granite School District
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

A Child's Garden
Candlewick Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4271-6
Release Date: May 12, 2009
 

Written by Lisa M. Bolt Simons

Military books are very popular with the boys at our school, so I was excited to have this book for our younger/reluctant readers. Short sentences and controlled vocabulary give just the right amount of information about what it means to serve in the army. Large, full page, colorful, and up-to-date photographs compliment the text. Also, a glossary, "safe websites," and "read more" sections extend the learning. Once again, Capstone has come up with a winning series kids will love. I highly recommend this book.

Review by Renee Larsen, Library Media Assistant, Hillside Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades PreK-2

Soldiers of the U.S. Army
Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4296-2250-9
Release Date: January 2009
 

Written by Sydnie Meltzer Kleinhenz

The young or reluctant reader gets a wonderful introduction to the elephant with short, simple bilingual text and large, beautiful photographs. They learn about elephants' habitats, how they live, and how they take care of themselves. I liked the geographical information and maps that show where elephants live in Africa. Included are a glossary, "read more," and "safe websites" sections.  Elephants are a favorite of many children, and this book will delight and teach. I highly recommend this book.

Review by Renee Larsen, Library Media Assistant, Hillside Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades PreK-2
Bilingual: English / Spanish

Elefantes / Elephants
Pebble / Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4296-3266-9
Release Date: January 2009  

Written by Martha E.H. Rustad

I am constantly on the lookout for easy nonfiction books on subjects teachers cover throughout the year and children are wanting to check out after being taught. Seasons of the year are popular subjects and this bilingual book, Animals in Fall, is one in a series about Fall. The sentences are short and easy to read. The full page color photographs of the animals are beautiful and totally compliment the text. This book will be a wonderful edition to our library because beginner or struggling readers can learn so much about Fall in a short amount of reading time. I highly recommend this book.

Curriculum Ties: Earth Sciences, Autumn (Fall), Animals

Review by Renee Larsen, Library Media Assistant, Hillside Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades PreK - 2
Bilingual: English / Spanish

Los Animales en Otoño / Animals in Fall
Pebble Plus / Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4296-3258-4
Release Date: January 2009  

Written by Ari Berk, Illustrated by Wayne Anderson, Dougal Carrel, Gary Chalk, Kevin Levell, and Larry MacDougal

This is a super book about the history of giants! Peoples all over the world have believed in giants for centuries and now we have the book of all books that explains it all. It gives you all the details about thier lives: thier employment, favorite food and games, why they wear what they do, the mysteries inside thier sacks, fashion and ritual costumes, etc. All this information is beautifully illustrated by five artists with a sundry of flaps, foldouts, booklets, and gatefolds. The cover has a giant with a flickering eye and a multicolored tassel for a bookmark. A super book for all ages!

Review by Dayanne Coombs, Library Secretary, Granite Peaks High School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: All Ages

The Secret Histroy of Giants, or the Codex Gigantic
Candlewick Press
Unpaged
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4047-7
Release Date: September 2008  

Written and Illustrated by Chris Mould

A young boy, Stanley Buggles, inherits Candlestick Hall in Crampton Rock from his great-uncle who has perished in "a dark encounter with a feasome werewolf!"  Summer vacation comes and off he goes alone to discover Candlestick Hall. This is a fast paced, easy read and a little bit scary. A good read for those in the elementary level who like scary stories. The illustrations are macabre in tone which helps the story along. A good read-aloud book!!

Review by Dayanne Coombs, Library Secretary, Granite Peaks High School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-5

The Wooden Mile (Something Wickedly Weird, Volume 1)
Roaring Brook Press
176 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59643-383-0
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by J. Banscherus, Illustrated by Ralf Butschkow

Those who enjoy Nate the Great books will love Klooz chapter books. A few steps up from the Nate the Great books, but still easy chapter books, Klooz have short chapters with controlled vocabulary and great black and white illustrations that compliment the text. There are discussion questions, a glossary and writing prompts at the back.
Klooz is a gum-chewing, elementary school detective who is hired by a local soccer team, the Horton Street Hornets, to figure out why their goalie freezes up during each game. The case puts Klooz right on the field, although he hates sports, as he tries to solve this mystery. This a funny little mystery series I highly recommend.

Review by Renee Larsen, Library Media Assistant, Hillside Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 2-6

Undercover Goalie (Klooz Series)
Stone Arch / Capstone Press
72 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4342-1219-1
Release Date: January 2009

 

Written by Suzanne Slade, Illustrated by Jeff Yesh

I never knew a rat could be so interesting! I thoroughly enjoyed discovering the life cycle of a rat in this book. The text follows each phase of life with new words introduced into the vocabulary. A glossary is found in the back to clarify those words. The subtle colors of the illustrations compliment the subject matter. The time line helps the reader easily follow the life cycle. There are also side bars with additional information. By the end I knew everything a young reader would want to know about the brown rat. The fun facts in the back were just that-- fun to read. I loved this book and highly recommend it and it will be a wonderful addition to our library.

Review by Renee Larsen, Library Media Assistant, Hillside Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 1-4

From Pup to Rat: Following the Life Cycle
Picture Window / Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4048-5156-6
Release Date: January 2009
 

Written by Marbara Mitchelhill, Illustrated by Tony Ross

This book is part of a series, Damian Drooth, Supersleuth. It is a humorous mystery about a group of friends who consider themselves to be detectives ready to solve any mystery, lead by Damian Drooth. It is easy to read with sketches throughout. In the back there is a glossary and discussion questions, writing prompts, and Internet links. I really liked the format and cute plot. A great beginning chapter book.

Review by Sandy Brigman, Library Media Assistant, Robert Frost Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 1-4

The Mystery of the Missing Mutts (Damian Drooth, Supersleuth)
Stone Arch / Capstone Press
67 pages
ISBN: 978-1-43421-216-0
Release Date: January 2009  

Written by Cathy Hopkins

Theobe is a young girl whose father is a celebrity astrologist and her mother has a business selling anything that has to do with astrology. Theobe is a very organized girl of 13 who basically runs her house. She looks at her horoscope one day and realizes that she may be the Zodiac Girl for that month. Soon the planets, who are on earth in human form, start coming over. However, they spend most of the time with her parents and sister instead of her. She is very depressed over this. As her month is getting over, her guardian, Hermes, or Mercury, comes back and helps her to understand that she can be herself and be organized but not be perfectly in control all the time. She then realizes her month as Zodiac girl has been worth it after all.

Review by Karen Manning, Library Media Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 5-9

Star Child (Zodiac Girls)
Kingfisher
164 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7534-6205-8
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Tor Seidler, Illustrated by Brock Cole

Gulliver is a very spoiled Lhasa Apso living in New York City with his wealthy master. When his master decides to get married and his fiancee is allergic to dogs, the doorman at their fancy apartment building offers to take Gulliver. The rest of the book is about Gulliver’s adventures as he tries to find his way home, and the realization of where home really is. I thought this book was sweet, and it also had adventure so it will appeal to students.

Review by Vala'dee Tanner, Library Media Assistant, Rosecrest Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

Gully's Travels
Kids Can Press
175 pages
ISBN: 978-0-545-02506-5
Release Date: September 2008
 

Written by Elizabeth Macleod

This is the book for horse lovers! Each chapter begins with a brief history of horses and continues periodically throughout the book. Most of the rest of the book is in a question and answer format that answers such questions as, "Why do horses have manes?," "Can horses really sleep standing up?," and "How smart are horses?"  I thought this book was fascinating.

Review by Vala'dee Tanner, Library Media Assistant, Rosecrest Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

Why Do Horses Have Manes?
Kids Can Press
64 pages
ISBN: 978-1-55453-312-1
Release Date: February 2009




 

Written by Cecilia Galante

The story begins in a commune named Mount Blessing in Fairfield, Connecticut. It houses about 260 followers of its founder, Emmanuel.  Agnes and Honey, fourteen year old girls, are members of this commune. Agnes strives hard to follow all that Emmanuel teaches and wants to be a good “Believer.” Honey, however, is not too sure about the things they are learning and doing. The two girls have been friends for a long time, but they may not be as much alike as they thought. Agnes’ little brother gets injured badly in an accident, and Emmanuel refuses to take him to the hospital. It is then that life changes drastically, Nana Pete decides to flee from the compound with the three children. When Agnes and Honey get away from the compound they learn a deep, dark secret.

The story is written in a interesting format. Each of the alternating chapters are written from either Agnes’ or Honey’s perspective. The reader may be intrigued by experiencing the life of living in a commune from the two different perspectives.

Curriculum Ties: Language Arts - examining the literary style of the author. Sociology - looking at the lives of different religious beliefs.  Health- making choices.

Review by Cindy Dunn, Library Media Specialist, Olympus High School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 6-12

The Patron Saint of Butterflies
Bloomsbury
292 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59990-249-4
Release Date: April 2008  

Written by Jay Asher

I love a unique story - I'm not sure I have read anything quite like it. The main character, who commits suicide, sends letters to all those who brought her to a place where suicide was the only option.  I found myself thinking about how even the smallest interaction with people can make a huge impression - whether for good or bad. I would have been horrified to receive the set of tapes in this book.

Review by Rachel Murphy, Library Media Specialist, Kearns High School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Young Adult

Thirteen Reasons Why
Razorbill
288 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59514-171-2
Release Date: October 2007




 

Written by Roberta Edwards, Illustrated by True Kelley

I would recommend this book for all libraries. It it a very comprehensive and easy to read book. It is long enough for many of the biography reports that children are asked to write. It was very easy to understand and follow the life of George Washington. It gave just enough information, but not too much to lose the young reader.

Review by Karen Manning, Library Media Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-9

Who Was George Washington?
Grosset & Dunlap / Penguin
104 pages
ISBN: 978-0-448-44892-3
Release Date: January 2009


 

Written by Lauren Child

This Charlie and Lola book is a retelling of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Lola and her friend, Lotta, continue to call for help from Charlie and his friend, Marv. When the girls really do need help, the boys don’t respond to their calls. The illustrations are unique. They incorporate actual photos of fabrics in the kids’ clothing, leaves and grass in the outdoor scenes, real food on the lunch plates, and fur on the cat’s face. The book is bright and eye-catching. I think the students will love this book.

Review by Vala'dee Tanner, Library Media Assistant, Rosecrest Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

Help! I Really Mean It! (Charlie and Lola Series)
Grosset & Dunlap / Penguin
24 pages
ISBN: 978-0-448-45049-0
Release Date: March 2009  

Written by Marlene Perez

This book was not really about death. It was awesome.  The story is told by Daisy, who is one of three sisters who live with their mom (their father left them when Daisy was seven). Her family has psychic powers.  The whole town is full of werewolves and other creatures.  This book is awesome.

Reviewed by a student at Cyprus High School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grade 10

Dead Is a State of Mind
Graphia / Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
175 pages
ISBN: 978-0-15-206210-1
Release Date: January 2009 (paperback)



 

Written and Illustrated by Melanie Watt

Scaredy Squirrel is afraid to fall asleep because he is afraid he will have bad dreams. So, night after night he stays awake, only to realize there are consequences when you don’t get enough sleep. Eventually, he falls asleep quite by accident and finds there are good consequences to being well-rested. Melanie Watt has done it again! Her humor really appeals to the kids (and adults). I can hardly keep Scaredy Squirrel on the shelf, and I’m sure this book will be no different.

Review by Vala'dee Tanner, Library Media Assistant, Rosecrest Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

Scaredy Squirrel at Night
Kids Can Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-55453-288-9
Release Date: March 2009  

Written by Brandon Sanderson

Alcatraz Smedry, the boy with a talent for breaking things, is back in this sequel to Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians. This time our hero is on a mission to learn what happened to his father, who disappeared into the Library of Alexandria years ago. Alcatraz is joined on his quest by his grandfather, Leavenworth, who has a talent for arriving late, and Bastille, the Knight of Crystallia who kept Alcatraz alive in the first book. We also meet Draulin, Bastille's mother, and two more Smedreys: Alcatraz's uncle Kazan, who has a talent for getting lost, and his cousin Australia, whose special ability is to wake up in the morning looking extremely ugly. Inside the Library, they confront the Curators, a group of undead librarians who have collected everything ever written. The curators will allow anyone to read anything they want, if they are willing to pay the price. Stalking them the whole time is an evil half-human, half-robot Librarian. Alcatraz himself tells us the story with the same humor and sarcasm that ran through the first book. He stops the tale every few pages to talk directly to the reader, usually to say something funny or to try to explain something that may or may not be related to the story. Alcatraz, as narrator, continues to tease the reader by talking about things that will happen in future books. This book is a fun sequel and should be a good read for upper-grade readers.

Review by Tom Grieve, Teacher, Robert Frost Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grade 4+

Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones
Scholastic
322 pages
ISBN: 978-0-439-92553-2
Release Date: November 2008
 

Written by Gerry Ewing

A tantalizing story of a brother and sister and their efforts to boost their Grandmother's hotel business and enliven their summer. The results are more excitement than even they can handle and far more chilling than they planned. Now they need to find a way to put it all to rest, if they can.

Review by Gerry Ewing, Library Media Assistant, Pioneer Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4-7

All the Lovely Bad Ones: A Ghost Story
Clarion / Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
182 pages
ISBN: 978-0-618-85467-7
Release Date: March 2008  

Written by Jennifer L. Marks

An early learning book about what and who parent are. I thought it was a great addition to our easy nonfiction library. Review by Sara Justet, Library Media Assistant, Carl Sandburg Elementary School Rating: ★★★★★  Interest Level: Grades K-1 Parents Capstone Press 24 pages ISBN: 978-1-42962-240-0 Release Date: January 2009

 

Written by Robin Nelson

An easy book about chickens. Well written with facts at the end to help young readers learn about chickens. Review by Sara Justet, Library Media Assistant, Carl Sandburg Elementary School Rating: ★★★★★  Interest Level: Grades K-2 Chickens Lerner Publishing Group 24 pages ISBN: 978-0-7613-4060-7 Release Date: February 2009

 

Written and Illustrated by Michael Foreman

A great story about two dinosaurs who think because of their sizes they can't do anything for others, nor do they feel useful. When the floods come and help is needed, they are there, willing and able to help.

Curriculum Ties: Self-Esteem, lifeskills lessons

Review by Sara Justet, Librarian, Carl Sandburg Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

The Littlest Dinosaur
Walker & Co.
32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-8027-9759-9
Release Date: April 2008

 

Written by Robin Nelson

An easy nonfiction book about apple trees. Easy sentences and facts help children learn about apple trees and how they grow.

Curriculum Ties: habitats, trees, life cycles

Review by Sara Justet, Librarian, Carl Sandburg Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level:  Grades K-2

Apple Trees
Lerner Publishing Group
24 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7613-4071-3
Release Date: February 2009
 

Written by Lucy Silag

I liked this book a lot.  It made me want to go to Paris.  I really felt the culture.  The teens seemed okay; I've never met anyone like them but I kind of believe they are real.  It is a good book, though.

Reviewed by a student at Cyprus High School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: High School

Beautiful Americans
Razorbill / Penguin Group
308 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59514-222-1
Release Date: January 2009



 

Written by Laura Purdie Salas, Illustrated by Jeff Yesh

The book has a nice table of contents. There is a nice glossary at the back of the book. The book has a lot of high level vocabulary, which interested students would like. The readability of the book is suitable for anyone as the print is clear and easy to read. There is not a lot to read on any of the pages. While there is not much text, it is very interesting and informative. There is a very fun project idea at the back of the book.

Review by Elizabeth Evans, Teacher, Hillsdale Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★  
Interest Level: Grades K-6

Tundras: Frosty, Treeless Lands
Picture Window / Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-40485-376-8
Release Date: Jan 2009
 

Selected by Paul B. Janeczko, Illustrated by Chris Raschka

This book is a great introduction to the many different types of poetry. The heart of the book is different samples of poems. The illustrations help the reader visualize the meaning of the poem. The title of the book actually comes from the Concrete Poem sample. At the end of the book, a brief description and the rules for each genre are concisely explained. I loved this book. I think it will be a great resource for teachers as they teach poetry, as well as students as they explore the many different types of poetry. 

Review by Vala'dee Tanner, Librarian, Rosecrest Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

A Kick in the Head: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms
Candlewick Press
61 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4132-0
Release Date: Mar 2009 (reprint)  

Written by Buzz Aldrin, Illustrated by Wendell Minor

Who doesn't love to imagine going to space? This is a history book for all elementary school students. It traces the early flight discoveries through the space stations of today. It is easy to read and understand. The beautiful illustrations sparked interest in learning more about space travel. I enjoyed the time line on the last page. 

Review by Janice Hastings, Librarian, South Kearns Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 1-6

Look to the Stars
G.P. Putnam / Penguin Group
40 pages
ISBN: 978-0-399-24721-7
Release Date: May 2009
 

Written by Alexandra Sliy

This book tells the story of the exploration mission of NASA's Mars rovers. It looks at and explains the data evaluations and photographs sent back to scientists. Readers can easily follow the history of exploring Mars by reading the text or browsing the amazing photographs. 

Review by Janice Hastings
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 4-6

Cars on Mars: Roving the Red Planet
Charlesbridge Publishing
57 pages
ISBN: 978-1-57091-462-1
Release Date: Jul 2009

 

Written and Illustrated by Steve Breen

A young frog tries to catch a dragonfly for his lunch and has a wild adventure. I liked the story board quality of the book. A beautifully illustrated story that will delight students of all ages.

Review by Janice Hastings, Librarian, South Kearns Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades K-6

Stick
Puffin / Penguin Group
36 pages
ISBN: 978-0-14-241303-6
Release Date: Apr 2009
 

Written and Illustrated by Jason Chin

An abandoned book about redwoods is read by a boy who who strangely travels back in time to discover the history of the mysterious forest. Beautiful pictures, intersting facts and a bit of fantasy dot this great nonfiction read. I loved it.

Review by Amy Gerritsen, Librarian, Stansbury Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades K-6

Redwoods
Roaring Brook Press
30 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59643-430-1
Release Date: Mar 2009



 

Written and Illustrated by Keiko Kasza

A bored dog, tired of his Mistress' tea parties and dressing up, has dreams of becoming a wild wolf. He runs away and discovers that life outside in the wild isn't quite what he expected. This is an endearing book with a happy ending. My story time kids would definitely applaud after listening to this one.

Review by Amy Gerritsen, Librarian, Stansbury Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades K-6

The Dog Who Cried Wolf
Puffin / Penguin Group
24 pages
ISBN: 978-0-14-241305-0
Release Date: Feb 2009 (Reprint)  

Written by Francisco X. Stork

Marcelo is looking forward to his coming summer job as caretaker of the therapy ponies at Paterson, a special school for children with disabilities which he himself has attended for years.  He is an intelligent but sheltered teenager with a condition that places him on the Autism spectrum.   However, Marcelo’s father, wanting him to gain experience in the “real world,” pushes him into a job in the mail room of his Boston corporate law firm.  If he isn't successful at the mailroom job and at following what his father terms "the rules of the real world," he will be required to go to a regular high school for his senior year rather than his beloved Paterson.  And so the reader is thrust with Marcelo into the competitive, confusing and relativistic world of the law firm, viewing it all through his fresh eyes.
 

Written by Brenda A. Ferber

Jemma is a 5th grader going to camp for the first time. Hiking, horseback riding, swimming, and sailing seem so fun, but renewing her relationship with her best friend isn't so easy. This is a beautifully written book about the insecurity we all feel at times, but for Jemma it's her first experience with it. This book makes you want to go back to camp again! There is nothing negative about it. An excellent choice for pre-teens and teens alike!

Review by Kathy Loewy, Librarian, Twin Peaks Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 4-8

Jemma Hartman, Camper Extraordinaire
Farrar, Straus & Giroux
215 pages
ISBN: 978-0-374-33672-1
Release Date: Apr 2009

 

Written by Sandy Asher, Illustrated by Keith Graves

Froggie waits anxiously to meet Goose and Gander's new baby, Gosling.  His friend Rabbit helps him pass the time preparing for their visit.  Froggie is surprised and a bit nervous when Gosling wont stop "Hoooooonking!" What to do? Very sweet story with great illustrations.

Review by Kimberly Jensen, Librarian, Diamond Ridge Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades K-3

Here Comes Gosling!
Philomel / Penguin Group
30 pages
ISBN: 978-0-399-25085-9
Release Date: May 2009  

Written and Illustrated by Thomas Docherty

Terrific book design! Very fun! Little Boat makes his/her way through the vast ocean, traveling through danger and trials. Very few words. Great metaphor for life.

Review by Kimberly Jensen, Library Media Assistant, Diamond Ridge Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

Little Boat
Candlewick Press
20 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4428-4
Release Date: Apr 2009

 

Written by Richard Hamilton, Illustrated by Babette Cole

Daisy's dad tucks her in at night and they share their ideas about what it would be like to trade places with each other. Very funny and insightful dialog. Fun illustrations.

Review by Kimberly Jensen, Library Media Assistant, Diamond Ridge Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades K-3

If I Were You: A Daddy-Daughter Story
Bloomsbury
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59990-289-0
Release Date: Nov 2008
 

Written by Sherri L. Smith

This is a fictional book based on the story of the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots).  Ida Mae Jones has been taught by her father to fly. He is gone, but her dream is to continue flying and get her pilot's license. She passes the test easily, but is refused the license because she is female.  Not only that but she is black.  When the call comes for women to fly planes for the army, Ida decides to help in the war effort by enlisting. She leaves her mother and family, forges her father's license to show her name and picture and joins the WASP. Training is in Texas and "Jim Crow" laws would have her hung if she is ever found out because she passes herself off as white. She claims she is Spanish to explain her slightly darker complexion. The book is full of exciting flight episodes and also the danger and joys Ida finds as she is trained and makes close friends in the WASP. Excellent reading. 

Review by Fay Mason, Library Media Teacher, Churchill Jr. High School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 6-12

Flygirl
Putnam / Penguin Group
275 pages
ISBN: 978-0-399-24709-5
Release Date: Jan 2009
www.sherrilsmith.com

 

Written by Deborah Hodge, Illustrated by Pat Stephens

This book defines what a forest is and then describes what animals live there and a liitle about each animal. There are several beautiful illistrations on each page.

Curriculum Ties: This book talked about traits the animals had so that is could survive cold and snowy climates.

Review by Melissa Walton, Diamond Ridge Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades K-3

Forest Animals (Who Lives Here?)
Kids Can Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978 1-55453-070-0
Release Date: Feb 2009

 

Written by Rebecca Emberly, Illustrated by Ed Emberly

Completely delightful retelling of the classic tale, with a definite sarcastic twist! It starts out, "Chicken Little was not the brightest chicken in the coop. He was very excitable and prone to foolishness." Bright and clever illustrations excited my students when I read it to them; a very creative touch was Chicken L's umbrella which was sky blue with large white clouds. The kids had fun joining in with the repetitious text -- "Oh my goodness, oh my gracious, the sky is falling! I must run for my life!" And to top it off, a surprise ending. . . . Very highly recommended!

Review by Cathie Cox, Librarian, Plymouth Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

Chicken Little
Roaring Brook Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59643-464-6
Release Date: Mar 2009


 

Written and Illustrated by Patricia Polacco

I loved her other books. It is great to have history of what it was like during time of the Nazis and to see how friendships developed. It was based on a true family history.

Curriculum Ties: World War II, history, friendship

Review by Liz Goodwin, Library Media Assistant, Silver Hills Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 4-6

The Butterfly
Puffin / Penguin Group
44 pages
ISBN: 978-0-14-241306-7
Release Date: Feb 2009 (reprint)


 

Written and Illustrated by Ian Schoenherr

Darling introduction to books and how to care for them. Very simple, rhyming text and bright, beautiful animal illustrations will attract very young readers. They will gain correct information on proper care in a delightful way. I look forward to using this book with pre-school and kindergarten students this coming school year.

Review by Renee Larsen, Library Media Assistant, Hillside Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Pre-K and Kindergarten

Read It, Don't Eat It!
Greenwillow Books / HarperCollins
30 pages
ISBN: 978-0-06-172455-8
Release Date: Apr 2009


 

Written and Illustrated by Amy Schwartz

Five little, sweet short stories about two friends, Tiny, an elephant, and Hercules, a mouse, and their adventures. From ice skating, art class, and a lemonade stand to a birthday party and knitting, each story speaks of true friendship, sticking by each other, and helping each other out.  Each story's last page reveals the solution to the problem. I loved the gentle humor and bright illustrations. Young children will learn what friendship means and how to be a great friend. This would be a great book to use in a unit on friendship. I highly recommend this book.

Curriculum Ties: character development, friendship

Review by Renee Larsen, Library Media Assistant, Hillside Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades PreK-2

Tiny & Hercules
Roaring Brook Press
30 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59643-253-6
Release Date: May 2009


 

Written and Illustrated by Brian Lies

When the bats find an open window, they discover the wonders that await in a visit to the public library. This is an amazing, beautifully illustrated book written in melodic rhyme. Though some of the vocabulary is higher, children will find the story easy to follow and learn some new words along the way. I loved the way the illustrations highlight the many things you can do in a library and the bats are having the time of their lives. At the end, when settling into story hour, visions of other great stories are drawn and could peak a child's interest to read those wonderful stories. This book is fun, informative, and captivating. I highly recommend this book!

Review by Renee Larsen, Library Media Assistant, Hillside Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades K-6

Bats at the Library
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
30 pages
ISBN: 978-0-618-99923-1
Release Date: Sep 2008


 

Written by Abraham Lincoln, Illustrated by Michael McCurdy

Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" is beautifully illustrated in black and white.  The impact of this great and powerful speech is highlighted by those dramatic illustrations. The book includes a foreword written by renowned American historian Garry Wills. I loved this book and believe it would be an asset to 5th grade in studying American History.

Review by Renee Larsen, Library Media Assistant, Hillside Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 4 and up

The Gettysburg Address
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
28 pages
ISBN: 978-0-395-69824-2
Release Date: Sep 1995 (reprint)

 

Written by Julia Golding

The theater of Drury Lane is closing.  All of Cat's friends are off traveling or finding new means for survival. Will Cat land on her feet? Will her bemusing find an audience? This new installment of Cat Royal's Adventures does not lack the twists and turns or tight spots we've come to expect. Set in the time of the French Revolution, Cat is in for all the adventure the 18th century has to offer. This is a series not to miss.

Review by Jessica Moody, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 5-9

Den of Thieves (A Cat Royal Adventure)
Roaring Brook Press
417 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59643-444-8
Release Date: Apr 2009
http://juliagolding.co.uk/  

Written by Gail Donovan, Illustrated by Janet Pedersen

Joshua Tree Hewitt is a fifth grader who's always in trouble with somebody because he can't stop talking. One morning he finds a frog with three back legs. He brings it to school. Some of the students make fun of it. Others are very interested in it. Joshua wants to learn why the frog has three back legs. He also worries about the tadpoles that are in the pond in his backyard. This would be a great read-aloud book. It would be interesting to see who students would identify with. Teachers could also discuss what their students might do in similar circumstances.

Review by Debbie Carlton, Library Media Assistant, Bennion Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

In Memory of Gorfman T. Frog
Dutton / Penguin Group
180 pages
ISBN: 978-0-525-42085-9
Release Date: Mar 2009



 

Written by Claudia Mills, Illustrated by Heather Maione

Oliver Olson is in the third grade. His parents are over-protective. They don't let him do anything fun. They do everything for him, including most of his homework. Oliver has to make a diorama of the solar system. His parents know just the way it should be done. Oliver has his own ideas. When his talkative classmate, Crystal, asks him to be her partner, he agrees. He finally tells his parents he has a partner. Oliver and Crystal have their own ideas about their diorama . . . including where Pluto should be. The illustrations are cute.  The story is fast and funny.  Some students may see their parents in this book. This would be a great read-aloud book. It would also be a good book for kids to read to their parents.

Review by Debbie Carleton, Library Media Assistant, Bennion Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

How Oliver Olson Changed the World
Farrar, Straus & Giroux
104 pages
ISBN: 978-0-374-33487-1
Release Date: Mar 2009


 

Written by Beth Fantaskey

Jessica is an adopted child from Romania who has tried to forget her life as Anatanasia and become a well-rounded intellectual. Lucius is a boy who claims to be a vampire raised by a cruel uncle. He also claims to be her betrothed from childhood and that they must marry in order to stop a war from breaking out. When Jessica starts to take an interest in Lucius, however, he becomes interested in another girl at Jessica's high school. In addition to relationship problems, however, letters Lucius writes to his uncle suggest to readers that something else is going on that Lucius is not telling Jessica. Will Jessica win Lucius' heart? Is there something going on that might endanger Jessica? A funny, heart-warming story about vampires, love, and growing up. Lovers of Twilight, romance, and vampire stories will love this unique story.

Review by Jessica Moody, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Middle School/High School

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
Harcourt
354 pages
ISBN: 978-0-15-206384-9
Release Date: Feb 2009
www.bethfantaskey.com

 

Written by Kathleen Krull, Illustrated by Boris Kulikov

It takes a couple of pages to get into the story. It was great story about a scienist. I learned things I did not know.  It was neat to follow Marie as she was a child and thru her life. She had many accomplishments and disappointments. It would make a good social studies book and a biography book report.

Review by Diane Scott, Western Hills Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 4-6

Marie Curie (Giants of Science)
Puffin / Penguin Group
132 pages
ISBN: 978-0-14-241265-7
Release Date: Mar 19, 2009 (paperback)



 

Written by Terrell S. French, Illustrated by Maria T. Middleton

It was a great mystery.  I enjoyed the book so much that I read it in three days.  I thought it was cool how the author incorporated modern technology into the story line. The story takes place in Northern California. Julian and his friends try to save a grove Redwoods. It is a fun story and holds the reader's interest. I had a hard time putting the book down. I hope the author writes a sequel.

Review by Diane Scott, Western Hills Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 4-6

Operation: Redwood
Amulet / Abrams Books for Young Readers
355 pages
ISBN: 978-0-8109-8354-0
Release Date: May 1, 2009


 

Written by J.D. Salinger

Rebelling against the structure and strictures of the traditional coming-of-age novel (with the very first sentence the narrator informs us that he’s not going to go into “all that David Copperfield kind of crap,”) this book instead gives us an unfiltered, uncensored and un-”adult”-erated flash into the life and brain of teenager Holden Caulfield as he wanders around New York City for a couple of days and nights after being kicked out of yet another prep school, not ready to go home and face his parents. There is no epic adventure or crisis, we are simply pulled in by Holden’s hilarious, confessional narration, which from page to page is obnoxious, insightful, vulgar, sensitive, spazzy, intelligent, depressed, distracted and empathetic. Above all, Holden seems to be in search of integrity both in himself and in the world at large; he constantly rails against “phoniness” wherever he sees it. Salinger captures adolescent confusion and detachment like no one before probably ever had; we are right with Holden as he wrestles with his confusion over love, sex and the hypocrisy and evil of the world. Rather than showing us the boy growing into a man, we are thrust into a very vivid moment right in midst of the “growth,” and are left to conjecture what will ultimately become of our narrator.

Comparing it to my recent reading, it seems that much of contemporary adolescent literature is heavily indebted to this book; everyone from John Green’s narrators in Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns to Neal Shusterman’s Antsy Bonano, Marcelo of Marcelo in the Real World and the narrator of The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao seem to be taking at least some of their cues from Holden Caulfield. It may just be that Salinger was so remarkably successful at creating an authentic teenage voice that subsequent teenage voices in more recent works remind one of Holden’s voice. This preeminence will make Catcher in the Rye feel very familiar to readers of today’s YA fiction, but still occasionally shock in its frankness.

Something must be said in regards to the explicit language in the book; although it certainly is full of it, any reader that becomes fixated on its inappropriateness has completely missed the point. The narrator simply has the guts to describe real and pervasive dialogue and circumstances that some people would want cut out. Again, this speaks directly to Holden’s desire for integrity; to censor anything real because it might shock or offend would be supremely phony. Furthermore, much of the power of the book comes as we recognize how troubled he is by these compromising circumstances and moral quandaries. His oftentimes empathetic reactions to such situations are extremely insightful.

I’m not exactly sure if this is a book that needs much more hyping. Almost sixty years after its first publication it is still moving more units than many books ever do at the height of their publicity cycles. Clearly it is well known, and a lot of the kids are hip to it. Still, I don’t think this book can be recommended enough. This is a masterful and influential piece of literature that works as well as a high-interest read for teenagers as it does as a text for serious literary study. Every high school library should have this book on their shelves, and it should probably be displayed because the students will pick it up; don’t make them go to the public library for it. This is a tried and true classic that has only increased in relevance since its publication.

Review by Joshua Whiting, Library Media Department, Granite School District
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 9-12

The Catcher in the Rye
Little, Brown
224 pages
ISBN: 978-0316769488
Release Date: 1951

 

Written by Liane Moriarty, Illustrated by Shannon Bonarakis

It is a delightful book. I could hardly put the book down. That was neat. It held my interest. It is a mystery about a girl who lives in the future and she goes off to space to save earth. She has to get a team together to help her. A fun, fast reading book.

Review by Diane Scott, Western Hills Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 4-6

Nicola Berry: Earthling Ambassador 
Grosset & Dunlap / Penguin Group
223 pages
ISBN: 978-0-448-44846-6
Release Date: Mar 5, 2009 (paperback)




 

Written by Liane Moriarty, Illustrated by Shannon Bonatakis

I read these books out of the order because  I did not realize that they were part of a series. There is no indication on the cover.   However, the author does fill you in on what happened in the other book.  This story has another mystery or big problem to solve, and Nicola needs her team to support her. She also learns more about herself.  It is light reading and fun. You get sucked into the story fast. I could hardly put the book down.

Review by Diane Scott, Western Hills Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 4-6

The Shobble Secret (Nicola Berry: Earthling Ambassador) 
Grosset & Dunlap / Penguin Group
233 pages
ISBN: 978-0-448-45088-9
Release Date: Mar 5, 2009 (paperback)

 

Written by Jason Lethcoe, Illustrated by Scott Altmann

I did not realize that I was starting a series.  I need the next book. It was a good book. It talks about Edward, a 5-6 grader and is discovering who he really is. He does not want to take on the role of being guardian. He just wants to be left alone. He discovers where and what his mother has been doing since she died.  It is a fantasy, yet it can have a deeper meaning.

Review by Diane Scott, Western Hills Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 4-8

Wings (The Mysterious Mr. Spines, Book 1) 
Grosset & Dunlap
214 pages
ISBN: 978-0-448-44653-0
Release Date: Feb 5, 2009 (paperback)



 

Written by Clara Gillow Clark

It is a sequel to Hattie On Her Way, but it can stand on its own.  It is about a girl who is sent to live with her grandmother.  As her grandmother's financial situation worsens, Hattie is forced to atten a "common school" in the late nineteen hundreds, where she stands up to a show off girl and shares embellished stories.  It is a cute book for a young girl to read.

Review by Diane Scott, Western Hills Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 3-5

Secrets of Greymoor 
Candlewick Press / Random House
166 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3249-6
Release Date: May 5, 2009


 

Written by Steve Bowkett, Illustrated by David Burroughs

I liked this book as a graphic novel. It kept you involved untill the very end trying to figure out with Roy Kane, private investigator, who the villian was. It starts with police detectives turning to Roy Kane after a 300 carot gem is stolen from the museum. As he investigates the crime, they turn to different sources to help them solve the crime. One person they go to is a magician, Dr. Pretorious, who they hope can help tell them how the thief was able to pull off the heist. I think that children will enjoy the format and the story line.

Review by Karen Manning, Library Media Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 4-9

Detective Files 
Stone Arch / Capstone Press
80 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59889-826-2
Release Date: Sep 1, 2007


 

Written by Peggy Post and Cindy Post Senning, ED. D., Illustrated by Steve Bjorkman 

This book covers a lot and in an easy format to learn about etiquette. I think all ages would benifit.  Has great illustrations and examples. Has a lot of information, from setting a table to eating tricky foods. It has good down-to-earth information. It even has a index, so you can just look up one concern or read it as a story book.

Review by Diane Scott, Western Hills Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 4-12

Table Manners for Kids 
HarperCollins
92 pages
ISBN: 978-0-06-111709-1
Release Date: May 12, 2009

 

Written by Philip Steele

Great information. It is set up in newspaper style.  Lots of pictures and information of the people, how they lived and what they might have done.

Review by Diane Scott, Western Hills Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 4-7

The Aztec News
Candlewick Press / Random House
31 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4200-6
Release Date: Mar 10, 2009


 

Written by Andrew Langley and Phillip De Souza

A fun way to learn more about the Romans and their lifestyle. Great pictures and lots of information. It is set in a newspaper format.

Curriculum Ties: 6th Grade Interconnections materials, Ancient Civilizations

Review by Diane Scott, Western Hills Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4-7

The Roman News
Candlewick Press
31 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4199-3
Release Date: Mar 10, 2009

Also available:The Greek News by Anton Powell and Phillip Steele; The Egyptian News by Scott Steedman.  

Written by Ben Hillman

Another winner by Ben Hillman about the odd extremes in our strange world. Along the same lines as his previous, How Big is It? (a Beehive nominee) and How Fast is It? The first thing you notice is the size - almost 12" x 12" - and the green-faced family against an orange background. Talks about all kinds of strange and highly unusual phenomena. A true kid-pleaser!

Review by Cathie Cox, Library Media Assistant, Plymouth Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

How Weird Is It?
Scholastic
48 pages
ISBN: 978-0-439-91868-8
Release Date: Feb 1, 2009



 

Written by James Rollins

James Rollins has written many great books for adults and has decided to write a book series for young adults. In this series Jake Ransom and his sister Kady are trying to unravel a mystery that involves the disappearance of their parents. Kady and Jake are invited to attend a grand opening of a museum display of their parents work in London, England. They both wear a necklace that has a Myan symbol. At the museum they find a pyramid that has a hole in which the pieces of their necklaces will fit. When they place the pieces in the pyramid they are suddenly transported to another dimension. In this world they find people from other places and periods of time. These people have built a society incorporating the many cultures. Jake and Kady are separated and placed with different groups making it hard for them to find a way out. Jake's background knowledge of archaeology and science helps him make friends with the daughter of the family he has been placed with. Jake must find a way to get himself and Kady back to their own time. This is an exciting adventure and will be a fun series that will keep students reading and begging for more.

Review by Robin Larsen, Library Media Specialist, Matheson Jr. High School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 7-12

Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow
HarperCollins
397 pages
ISBN: 978-0-6-147379-1
Release Date: Apr 28, 2009


 

Written by Wendy Mass

This is the story of two friends, Amanda and Leo, who share the same day for their birthdays. As they reach their eleventh birthday their friendship is on the rocks and they are forced to re-live the day until they can work things out. This book has a groundhog day feel, but it is well written and fun. Amanda and Leo figure out they must work together to find a solution that will allow them to move on in time. Wendy Mass writes books that are fun, interesting, and can be recommended with confidence.

Review by Robin Larsen, Library Media Specialist, Matheson Jr. High School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 4-8

11 Birthdays
Scholastic Press
267 pages
ISBN: 978-0-545-05239-9
Release Date: Jan 1, 2009


 

Written by Bill Cochran, Illustrated by Steve Bjorkman

This delightful story is about a young boy named Ted, whose parents are divorced. He describes his life now that he lives in two homes. The storyline is wonderfully done and the illustrations are perfect with cartoon type character drawings. I loved the part when he tells about his elbows and their nicknames.

Review by Janice Hastings, Library Media Assistant, South Kearns Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 1-5

My Parents Are Divorced, My Elbows Have Nicknames, and Other Facts About Me
HarperCollins
32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-06-053942-9
Release Date: Jun 9, 2009


 

Written by Laura Numeroff, Illustrated by James Bernardin

I enjoyed reading this beautifully illustrated story about a boy who compares his parents to the parents of his friends. As I was reading, I was thinking if I ever thought as a child about trading my parents. I loved the story setup and of course the ending. The book is jam packed with love and friendship.

Review by Janice Hastings, Library Media Assistant, South Kearns Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades K-4

Would I Trade My Parens?
Abrams Books for Young Readers
32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-8109-0637-2
Release Date: Oct 1, 2009


 

Illustrated by Regis Faller

A picture book with no words. The illustrations are darling, presented in cartoon type panels. When Polo's boat becomes stuck in a frozen lake, he finds a treasure chest with a magic pen. He draws a door (similar to Harold's purple crayon) where he finds a fire breathing dragon. This book was so cute that I may look for more Polo books.

Review by Terrie Bishop, Library Media Assistant, Academy Park Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades Pre-K - 3

Polo and the Dragon (The Adventures of Polo Series)
Roaring Brook Press
26 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59643-498-1
Release Date: Sep 29, 2009


 

Written and Illustrated by Keiko Kasza

Badger does not like the food he has to eat at home, so he decides to look for something better. He soon discovers finding better food gets him into trouble. He comes home to a surprise.

Review by Ruleen Maxfield, Library Media Assistant, Lake Ridge Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades K-4

Badger's Fancy Meal
Puffin / Penguin Group
28 pages
ISBN: 978-0-14-241271-8
Release Date: May 28, 2009 (paperback)

 

Written and Illustrated by John Lechner

This is a wonderful picture book about a stick who is trying to communicate with the world. At first he has no success, and then by accident he begins to draw. All of the other creatures and life forms watch and are amazed by what he can do. Then the rain coms and washes it away. He realizes that even if it is gone he can still do it again. I liked the positive message it gave about finding your talents and knowing how to use them.

Review by Karen Manning, Library Media Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 1-6

The Clever Stick
Candlewick Press
33 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3950-1
Release Date: Jul 28, 2009



 

Written by Hannah Roberts McKinnon

This book is about 12 year old Franny Parker.  She lives in a small town in Oklahoma with her mom, dad, a brother, and a sister. Times are tough. They are having a drought this summer. Everyone tries to help and care for each other. Franny is no different. She runs an animal hospital from their barn. Whenever anyone finds an animal that is sick or injured, they bring it to her. One day, new neighbors move in next door. It is a mom, Lindy, and her son, Lucas. Franny and Lucas become fast friends. Later, his dad shows up and things change. Franny and her family realize that there are secrets that Lucas and his family are keeping. When Franny realizes what is going on, she has to decide if she should tell someone or not. This book is well written. It teaches about family, friendship, love, trust, caring, and doing what's right. I think children 9 and up would enjoy this book. It would be a great read-aloud book also. There are many topics a teacher could discuss with the students.

Review by Debbie Carleton, Library Media Assistant, Bennion Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 4-6

Franny Parker
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
148 pages
ISBN: 978-0-374-32469-8
Release Date: May 26, 2009


 

Written by Etta Kaner, Illustrated by Jeff Szuc

I absolutely love this book! It explores the diffences and the sameness in humans and animals by comparing how they do things. For instance we clean our house with a broom and an octopus cleans its house with water jets. Who uses a back scratcher and how? How does an ant carry things?

Review by Sara Justet, Library Media Assistant, Carl Sandburg Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades K-3

Have You Ever Seen an Octopus with a Broom?
Kids Can Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-55453-247-6
Release Date: Sep 1, 2009