Melia spends her days measuring, testing, reading, and observing as she creates things in her lab. Jo spends her days singing, crouching, leaping, whirling, and twirling while she expresses the world around her creatively through the arts. They seem to have nothing in common and at first aggravate each other, but together they turn out to be a dream team. Jo’s unconventional creative thinking inspires Melia to look beyond what is right in front of her. The pairing of scientific thinking and creative thinking leads to inventive solutions.

A good title to support the STEAM movement. Also encourages the acceptance of others and the benefits of working together.

An introduction of the role of coal in energy production past and present. The book begins by identifying coal, where it is found, and its uses. It continues with an historical explanation of the invention of the steam engine and its reliance on coal. The invention of early steam engines is then tied to the current use of steam turbines to create electricity using coal. The book concludes with the fact that coal creates pollution and that scientists are working to create new coal power plants that are better for the environment.

Large font and simple sentences make this book easy for young students to read. The flow between topics lacks smooth transitions, particularly the significance of the invention of the steam engine. The Table of Contents only includes three entrees, All About Coal Energy (all the text), Think About it (a 2 page spread with one question), and the Glossary.

Starting with Nina Simone singing a lullaby to her baby, the story is told as if Nina were telling her child about the role of music and segregation in her early life. The white and black keys are a metaphor of the relationship between white and black Americans. At 12 years old, Nina showed her resolve when she refused to play when her mother was made to leave the front row of her concert when white people arrived. The story-like quality and the short concise message make this complex concept accessible to younger children. It reinforces the fact that the struggle for civil rights involved many amazing leaders from all walks of life.

A baby bird discovers his wings, perches on the edge of the nest and flings himself off the edge. He plummets to the ground into a puddle. Now he’s soaking, dinged up, and rather forlorn. Then he discovers worms! He grabs a worm and launches himself back up to the nest. His nestmates great him with a song and he flies loops of joy.

This story it told through pictures and only a few words. And each of those words ends with -ing; wings, clings, flings, stings, dings, things, brings, springs, sings, rings, zings. Even with only a handful of words, the reader can feel the adventure and sense of accomplishment.

The story offers wonderful opportunities for word play or student retelling and elaboration.

In this sequel to One Word from Sophia, Noodle the giraffe has Sophia feeling happysad. Sophia’s One True Desire comes with giraffe-sized problems. Her family might overlook the sloppy giraffe kisses, but the giraffe snoring keeps everyone up and has them wanting a permanent solution. In her efforts, Sophia reaches out to experts and through trial and error comes up with an effective giraffe muffling device.

Interesting and nuanced vocabulary enhance the story. An excellent read aloud for intermediate grades with its STEM focus, clever female character, biracial family, and challenging vocabulary.

Endpapers include facts about giraffes and a glossary.

In this fifth book in the Hank the Pet Sitter series, Hank agrees to watch Melissa’s 5 chicks. When he lifted the lid for closer look, all 5 escaped. Even with his sister’s help, he cannot catch them. Finally he gets the idea to answer their peeps with a bawk of his own. Soon he was leading the chicks back to their box. When Melissa returns, Hank is worn out, but the chicks are all safe.

The premise of the Hank the Pet Sitter series is that Hank is working to raise money to replace a bike that was destroyed by his carelessness. Both this premise and previous adventures are alluded to in this story so reading the first four books in the series will influence the reader’s understanding and appreciation of the plot.

In this nearly wordless picture book, a young girl would rather be using her small electronic device than going to the zoo with her mom and pesky toddler siblings. Sullenly she tags along through the zoo until her mom makes her climb up onto the Monkey Walk, an elevated platform. When she stops to look over the edge, something snatches her zoo hat. At first annoyed, she realizes she didn’t really want the hat, she wants to play on her device. When she pulls it out of her pocket, something blows on her. She sets her device down to deal with the blowing and something grabs the device. There is no way she’s okay with that. The story continues with her bargaining with the animals until her device is returned. The adventure has her leaving the zoo with a smile on her face.

Expressive engaging illustrations tell the story in panels large enough for a group read aloud.

In Rory’s new school, none of the many clubs seem like a good fit.  He gives the Astronaut, Prancing Unicorn and the Extra Math Homework Clubs a try, but they didn’t seem quite right.  His mom and dad encourage him to start his own club about something he loves.  More than anything, Rory loves reptiles.  Rory gives out Reptile Club fliers and puts up posters at school.  No one seems interested.  His first meeting starts and he’s about to give up because no one showed up, when he hears whispering in the hall.  When he opens the door, he finds a crocodile, anaconda, and a gecko.

Lots of fun reptile facts are interspersed in the story.  Unfortunately there is one section that encourages confusion between fact and opinion.  “It is fact that I adore Rocky Road ice cream,” and “It is a fact that I think Barry the basilisk lizard is a big show-off.”  While it’s possible to use this confusion as a teaching opportunity, it is also way to easy for young readers to miss the contradiction.

“It’s easy for me to wash up after I get dirty.  But cleaning the Earth isn’t so easy.”  This book in the Go Green series does a great job at making the a huge concept approachable for young learners.  Rather than place blame or bemoan the situation, the focus is on everyday behaviors that can help reduce pollution such as saving power, the three Rs, and driving less.

Illustrations provide colorful and engaging support for the story.

This book features 8 birds with a unique and interesting body features.  Each informational spread on the bird’s unique body part is prefaced with a spread asking the reader, “What bird has a (body part) like this?” with a close up illustration of that body part.  The informational spread includes a description of the bird, its unique body part and how that adaptation helps the bird survive.  It also includes an illustration of the bird in its natural habitat. Eight additional birds are briefly highlighted in the “Other Awesome Birds” section at the end of the book.

A good choice to support primary level science curriculum, but also sure to be a hit with young animal lovers.

This book starts with discussing the danger of floods, then defines what a flood is and identifies different types of floods.  It concludes with ways to protect people and property from floods.  Simple text and color photographs make this is good choice for young readers.

Glossary contains Tier 2 academic vocabulary (absorb, bank, evacuation, raging) but not the Tier 3 domain specific vocabulary introduced in the book, specifically levee, fluvial flood, coastal flood, or flash flood.

The bulk of this book focuses on weather and ends with a two page spread explaining climate and climate change. Information is communicated in a visually appealing and stimulating way with small chunks of text interspersed with diagrams and illustrations.

My reservations with this book are two fold: the title implies a greater focus on climate.  The interdependence and differentiation between weather and climate are only addressed briefly at the very end of the book.  Secondly, I found some of the factual information misleading or even incorrect.  For example it claims that absolute zero is the coldest possible temperature (p. 12) which scientifically is incorrect.  While it is true that lightening can be hotter than the surface of the sun (p. 21), both the sun’s atmosphere and all other layers of the sun far exceed the temperature of lightening.

Despite these reservations, I still recommend this book as an appealing informational text on weather.

Contains an explanation of exactly how hurricanes and tornadoes happen, real life examples, as well as discussing the potential impact of climate change on future storms.  Information is provided in small text blurbs, usually with a heading and supporting image.  Since this title focuses on the extreme storms, it would fit best as supporting material of a larger unit study.

Eye catching pictures, some of which appear to be digitally generated, are  often not attributed to any specific weather event creating misleading images.  When attribution is given, it is immersed in text so would only be evident to someone who reads the whole text.  Diagrams and maps add important supporting information.

Includes Table of Contents, Index, and Timeline

Large font, simple words and sentences, and colorful photographs makes this a good title for young readers.  Topics include the body, habitat, food, and life cycle of the sturgeon. Bold red vocabulary words are defined in the glossary.  Key concepts are introduced, but then not clearly explained (such as barbels and omnivore).  Quick Stats section provides the average weight of the beluga and shovelnose sturgeons and then compares them to everyday household objects – a refrigerator and a book.  Online Resources can be accessed from abdobooklinks.com and include educational sites with information appropriate for older readers.

Includes Table of Contents, Glossary, and Index.

Ranger Red Fox takes the reader on a tour of the Grand Tetons National Park in Wyoming.  Information includes the basic history of the park, including the geology of how the areas were formed, as well as Native American original inhabitants and early explorers. Ranger Red Fox then describes the scenic sites and activities, and flora and fauna in the parks.  At the end of the text, there is a field guide of animals, wildlife by the numbers, a map and map challenge, wildflower tracker, glossary and index.

Stunning photographs support the text.  Animated Ranger Red Fox livens up the telling. A fun engaging read.

This title in the Strange and Wonderful series is a VERY detailed nonfiction book about spiders.  Information includes species classification, anatomy, different habitats, webs, reproduction, hunting techniques.  Specific details are provided about different species, highlighting the diversity of spiders.  The tone comes across as somewhat conversational, including suggestions on overcoming arachnophobia. While using scientific terms and detailed illustrations, the lack of a table of contents or index makes it less useful for research.  Recommendations in the “To Learn More” section include materials that range in interest level from preschool to adult.

A sure hit with kids interested in spiders and other creepy crawlies.

An in depth history of the Cassini satellite launched in 1997 to study Saturn and its moons. Begins with the basics of the planet, then describes the satellites long 7 year journey.  Cassini satellite provided the most detailed images of Saturn ever seen.  It then  observed Saturn’s rings and moons for more than a decade. Includes details on the Titan Huygens Probe, the first landing on a moon in the outer solar system.  In 2017, as its nuclear fuel was running out, scientists gave it Cassini one last mission; send as much data as possible as it plunged into Saturn’s atmosphere. 

Highlighted ‘extreme facts’ on each page are high interest. Colorful photographs and diagrams

Memorial Day is explained in simple text with both historical and current photographs. The book focuses on the origins and traditions associated with the celebration of Memorial Day. Concepts are covered at a developmental level that corresponds with the target audience.  Vocabulary words found in the glossary are in bold.

Included are directions on how to make a tissue paper poppy to honor fallen soldiers.

With simple text and colorful pictures, this title provides young readers an introduction to President’s Day.  The book starts by describing President’s Day and who celebrates it.  Also included is information on the origins and traditions of President’s Day as well as directions on how to make George Washington’s wig.

Dry, sparse information and complex concepts without adequate explanation makes this title less appealing for young readers.

Introducing the season of spring through the colors of plants, animals and weather.  Color words in the text appear as that color.  The descriptions of spring are interrupted 3 times to explain coloring techniques; texture, shading, and symmetry.  Text is supported by colorful photographs and drawings.  End-papers includes names of the colors used in the text, glossary, Learn More, and Index.

Crayons are part of every child’s early years of school.  Using crayons and color to describe the characteristic features of spring make this a child friendly title on the subject.

Strawberry Shortcake’s friend, Orange Blossom has a problem – her store is packed with fans no one will buy because the weather is still cool.  Raisin Cane offers to use her expertise to help promote the store through social media. Orange Blossom’s performances become increasingly complex and time consuming and her followers on social media keep asking for more.  Unfortunately none of her efforts actually sell any fans, it just keeps her out the store.  Bosley Bookworm tracks Orange Blossom down looking for some olive oil from her store. Orange Blossom realizes that her fixation on selling fans has hurt her business.  Giving up on her social media campaign is a relief – and the arrival of warmer weather is good for the fan business.

In graphic novel format.  Includes an additional story, “A Haunting in Berry City.”  Sure to be a hit with Strawberry Shortcake fans.

Miss Mallard and her companions face many dangers on their trek to the lost city of Kimbu Tacka.  Disasters follow them from a collapsing bridge to a leaky canoe.  The greatest danger is the headless demon that protects the ancient site.  The frightened expedition members are willing to turn back without exploring Kimbu Tacka until Miss Mallard discovers that the headless demon is one of their party disguised to frighten everyone so he can steal the Kimbu Tacka treasures.

Large type and short simple sentences make this a readable choice for students transitioning to chapter books.  The start of the story is rather abrupt and hard to follow.  Bold text throughout the story is used either to identify vocabulary found in the glossary or to show emphasis.  Sometimes both purposes are found on the same page.

Written by J. Patrick Lewis, the Children’s Poet Laureate of the United States, this is a cute collection of Halloween poems.  The poems are each 4 lines celebrating an aspect of the holiday; from parties to costumes and pumpkins to trick-or-treating.  Each poem has a 2 page spread with the poem on the left and a digitally modified photo on the right.  Each spread includes an interesting fact about Halloween that supports the poem topic.

End papers include spooky celebrations around the world featuring fall holidays in 6 different countries; a brief description and history of the holiday of Halloween; and a glossary and index.

I found the use of lowercase text for the Table of Contents and poem titles to be a potential distraction for young readers and writers who are just beginning to recognize and use proper capitalization.

These are designed for younger readers, with an animated Ranger Red Fox as a guide.  The book covers geology, history, flora and fauna, activities for visitors and even basic map reading.  Large font text uses simple sentences and vocabulary making it accessible for young readers.  Colorful photographs, with inserts and captions supports the text. Great introduction for kids

This is a very detailed look on the subject of animal rehabilitation.  The book provides some basic background, including the beginning of the Audubon Society, and increased environmental awareness in the 60’s.  Additionally, it describes how rehab facilities work, including admitting, care, and return to the wild.  The pros and cons of animal rehabilitation are discussed at length.  Guidance is given for what to do when you find an injured animal as well as suggestions on how to become an animal advocate.

Recommended title for studies of human impact on the environment.