Author Archives: Candy Ranney

About Candy Ranney

Candy is an elementary school librarian in Shelton, WA at the school where she was a student (so many years ago!). Her library is unique in that she brings her background and love of biology to her students in many ways. Not only does she have an awesome selection of science books; she also has a beaver, bobcat and mink sitting on her shelves and a variety of jarred specimens for her students to study. When she's not in the library, she is taking care of her baby trees on her tree farm and hanging out with her family and many pets.

Leena Mo, CEO

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Written by Deena Shakir and illustrated by Nez Riaz

Leena had to shovel snow and she really didn’t like that job. So, She dreamed, brainstormed, investigated and eventually built a duck-like robot to do the job for her. Her neighbors noticed how great her new snow removal device, aka Helmy (Arabic for “my dream”) and the orders started pouring in. Leena asks her two friends to join her business – Olivia (a robotics whiz) and Lily (a successful lemonade stand entrepreneur). Leena’s only remaining problem was Helmy parts procurement. How would she pay for them? Her nice neighbor, Miss Irma, offered to invest in Leena’s venture. Her business was ready to go! The girls got right to work with production, They sold all the Helmys they produced and business grew. Leena was a CEO! The story ends with a tv interview, which a man and his granddaughter watch in Leena’s mom’s hometown in Iraq. That little girl saw her future dreams in Leena’s story. Anything is possible!

This is an inspiring STEM related story that will resonate with young girls, who may not even realize that their interest in one area might turn into something even bigger. Characters are culturally diverse and the community seems to be positive and supportive of the young CEO. The illustrations are colorful and complement the storyline. Buy this for your library and share it with your young scientists. What if a child read this and said “I can do this, too!”? How cool would that be?

Pedro and the Monster Eaters = Pedro y los devoradores de monstruos

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written by Xequina María Berbér and illustrated by C. Rod. Unalt

Pedro is a young boy that comes from a family of artists that creates papier maché art pieces – from pinatas to giant puppets called mojigangas that are used in parades and festivals in Mexico. His family is very busy, because their artwork is so beautiful. So, Pedro learns the aspects of the art from an early age. One night, he becomes very sick and has a high fever. He has some terrible dreams in which the mojigangas chase after him. In his nightmares, colorful creatures called alebrijes rescue him by gobbling up the scary puppets. He awakens and is determined to create these monster-eating creatures in papier maché. Soon, people from all around are buying his colorful art pieces and he become world renowned for his beautiful work.

This story is loosely based on the life of Mexican folk artist Pedro Linares, who created beautifully painted fantastical creatures in papier maché. The book is written in English and Spanish and illustrated with colorful otherworldly creatures that spring from Pedro’s imagination. Text and illustrations work very well together to convey Pedro’s story. An author’s note at the end gives more information about Pedro Linares and is a great starting point for more thorough research about an artist in a medium about which there is typically little information.

Purchase this book for your library for a variety of reasons – the subject matter, dual language presentation and the beautiful illustrations. Students will be curious to explore more about the artist and the medium after such a wonderful introduction.

Life in the Wild: The Collected Adventures of the Bear, the Moose and the Beaver

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by Nicholas Oldland

This is a collection of six stories about three good friends – Bear, Moose and Beaver. The stories are full of kindness, humor and friendship. Bear hugs everyone and everything, Moose is pretty anxious and Bear is laid back to the point of carelessness (especially when he’s cutting down trees). The collected works are cleanly illustrated and the text is fairly simple, making them perfect for young readers, who will enjoy the silliness of these three endearing pals.

Is This a Tiger?

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by Elina Ellis

Atticus wants to meet a tiger. Luckily, his friend, Alex, has all the information in her journal and is eager to share. As Alex shares a characteristic of the animal (“they have stripes” and “they have big teeth”), Atticus locates other animals with the same attributes that are not tigers (skunks, lemurs and zebras have stripes, too!). Finally, Atticus is able to find an animal that has all the characteristics that Alex has described. And, the final page shows Atticus and Alex running from the tiger that they found.

This book is sneaky! The reader is lured into learning some great information about tigers while enjoying a happy romp through a story where two kids are looking for a tiger and find everything but one until the end. In addition, there is information about the other animals that Atticus mistook for tigers along the way. The book ends with some great resources, including organizations that work to preserve the existing populations of tigers. Illustrations are vibrant and fun and the energy abounds in this fun-to-read addition to the Alex’s Field Guides series.

Loaf the Cat Goes to the Powwow

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written by Nicholas DeShaw and illustrated by Tara Audibert

Loaf the Cat (she looks like a loaf of bread) loves her boy, Charlie. She plays with him, purrs a lot and looks for him when he is gone one day. She finds him at the powwow, where he is dancing the grass dance in the regalia he made while she played with the ribbons. She is so happy to see him that she jumps on his shoulder and stays there as he dances, happily part of the experience. After they went home, the boy asked Loaf if she wanted to go to another powwow and she happily purred.

This book is a burst of energy and colorful illustrations as we meet a lovable cat and her boy, Charlie. The story is told from the cat’s perspective as she spend time with her boy, playing and watching him create his regalia and joins him at his first powwow as a dancer. Their bond is evident throughout and the end is fitting – we know that this is the first of many powwows together for this pair! There are some words that might be unfamiliar to readers, including regalia, powwow, “miigwech” and “howah”. But, readers will enjoy delving more deeply into the meaning of those words, which will lead to more insight into the Native American cultures portrayed in the story.

Worst Broommate Ever!

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written by Wanda Coven; illustrated by Anna Abramskaya

Heidi Heckelbeck is off to boarding school for witches as she enters middle school and things are a bit tougher than she thought they would be. She has to leave her best friends from elementary school and her family. But, her witch mom tells her that this school is going to be so good for her as she learns how to use her skills and connect with other kids like her. Unfortunately, her roommate is not so fun – it’s mean Melanie Maplethorpe from elementary school! Heidi can’t believe she’s a witch, too! And, they are supposed to hide their magical skills from the non-witch students and only use their talents at their secret classes with the other witches.

Fans of the early chapter books about the same character will enjoy growing with Heidi as she moves on to middle school. Reluctant readers will enjoy the book with its well-spaced text and accompanying black and white illustrations. Recommended.

Millie, Daisy and the Scary Storm

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written by Crystal Velasquez and illustrated by laura Catrinella

Millie and Daisy are two dogs at Danny & Ron’s Rescue that came there as rescues after Hurricane Katrina. They are a bonded pair and love each other very much. Millie is very outgoing and would love to be adopted while Daisy is more reserved and likes life as it is. Daisy has worked very hard to overcome the trauma of the hurricane she survived. But, lots of stuff still makes her nervous and storms are especially hard for her. A big adoption event comes up and Daisy is so nervous that she comes up with a plan to make Millie think she isn’t her friend anymore, because Millie wants them to be adopted together an Daisy wants to stay where she is. Fortunately, things works out, because the big adoption event is actually a celebration – Millie and Daisy are adopted by Danny and Ron as part of their family! They realize that the best place for the two dogs is right there at the Rescue home. It’s the best day ever!

This sweet story is written in very accessible language and from the dogs’ perspective. Young readers will embrace these two lovable characters and all their friends and be thrilled that the ending is just as it should be – happy for everyone. Add this to your collection. Your young readers will love it!

Singing with Elephants

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by Margarita Engle

Oriol, an 11 year old Cuban immigrant lives in California with her veterinarian parents is a thoughtful, somewhat lonely girl. Things change for her when she meets Gabriela Mistral, the first Latin American winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Oriol shares her world of words and learns that in order for change to happen, one must open up and share those words like her new friend. She discovers the strength to do so when a baby elephant that her parents care for is in danger of being sold away from its mother into a life with someone who just wants to use it for entertainment and money. Oriol mobilizes the community with her words and discovers friendships and confidence along the way.

This lyrical story, told in verse form is a beautifully written and carries a message that even the youngest citizens can help the world be a better place. People just need to listen to the words.

Little Vampire

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by Angela Sommer-Bodenburg

Tony loves scary stories and horror films. So, he’s quick to recognize his new friend, Rudolph, is a vampire. He showed up at Tony’s window one night after Tony’s parents went out (which they seem to do nightly, leaving Tony alone). Rudolph visits Tony most nights, borrows his books and loans him his uncle’s cape so Tony can fly to the cemetery with him to visit his crypt. Soon, Rudolph’s sister, Anna, joins in the fun. Eventually, Tony’s parents become suspicious and as, for Tony to invite his new friends over for tea. He tries to fool his parents with a substitute and it didn’t go well. Anna, who has a crush on Tony, and Rudolph come to tea and try hard to appear human with mixed results. Tony’s parents shake their heads at his new friends and decide they don’t need to visit again any time soon.

This story is translated from the original German and is part of a six book series. While the premise is interesting, the story lags a bit and its macabre theme isn’t terribly humorous. Kids who enjoy horror fiction might find this book interesting, although it’s not really horror. And, readers that enjoy humorous stories might not like it either.

A Day in the Sun

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by Diana Ejaita

As the world travels around the sun and daylight shines in all the different places , we see how it affects us in the most positive ways. Each two-page spread highlights children in a noted country and what happens on a sunny day, whether it is covering their heads from the very hot sun to taking a swim to cool off. The bright, vibrant colors add to the story and the smiling children throughout remind us that we are all living on the same world under the same sun. This is a lovely book to share.

Aston Martin Valkyrie

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by Kaitlyn Duling

“Cool Cars” series literally says it all in the series’ name. These are books about fast, luxurious and fun cars that are, well, COOL! High interest topics paired with a load of brilliant photos and accessible text make this 28 book set a must-have in your library. Nonfiction elements include: Table of Contents, glossary, index, bolded words and labeled illustrations. Each book has the important facts about a car like its engine type, history, size, speed and future plans of the manufacturers. This photo-heavy, high-low series will be popular among your patrons!

The Aston Martin Valkyrie is a very special car – only 150 have been made and the starting price is over $3,000,000! This is a hybrid model, with a powerful gas engine and an electric motor as well. Because it is so rare, this car is popular at car shows and people stop to stare when one drives by. Readers will dream about seeing one of these cars one day!

Audi RS E-Tron GT

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by Kaitlyn Duling

“Cool Cars” series literally says it all in the series’ name. These are books about fast, luxurious and fun cars that are, well, COOL! High interest topics paired with a load of brilliant photos and accessible text make this 28 book set a must-have in your library. Nonfiction elements include: Table of Contents, glossary, index, bolded words and labeled illustrations. Each book has the important facts about a car like its engine type, history, size, speed and future plans of the manufacturers. This photo-heavy, high-low series will be popular among your patrons!

The Audi RS E-Tron GT is an all electric car that is super fast and luxurious. It was first made in 2021 and has a driving range of nearly 300 miles. There are a lot of plans for this model, including animated lights and, possibly, a smart version in the future!

Ferrari SF90 Stradale

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by Kaitlyn Duling

“Cool Cars” series literally says it all in the series’ name. These are books about fast, luxurious and fun cars that are, well, COOL! High interest topics paired with a load of brilliant photos and accessible text make this 28 book set a must-have in your library. Nonfiction elements include: Table of Contents, glossary, index, bolded words and labeled illustrations. Each book has the important facts about a car like its engine type, history, size, speed and future plans of the manufacturers. This photo-heavy, high-low series will be popular among your patrons!

The Ferrari SF90 Stradale is a special car. It is one of Ferrari’s fastest models and go from 0 mph to 60 mph in just TWO seconds! It’s also a hybrid, with three electric motors and one V8 engine. It was first built in 2019. Readers will love the accompanying photos to this fact-filled book about the Ferrari SF90 Stradale. It’s quite a machine!

Mercedes – AMG GT

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by Kaitlyn Duling

“Cool Cars” series literally says it all in the series’ name. These are books about fast, luxurious and fun cars that are, well, COOL! High interest topics paired with a load of brilliant photos and accessible text make this 28 book set a must-have in your library. Nonfiction elements include: Table of Contents, glossary, index, bolded words and labeled illustrations. Each book has the important facts about a car like its engine type, history, size, speed and future plans of the manufacturers. This photo-heavy, high-low series will be popular among your patrons!

The GT, aka Grand Tourer, is a fast, luxurious Mercedes model that was introduced in 2014. The last one was made in 2021 and next year they might reintroduce it. Young car enthusiasts will recognize the model from its work on the race track as a safety car. Of course, the famous Mercedes Benz badge on the front grill is a huge clue as to its maker. This is a fun, fact-filled book.

The Naysayers

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by Roan Black

The Guardians are back in Book #2 and continue their mission to save Horsa. They move underwater with Stillwater and with some help from Gale, who puts an air bubble around her fellow horses (Terra, Ray and herself) that can’t breathe underwater. They end up in a dangerous maze with a monster (Sharrior) and Firebrand, a warrior for the Naysayers. They manage to escape, losing one relic that Firebrand takes back to the Naysayers, who want to find the yearling first and take over Horsa. Can the young Guardians find the yearling first and save Horsa? That is their mission and they are determined to be successful.

This graphic novel has an exciting mission, engaging characters with a lot of personality and some kinda creepy bad guys. Top it off with really nice illustrations and you have a book that will fly off the shelves. This book is obviously a continuation of a story that started in Book #1. Therefore, it is not a stand alone. It’s worth the commitment to purchase the series when you have all the elements of a good fantasy for the younger readers – good vs. evil, a quest, magic and mythical creatures. Bump up your fantasy section with this this series. The kids will love it!

The Dolphin Dream

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written by Debbie Daddy and illustrated by Fuuji Takashi

Aqua Wave loves dolphins and her dream is to ride a dolphin. The perfect opportunity arises when her older sister’s friend, Kiki, comes with an entire family of dolphins for the annual Trident City Dolphin Dash. Her teammate falls sick and she needs a new partner or she and her dolphin friends will have to withdraw. Aqua Wave really wants to do this, despite her sister saying she can’t. Shira, Aqua’s sister, had fallen off a dolphin and didn’t want the same thing to happen to Aqua. But, she finally gives permission and Aqua has the ride of her dreams. Aqua’s friends, Freddie, Rosie and Poppy cheer her on to the finish line.

This is the second book in the “Mini Mermaid Tales”, a spin off of “Mermaid Tales” by the same author. As part of the Quix Aladdin books (Fast Fun Reads), the books in the “Mini Mermaid Tales” are shorter with unfamiliar words bolded and questions at the end to help reflect on the story. Chapters are short and the font is larger and cast of characters is introduced in the front of each book. Black and white illustrations add to the stories.

This book is perfect for its target audience of K-2 students. This short book will be popular with young readers as it explores mermaids, dolphins, friendships and sibling relationships. Add this to your library if you need books for those readers that are ready for something a little longer.

Twisty-Turny House

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written by Lisa Mantchev and illustrated by EG Keller

In a twisty-turny house live four humans a rabbit, seven fish, a rat, two cats and three dogs. The cats are upstairs, the dogs are downstairs and the other pets are in the middle, which seems right. You know, cats and dogs don’t get along. But, one day, one of the cats comes downstairs. The pets in the middle are worried about the impending interaction – will the cat hiss and scratch? Will the dogs howl and chase it? Surprisingly, they get along. The dogs show the cat all the awesome things about living downstairs – the best snacks, great places to dig and great views of squirrels. The cat, along with his pal, show them the great things about upstairs – cold water, great clawing spots and a great place to watch squirrels. But, they wonder if they could look for even better things together in the middle? And, that’s what they do. The middle is the best, together.

This book is a gem! The simple text and colorful illustrations work so well together to convey the curiosity, trepidation, excitement and joy of the animal characters. The twisty-turny house is lovely and detailed and the animals are energetic. Readers will enjoy the interplay between the animals and eventual community they build. Buy this book for your library!

Cat Dog

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written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Mark Teague

Cat and Dog are hanging out and a mouse shows up. The ensuing chase ends with the mouse coming out of his mouse hole with…a violin? Each two page spread has a question about the scene on the recto and the next verso has the correct yes or no answer. This fun call-and-response story is sure to be a hit, with readers breathlessly turning the pages to see what will actually happen. This would be a great read-aloud as well. What a winning combination: Mem Fox with her witty word play and Mark Teague with his wonderfully expressive illustrations. Buy this for your library!

Dear Little One

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written by Nina Laden and illustrated by Melissa Castrillon

A young girl and her small white dog set out on a trek and along the way are gently encouraged by Mother Nature to appreciate and nurture their world. This lovely book has a beautifully lyrical text accompanied by stunningly detailed artwork. The message is simple and the illustrations fit it so well. Us the book for Earth Day (or any day) and share it with children as a reminder to really look around and observe the breathtaking beauty of their natural world. Highly recommended

Dilophosaurus

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by Rebecca Sabelko

“The World of Dinosaurs” is a set of 22 books that presents the latest information on not only the well-known creatures, but also some of the lesser known (or more recently known) representatives of this group. This high/low series is packed full of information in the form of graphics, including size charts, timelines and labeled maps and illustrations. Text passages are accessible and bolded words are defined in the glossary. Typical nonfiction features include: table of contents, glossary, index, labeled illustrations and more. The best part of these books is the “Get to Know the (insert dinosaur)” near the end of book. This two page spread puts all the relevant information into an easy-to-read, attractive layout. This series is going to be very popular among your dinosaur-loving patrons. It’s actually a perfect book not only for the high/low target audience of grades 3-7; younger students will love delving into the world of dinosaurs in these books as well.

In Dilophosaurus, readers learn about a crested dinosaur that ate meat and had a special finger that acted much like a human thumb, which scientists believe was used to hold prey. This apex predator was once the largest dinosaur in North America. Illustrations and graphics do a great job of enhancing the text about this Jurassic period dinosaur. Be prepared to be awestruck by this book!

Therizinosaurus

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by Rebecca Sabelko

The “World of Dinosaurs” is a set of 22 books that presents the latest information on not only the well-known creatures, but also some of the lesser known (or more recently known) representatives of this group. This high/low series is packed full of information in the form of graphics, including size charts, timelines and labeled maps and illustrations. Text passages are accessible and bolded words are defined in the glossary. Typical nonfiction features include: table of contents, glossary, index, labeled illustrations and more. The best part of these books is the “Get to Know the (insert dinosaur)” near the end of book. This two page spread puts all the relevant information into an easy-to-read, attractive layout. This series is going to be very popular among your dinosaur-loving patrons. It’s actually a perfect book not only for the high/low target audience of grades 3-7; younger students will love delving into the world of dinosaurs in these books as well.

Therizinosaurus describes a beaked dinosaur, whose defining feature is its three foot long claws – the longest of any animal that ever lived! This herbivore was large and fossils hav been found in Asia and North America. Its other claim to fame? It was in the 2022 Jurassic World Dominion movie! This dinosaur book will not be on your shelves long. Its engaging content and accessible text make it a popular choice for budding paleontologists.

Pachycephalosaurus

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by Rebecca Sabelko

The “World of Dinosaurs” is a set of 22 books that presents the latest information on not only the well-known creatures, but also some of the lesser known (or more recently known) representatives of this group. This high/low series is packed full of information in the form of graphics, including size charts, timelines and labeled maps and illustrations. Text passages are accessible and bolded words are defined in the glossary. Typical nonfiction features include: table of contents, glossary, index, labeled illustrations and more. The best part of these books is the “Get to Know the (insert dinosaur)” near the end of book. This two page spread puts all the relevant information into an easy-to-read, attractive layout. This series is going to be very popular among your dinosaur-loving patrons. It’s actually a perfect book not only for the high/low target audience of grades 3-7; younger students will love delving into the world of dinosaurs in these books as well.

Pachycephalosaurus describes the dome-headed dinosaur that roamed North America during the Cretaceous Period. Scientists used to think that this dinosaur used its thick skull for head-butting. But, scientists have now determined that the domes on their skulls weren’t strong enough for this. We learn more about these interesting dinosaurs as new fossils are found. Budding paleontologists will love learning about this herbivore.

Amargasaurus

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by Rebecca Sabelko

The “World of Dinosaurs” is a set of 22 books that presents the latest information on not only the well-known creatures, but also some of the lesser known (or more recently known) representatives of this group. This high/low series is packed full of information in the form of graphics, including size charts, timelines and labeled maps and illustrations. Text passages are accessible and bolded words are defined in the glossary. Typical nonfiction features include: table of contents, glossary, index, labeled illustrations and more. The best part of these books is the “Get to Know the (insert dinosaur)” near the end of book. This two page spread puts all the relevant information into an easy-to-read, attractive layout. This series is going to be very popular among your dinosaur-loving patrons. It’s actually a perfect book not only for the high/low target audience of grades 3-7; younger students will love delving into the world of dinosaurs in these books as well.

Amargasaurus describes a relative newcomer to the dinosaur world as the first fossils were discovered in 1984. This smaller plant eater had spines all along its back and scientists believe that the longer neck spines were covered in skin, creating double “sails” there. Its long tail might have been used in defense against much larger predators. Young readers will love to read this book and learn about a ‘new’ dinosaur.

McLaren Elva

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by Kaitlyn Duly

“Cool Cars” series literally says it all in the series’ name. These are books about fast, luxurious and fun cars that are, well, COOL! High interest topics paired with a load of brilliant photos and accessible text make this 28 book set a must-have in your library. Nonfiction elements include: Table of Contents, glossary, index, bolded words and labeled illustrations. Each book has the important facts about a car like its engine type, history, size, speed and future plans of the manufacturers. This photo-heavy, high-low series will be popular among your patrons!

There are some fun facts in McLaren Elva that readers will find fascinating. One fact is that this car is designed without a windshield (although buyers can request one). Another fun fact is that the price starts at $1.6 million dollars and only 149 have been produced. New McLarens will be hybrid or electric. But, they will still be fast! Illustrations and many facts make this book a winner. And, I haven’t even told you about the gold heat shield on the engine yet…

Lamborghini Aventador

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by. Kaitlyn Duly

“Cool Cars” series literally says it all in the series’ name. These are books about fast, luxurious and fun cars that are, well, COOL! High interest topics paired with a load of brilliant photos and accessible text make this 28 book set a must-have in your library. Nonfiction elements include: Table of Contents, glossary, index, bolded words and labeled illustrations. Each book has the important facts about a car like its engine type, history, size, speed and future plans of the manufacturers. This photo-heavy, high-low series will be popular among your patrons!

Lamborghini Aventador describes a luxurious car that many readers might recognize. That’s because it has been in several action movies. This car’s design was inspired by the F-35 jet and it can come with really cool scissor doors per the buyer’s request. This book won’t stay on the shelf for long as the topic is exciting and book is filed with cool facts and photos. Recommended.