Fans of the original Not Quite Narwhal by Jessie Sima are sure to like this Pre-Level 1, Ready to Read early reader. Kelp meets up with his friend Pixie to help walk Crabbie. When Crabbie gets lost, Kelp and Pixie use their problem solving skills to find him. Characters are also in the Netflix adaptation of Not Quite Narwhal.The text uses short sentences with easy text. The cute and colorful illustrations mimic the animation from the Dreamworks series.
Author Archives: Anne Hales
Lawrence and Sophia by Doreen and Brian Cronin
Lawrence is a boy who is scared to venture out of his yard. Sophie is a bird who is scared to venture down to the ground. One day Sophie is feeling brave and walks down to the end of a branch and finds Lawrence. They start spending time together in the yard – Lawrence on the ground and Sophie in the tree – sharing things they love with each other. Sophie moves her nest to be closer to Lawrence. Lawrence builds a tent to be closer to Sophie, but still neither will venture beyond their comfort zone. When a big storm hits, both are worried enough for the other to go beyond their fears to find and protect their friend.
By Doreen Cronin, the author of Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type and Diary of a Worm. A precious story of how the strength of friendship can bolster someone to step into situations outside their comfort. Highly recommended.
Just Snow Already! by Howard McWilliam
A young boy gets excited one morning when he’s told it might snow. He checks outside – nothing yet. He fixates on the idea of snow and all the fun he will have. Outside the house, the day goes on with increasingly exciting people and occurrences. The mail carrier spills her mail, the fire truck comes to get a cat from a tree, a Safari Park Truck crashes, and monkeys escape. The rest of the neighborhood is caught up in the excitement, but still the boy’s day is ruined because there is no snow. Finally, SNOW! The neighborhood has become a fun carnival, and at last, now that there’s snow, the boy is ready to dive in.
Impatience and fixation leads the young boy to miss all the excitement happening in his neighborhood. Colorful animated illustrations become increasingly entertaining. A fun winter read.
Ichthyosaurs by Kate Moening
Ichthyosaurs looked like a fish or dolphin, but were actually reptiles – the largest marine reptiles that ever lived. In this title, the reader will learn physical characteristics, behavior, diet, and the extinction story of the ichthyosaur.
Bellwether Media’s Ancient Marine Life series is perfect for the young paleontologist who is ready to explore beyond dinosaurs. The informational text uses short sentences, supporting graphics, and bolded glossary terms to support developing readers. Size comparisons are made in relation to objects kids can visualize like a couch, a car, or a bus. Endpapers include glossary, index, print resources, and Factsurfer’s curated digital resources. The maps are one confusing feature. The maps on page 5 show the continent configuration during the period in which the animal lived without indicating how long ago it was nor explaining why the continents are different than they are currently. The location map at the end of the text does not indicate if it represents the location of fossil finds or presumed location of the extinct animal’s habitat. All in all, an attractive and engaging series.
Mosasaurs by Kate Moening
In Mosasaur, the reader learns what made this extinct reptile interesting and unique. This giant, slow moving snake-like reptile with double jointed jaws was as big as a semi-truck.
Bellwether Media’s Ancient Marine Life series is perfect for the young paleontologist who is ready to explore beyond dinosaurs. The informational text uses short sentences, supporting graphics, and bolded glossary terms to support developing readers. Size comparisons are made in relation to objects kids can visualize like a couch, a car, or a bus. Endpapers include glossary, index, print resources, and Factsurfer’s curated digital resources. The maps are one confusing feature. The maps on page 5 show the continent configuration during the period in which the animal lived without indicating how long ago it was nor explaining why the continents are different than they are currently. The location map at the end of the text does not indicate if it represents the location of fossil finds or presumed location of the extinct animal’s habitat. All in all, an attractive and engaging series.
Archelon by Kate Moening
A turtle as long as a car? That’s the archelon, the largest turtle to ever exist, fossils of which interestingly are found only in the Northern Great Plains of the United States. In Archelon, the reader learns how this giant turtle was the same and different from today’s turtles. One misleading word choice – when describing diet, the book says the archelon ate fish, jellyfish, and mollusks. Jellyfish, and the squid pictured to represent mollusks, both belong to the phylum Mollusca.
Bellwether Media’s Ancient Marine Life series is perfect for the young paleontologist who is ready to explore beyond dinosaurs. The informational text uses short sentences, supporting graphics, and bolded glossary terms to support developing readers. Size comparisons are made in relation to objects kids can visualize like a couch, a car, or a bus. Endpapers include glossary, index, print resources, and Factsurfer’s curated digital resources. The maps are one confusing feature. The maps on page 5 show the continent configuration during the period in which the animal lived without indicating how long ago it was nor explaining why the continents are different than they are currently. The location map at the end of the text does not indicate if it represents the location of fossil finds or presumed location of the extinct animal’s habitat. All in all, an attractive and engaging series.
Plesiosaurs by Kate Moening
In Plesiosaurs, the reader will learn about both long and short necked plesiosaurs. Plesiosaurs lived during the Mesozoic era and are thought to have been fierce hunters.
Bellwether Media’s Ancient Marine Life series is perfect for the young paleontologist who is ready to explore beyond dinosaurs. The informational text uses short sentences, supporting graphics, and bolded glossary terms to support developing readers. Size comparisons are made in relation to objects kids can visualize like a couch, a car, or a bus. Endpapers include glossary, index, print resources, and Factsurfer’s curated digital resources. The maps are one confusing feature. The maps on page 5 show the continent configuration during the period in which the animal lived without indicating how long ago it was nor explaining why the continents are different than they are currently. The location map at the end of the text does not indicate if it represents the location of fossil finds or presumed location of the extinct animal’s habitat. All in all, an attractive and engaging series.
Sea Scorpions by Kate Moening
Sea Scorpions describes the largest arthropod to ever exist. From its exoskeleton and 6 pairs of legs to its diet and movement, this title offers intriguing information about this extinct creature.
Bellwether Media’s Ancient Marine Life series is perfect for the young paleontologist who is ready to explore beyond dinosaurs. The informational text uses short sentences, supporting graphics, and bolded glossary terms to support developing readers. Size comparisons are made in relation to objects kids can visualize like a couch, a car, or a bus. Endpapers include glossary, index, print resources, and Factsurfer’s curated digital resources. The maps are one confusing feature. The maps on page 5 show the continent configuration during the period in which the animal lived without indicating how long ago it was nor explaining why the continents are different than they are currently. The location map at the end of the text does not indicate if it represents the location of fossil finds or presumed location of the extinct animal’s habitat. All in all, an attractive and engaging series.
Megalodon by Kate Moening
Growing to the size of two buses, the megalodon makes modern day sharks look tiny. In Megalodon, the reader will learn about the physical characteristics, behavior, diet, and the extinction story of this fascinating creature.
Bellwether Media’s Ancient Marine Life series is perfect for the young paleontologist who is ready to explore beyond dinosaurs. The informational text uses short sentences, supporting graphics, and bolded glossary terms to support developing readers. Size comparisons are made in relation to objects kids can visualize like a couch, a car, or a bus. Endpapers include glossary, index, print resources, and Factsurfer’s curated digital resources. The maps are one confusing feature. The maps on page 5 show the continent configuration during the period in which the animal lived without indicating how long ago it was nor explaining why the continents are different than they are currently. The location map at the end of the text does not indicate if it represents the location of fossil finds or presumed location of the extinct animal’s habitat. All in all, an attractive and engaging series.
A Train’s Day by Betsy Rathburn
A Train’s Day is sure to appeal to young train fans. In the train yard, the reader learns some of the different cars that make up a freight train. Once the cars are connected, the freight train departs. Along the way the freight train passes a passenger train. Upon arriving at the freight station, the boxcars are loaded and the train can then continue to the next station where it is unloaded.
Bellwether Media’s Machines at Work series provides engaging, easy to read titles for curious young readers. The series follows the Blastoff! Missions format, starting with three Mission Goals which include one literacy goal and two content goals. Colorful illustrations support the text and include labels with key vocabulary. Blastoff Jimmy occasionally shares additional information, usually numerical details, in Jimmy Says bubbles. Key vocabulary terms are bold. Endpapers include a glossary, index, print resources, and digital Factsurfer resources. The curated age appropriate digital resources suggested on Factsurfer are best explored with an adult. The Beyond the Mission section provides three extension questions focusing on text-to-self connections and creativity.
A Garbage Truck’s Day by Rebecca Sabelko
Kids are naturally curious about the big, noisy garbage trucks they see every week. In A Garbage Truck’s Day, the reader learns about the different types of garbage trucks and follows a rear loader on its route through the community. Use this title in a unit on community helpers or as part of a garbage and recycling instruction.
Bellwether Media’s Machines at Work series provides engaging, easy to read titles for curious young readers. The series follows the Blastoff! Missions format, starting with three Mission Goals which include one literacy goal and two content goals. Colorful illustrations support the text and include labels with key vocabulary. Blastoff Jimmy occasionally shares additional information, usually numerical details, in Jimmy Says bubbles. Key vocabulary terms are bold. Endpapers include a glossary, index, print resources, and digital Factsurfer resources. The curated age appropriate digital resources suggested on Factsurfer are best explored with an adult. The Beyond the Mission section provides three extension questions focusing on text-to-self connections and creativity.
A Ship’s Day by Betsy Rathburn
A Ship’s Day follows a container ship as it approaches port, docks, and is unloaded. As the ship leaves port, it passes other ships on its way to the next port. A fun read for transportation fans.
Bellwether Media’s Machines at Work series provides engaging, easy to read titles for curious young readers. The series follows the Blastoff! Missions format, starting with three Mission Goals which include one literacy goal and two content goals. Colorful illustrations support the text and include labels with key vocabulary. Blastoff Jimmy occasionally shares additional information, usually numerical details, in Jimmy Says bubbles. Key vocabulary terms are bold. Endpapers include a glossary, index, print resources, and digital Factsurfer resources. The curated age appropriate digital resources suggested on Factsurfer are best explored with an adult. The Beyond the Mission section provides three extension questions focusing on text-to-self connections and creativity.
A Monster Truck’s Day by Rebecca Sabelko
For young readers interested in monster trucks, A Monster Truck’s Day details both the behind the scenes work and the excitement of the show. Starting with a tune up and transport to the event site, the reader follows the truck through the day, ending with cleaning and repairs in preparation for the next day. The use in the narrative of some monster truck specific terms such as endo and cyclone will challenge a reader unfamiliar with the sport.
Bellwether Media’s Machines at Work series provides engaging, easy to read titles for curious young readers. The series follows the Blastoff! Missions format, starting with three Mission Goals which include one literacy goal and two content goals. Colorful illustrations support the text and include labels with key vocabulary. Blastoff Jimmy occasionally shares additional information, usually numerical details, in Jimmy Says bubbles. Key vocabulary terms are bold. Endpapers include a glossary, index, print resources, and digital Factsurfer resources. The curated age appropriate digital resources suggested on Factsurfer are best explored with an adult. The Beyond the Mission section provides three extension questions focusing on text-to-self connections and creativity.
In Between by April Pulley Sayre
April Pulley Sayre uses poetic language to describe both the physical between, between as a description of time and motion, and between as symbol of change.
Sayre’s breathtaking photographs show change, movement, and the potential found in nature. Even for children who are not yet able to understand complexities of the at times abstract “in between” described in words, the photographs will elicit excitement and curiosity.
The Story of a Book by Joy McCullough
This vibrantly illustrated book is a love letter to books and reading. It talks about the magic of books, magic that is, “…sweeter when you share it. More powerful when you choose the book yourself.” Beyond those powerful words, it seems to me that the book misses its mark.
Sadly, the book fails to make a distinction between owned books and borrowed books. The early illustrations clearly place the action in a library. Then there is a spread about books being worn out by being chewed on, slept on, spilled on. It depicts the pages of worn books being used for art projects. Because none of these behaviors are appropriate with books borrowed from a library, I do not recommend this book for a school library.
My Red, White, and Blue by Alana Tyson
Follow a young boy through his community as he walks the reader through his thoughts and feelings about the American flag. The flag invokes feelings pride and hope.The flag symbolizes freedom. The flag is part of the boy’s community every day. Reflecting on the flag reminds the boy of the struggles of Americans in the past and the ways we can work individually and as a group today and tomorrow to make America a better place for all people.
My Red, White, and Blue does a good job showing that the flag represents different things to different people Through images and words, the book reinforces the idea that an individual’s experience and as well as perceptions of the past influence what the flag represents to each individual.
Also by E. B. Goodale
This intergenerational book invites the reader to be present in the now and reflect on what loved ones experienced in the past. The young character can see her family’s remembrances as if through a mirror, a window, or a sliding glass door – learning more about herself, her family, and the world. Also use the book to highlight the use of description to bolster the retelling of small moments of time.
Colorful illustrations catch the eye to show the child’s present. Purply two-tone illustrations are used on the pages that describe the memories. A small, bright red bird can be found on every page, tying the past and present together.
Friends by Daniela Sosa
Friends brings both joy and struggle to childhood. In the book, Friends, Daniela Sosa invites the reader to reflect on the who, what, where, why, and how of friends.
Some friends are there from the start. Others come exactly when you need them.
Some friendships last only a few moments. Others last a lifetime.
Friends can be very close or far away.
The experiences and interactions in the book are those that all young children experience at one time or another. Use Friends to support Social Emotional Learning goals or as comforting reminder to celebrate friendship in all its forms.
Character illustrations include age and racial diversity. There is little evidence of diversity in social economic or children of differing abilities.
Sometimes Love, by Katrina Moore
Our military service members make lots of sacrifices for our country and deserve our thanks and recognition. Families of service members are also asked to make sacrifices, and those sacrifices can be difficult for young people to understand. In Sometimes Love, a young girl moves to another country with her father and service member mother. Her beloved dog cannot go with the family. Adjusting to her new home is difficult. But eventually the little girl makes connections with friends in her new home only to again move. This time the girl’s sadness is softened by the excitement of returning to her beloved dog. A very relatable book for our military families told in a way that validates and normalizes the challenges of military families.
Endpapers include a letter from the author recognizing the volunteer organizations that support the animals of military service members during moves and deployments.
A Dinosaur Named Ruth: How Ruth Mason Discovered Fossils in Her Own Backyard by Julia Lyon
Historically, women and minorities in scientific fields rarely received the recognition of their expertise either in their time or in the history books. The voices of women and minorities in science were often ignored. Ruth Mason was one of those voices. Starting as a young girl, she collected amazing dinosaur bones. Year after year she reached out to the experts in museums and universities to share her findings and was ignored or belittled.
It was only as an old woman when a fossil hunter named Rick Brooks accidentally ended up on her land that when the value of Ruth’s collection of dinosaur fossils was finally recognized. Now, skeletons from the Ruth Mason Quarry are found in museums all over the world. In recognition of her contributions, one of the reconstructed skeletons in a museum in Wales is known as “Ruth”.
Awe-some Day: Poems about the Jewish Holidays by Marilyn Singer
This collection of poetry follows that Jewish year, highlighting important holidays. Starting with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, each holiday has a poem from the point of view of a young girl. The poems incorporate the experiences, rituals, and feelings of a child celebrating each holiday. The facing page then explains the origin and significance of the holiday as well the different ways it is celebrated.
The majority of the holidays are based in the religious celebrations of the Jewish faith. The secular holidays included are Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) and Yom Ha Shoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day).
Awe-some Days will resonate with the experiences of Jewish children, but can also act as a introduction for non-Jewish readers. The format makes it easy to see connections across beliefs.
Little Black Girl: Oh, the Things You Can Do!
The young black girl in this book has a dream to build a robot. With the message of belief that she can accomplish her goal is the added message that no dream is out of reach. “There’s no character, no type, no mold you must fit.” From writer to cleaner, and astronaut to comedian; there is no future that is out of reach and the young girl is encouraged to choose whatever path sparks her brain and fires her heart. Along the way the girl will face challenges, but her own worth and the support of her community will help her reach her goals.
Little Black Girl has in inspiring message to bolster young black girls’ confidence to dream big and to relentlessly pursue their dreams.
Little Black Boy: Oh, the Things You Will Do!
Little Black Boy sets out to inspire optimism and hope with the reminder that by the choices he makes, any child can create the story of his life. The young black boy in the story loves the water and dreams of a future as a scientist. The book reassures the child that he is worthy and his life has purpose. His struggles, both physical and emotional will not stop him from succeeding. Maintaining his dreams and high goals for himself will help him ignore the naysayers. Following the path of black trailblazers, he also has the responsibility to be an inspiration and a guide for future generations.
Little Black Boy has an important message of perseverance, self-worth, and potential.
The Sun
Curiosity about the Sun during a solar eclipse sends the character on an imaginary journey to the sun. At the end of the mission, young readers will have learned interesting facts about the Sun.
While the story starts with the characters wearing glasses to look at the eclipse, a stronger reminder is needed that looking at the sun without protection can harm your eyes at any time.
In the Blastoff! Missions: Journey Into Space series young readers can explore the wonders of our solar system. Each title begins with 3 mission goals; one focused on fluency, one on comprehension, and one on critical thinking. In addition to Jimmy who accompanies the reader on all the missions, each title has a different main character reflecting diversity in race and including a character with a physical disability. Through the conversational narrative, the reader is brought along on a mission of discovery. At the end of the informational text, there is a glossary, index, and To Learn More section which has three print suggestions and guidance to access suggested digital resources at factsurfer.com. Each title wraps up with three extension questions in the Beyond the Mission section.
The predictable format, easy to read text, and colorful supporting illustrations make the content accessible for developing early readers. Scientific details are seamlessly integrated into the narrative. This, combined with’ exposure to various media interpretations of space travel may blur the lines between fact and fiction for young readers.
Blastoff! Missions: Journey to Space series is a playful STEM introduction to astronomy for curious young scientists.
Moons
This journey of imagination explores some of the over 200 moons in our Solar System. The character’s curiosity while observing Earth’s moon leads to an imaginary trip to look closer at some of the moons of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The Blastoff! Missions series Moons title does a good job at reinforcing the concept of a moon as a scientific term rather than the name of the body that orbits Earth.
In the Blastoff! Missions: Journey Into Space series young readers can explore the wonders of our solar system. Each title begins with 3 mission goals; one focused on fluency, one on comprehension, and one on critical thinking. In addition to Jimmy who accompanies the reader on all the missions, each title has a different main character reflecting diversity in race and including a character with a physical disability. Through the conversational narrative, the reader is brought along on a mission of discovery. At the end of the informational text, there is a glossary, index, and To Learn More section which has three print suggestions and guidance to access suggested digital resources at factsurfer.com. Each title wraps up with three extension questions in the Beyond the Mission section.
The predictable format, easy to read text, and colorful supporting illustrations make the content accessible for developing early readers. Scientific details are seamlessly integrated into the narrative. This, combined with’ exposure to various media interpretations of space travel may blur the lines between fact and fiction for young readers.
Blastoff! Missions: Journey to Space series is a playful STEM introduction to astronomy for curious young scientists.