Turtle is looking for his book that he loaned to Zebra. Zebra says he doesn’t have it anymore, but maybe he would like to read another great book. Turtle says no because his book is his favorite. Turtle goes through asking his friends if they have his book. No one does, but they all suggest other books. Finally Turtle finds his book and he rereads it several times. He hears his friends talking about their books and decides to try a new book.

While geared toward a younger age group, this book could work well as a beginning of the year book for kindergarten and first grade.

This book is one part rhyming text and one part informational. The informational section refers back to the rhyming text describing how a skyscraper is built. The illustrations are labeled to enhance the text. Putting unfamiliar words with the pictures (rebar, trench, hopper). The building of the skyscraper ends with a fold out illustration of a completed skyscraper. They rhyming text makes the book feel as though written for a younger audience, but the informational text would have a broader appeal.

This informational text book takes a look at Metal through a STEAM lense. Each chapter covers a different component of STEAM and how metal applies to that component. For example for art the book discussed gold as a metal and artists using gold leaf for their artwork. At the end there is a Key Facts page that gives more information about different types of metals.

An attainable read from the series Awesome Dogs. Each page contains 1-2 sentences ranging from simple to complex. There are many informational text features to help the reader. The maps, diagrams and photographs complement the text.

This informational text about fall contains 1-2 sentences per page and has engaging photographs. As a Blastoff Reader level 2, the sentences are a bit more complex, but still attainable. The organization of the book is easy to follow, flowing from what is fall to animals in fall to humans in fall. The many text features including keywords, maps, and diagrams aid in the reader’s understanding of the topic.

This informational text about spring contains 1-2 sentences per page and has engaging photographs. As a Blastoff Reader level 2, the sentences are a bit more complex, but still attainable. The organization of the book is easy to follow, flowing from what is spring to animals in spring to humans in spring. The many text features aid in the reader’s understanding of the topic.

This informational text about summer contains 1-2 sentences per page and has engaging photographs. As a Blastoff Reader level 2, the sentences are a bit more complex, but still attainable. The organization of the book is easy to follow, flowing from what is summer to animals in summer to humans in summer. The many text features including keywords, maps, and diagrams aid in the reader’s understanding of the topic.

This informational text about winter contains 1-2 sentences per page and has engaging photographs. As a Blastoff Reader level 2, the sentences are a bit more complex, but still attainable. The organization of the book is easy to follow, flowing from what is winter to animals in winter to humans in winter. The many text features aid in the readers understanding of the topic.

Jack is a collector of junk. He loves to go through trash to find something strange. One day he finds a book titled Favorite Turnip Recipes of the World in a box of his neighbors left out on the curb with the garbage when they moved. He puts it away and doesn’t think about it again until his neighbor comes back in a panic because he has lost something. It turns out that the turnip book is actually a handbook for parents. The kids discover this and turn the tables on the parents. Will the parents find the handbook or will the kids continue to trick their parents into no more rules.

This book would appeal to readers who like action and books that challenge authority. The ending wraps up quickly and seems forced especially since each group is so passionate about being correct.

It is spirit week and the fifth grades have been divided into Team Red and Team Blue. Best friends George and Lily have been designated as captains for the two teams. George does not want to be captain, but does not want to let down his team. The competitive Lily is sure that her team will win. The two teams want to win at all cost. With slimed lockers, sabotaged costumes and then a canceled spirit week, will spirit weeks destroy their friendship? Will the fifth grade continue to be seen as the worst class to come through the school?

After reading my first Ghost Detectors  series book, #21- All Dolled Up!, I am thinking this series is a rival for the Goose Bumps series.

Our two main characters, Malcolm and Dandy (Daniel Dee) have just received a written invitation from one of their mean substitute teachers to comes to her house. The invitation reads, “Dear Malcolm and Dandy, I heard about what you boys did. Please, come to my house as soon as you get this note! I have a chore for you.  Sincerely, Ms. Porter” (8)

Ms. Porter’s house is full of dolls everywhere you  look. When the boys sit down, Ms. Porter goes for tea and cookies. After Dandy sneezes, the dolls attack him where he sits on the couch.  Ms. Porter comes back and says, ” ‘ I see you’ve met my ghost.’ ” (18) Ms. Porter wants the boys to get rid of the ghost.

The boys leave to get their equipment. While at Malcolm’s house, they run into great Grandma Eunice, the only family member who knows they are ghost detectors. Grandma Eunice decides this is a good time to give Malcolm his birthday present early, a bottle of Poltergeist Popper spray from the Sci.con. Then off they go back to Ms. Potter’s house.  As Malcolm and Dandy start their job, they are not detecting any ghosts, but when they try to leave the doors shut and lock. Dolls start screaming. Upstairs the boys get separated when Dandy sneezes and are locked in separate rooms. In Malcolm’s room, spiders pour out of a doll house. Malcolm tries the Poltergeist Popper. A blinding light is emitted. Blinding Malcolm. The Poltergeist Popper seems to unlock the doors.  Dandy gets hold of Malcolm and leads him downstairs. As Malcolm regains his vision, a giant stuffed bear roars and charges them. The boys leave the house to get more equipment.

Grandma Eunice gives them sunglasses to protect their eyes from the Poltergeist Popper and has them dress up in black suits (Men in Black). Grandma Eunice has Malcolm and Dandy push her in her wheelchair over to Ms. Porter’s house. Together they locate the one doll the ghost is upset over. The one doll (Little Cutie) that was the ghost’s one and only doll as a child. The ghost is upset because Ms. Porter does not love Little Cutie as she does/did.  To Ms. Porter, it is just another doll.  The ghost will leave when her special childhood Little Cutie doll is given a special loving new home. The ghost leaves when she discovers Grandma Eunice has always wanted a Little Cutie doll. Ms. Porter will find it a small price to pay for Malcolm and Dandy’s getting rid of her ghost.

After the story, there are four thought provoking  tie-in questions to the story.

There is one half-page to full-page illustration per chapter.

In this wordless graphic novel, little Andrew is seen through a window drawing a picture of a purple blob of a monster by the purple monster himself. Slowly Andrew discovers he is being watched by the monster. Andrew puts on his pith helmet, grabs his butterfly net, and leaves his house in search of the monster in the woods. The purple blob is a master of disguise and camouflage. The purple blob is watching Andrew the entire time. After quite a while, Andrew gets discouraged and throws a fit all the way back home. Purple blob feels sad for Andrew. The next day when Andrew opens his front door, there is the pith helmet and net he left in the woods. Looking up, Andrew sees the blob as he walks out of view. Feeling reinvigorated, Andrew eagerly sets off once again with his pith helmet and net into the woods.

This wordless book shows the amount of story telling talent it takes to develop a comprehensive graphic novel.

Just as Hotel Strange finishes preparing for the winter season, the hotel clerk, Mr. Snarf, is arrested by police from his home world- The Land of Ghosts- up above the clouds.

The hotel staff build a hot air balloon to rescue Mr. Snarf. They are soon arrested too, when they discover everything fun or interesting is illegal in the Land of Ghosts. Mr. Leclair asks his jailers for the “Rulebook of Ghosts”, which he reads the night before their trial. Mr. Leclair discovers the Rainbow Rule. None of the counsel or judge know of it because the rulebook’s pages were stuck together. The Rainbow Rule states, ” It is forbidden to forbid!” They are free to go.

Mr. Snarf and his friends leave a much happier Land of Ghosts since discovering the Rainbow Rule.

There is a recipe for caramels at the end of the book.

Being the new kid at school can be hard, if not difficult, but it does not help when you tell the class your last school was one for geniuses. Khufu Grundy is the new kid in Gavin’s class at Carver Elementary School. Khufu does not make it easy to get to know him. He sits off by himself at recess and reads.

Gavin and his friends are being allowed to ride their bikes to school. This is a first for Gavin. In his excitement, Gavin forgot his bike lock at home. Gavin leaves his bike unlocked with the rest of his friends locked bikes. Gavin’s bike is still there at recess, but when Gavin goes to the bike rack after school, his bike is gone.

Gavin’s parents will not be replacing the bike. Gavin will have to earn money to buy a new one, but his father says he will match the money Gavin saves.

Surprisingly, the next morning at school there is a bike very similar to Gavin’s in the bike rack, spray-painted an ugly orange. Could it be Gavin’s bike in disguise? After school Gavin sees Khufu ride off on it.

Later, Gavin and his friends come up with a plan to get the bike back from Khufu. Take it back, (steal it back) early on Saturday morning before anyone is awake. When Gavin’s parents find out what they have done, his parents make Gavin return the bike. That is when Gavin and friend, Richard learn the bike has been painted orange because in reality it was a girl’s pink bike given to Khufu’s father by a neighbor.

After these terrible mistakes, the book ends with the rectifying of another mistake. The previous week a 5th grade boy had gone home from school ill in the middle of the day. Later that day, his father had picked up Gavin’s bike outside the school thinking it was his 5th grade son’s bike because  the bikes were the same color and style. Now the father was returning Gavin’s bike to him.

Believably realistic!

Meet Cute consists of fourteen short stories featuring “how they first met” tales from contemporary YA authors. Four of the love stories feature LGBTQ couples. Authors featured include Jennifer Armentrout, Dhonielle Clayton, Katie Cotugno, Jocelyn Davies, Huntley Fitzpatrick, Nina LaCour, Emery Lord, Katharine McGee, Kass Morgan, Julie Murphy, Meredith Russo, Sara Shepard, Nicola Yoon, and Ibi Zoboi.

It is refreshing to find a collection of contemporary YA short stories. Some are funny, others are heartbreaking. All will please teen readers of romance.

Three kids go on a spooky ghost hunt traveling down a bumpy hill, crossing a wiggly bridge, following a twisty path, until they eventually come to a scary house and see a GHOST! They quickly back-track their way all the way to the safety of their home, but the ghost follows them! Questions to check comprehension and higher level thinking can be found on each page spread. Bright, colorful illustrations enhance this cute story.

The three pigs were forced to leace the comfort of their home when their owners moved away to Florida. So each one built their houses as the traditional tale is told. All the while, the hungry wolf is unable to order food at the local fast food joints, so he decides to blow down all the pigs houses, until the wolf cannot blow down the house of bricks. The pigs feel so badly for the wolf that they ask him to join them for dinner. Questions to check comprehension and higher level thinking can be found on each page spread. Bright, colorful illustrations enhance this cute story.

After the little bear plays outside in the snow, it is time for bed. A sequence of affection occurs from a wave, to a smile, to a tickle, until finally a kiss goodnight from his mama. Questions to check comprehension and higher level thinking can be found on each page spread. Bright, colorful illustrations enhance this cute story.

As Frog dances down by the cool of the pool, he is joined by duck, pig, sheep, cat, dog, goat, pony, donkey and cow, each adding their own dance moves. All of a sudden they splash into the cool of the pool, but that doesn’t stop the dance party! Questions to check comprehension and higher level thinking can be found on each page spread. Bright, colorful illustrations enhance this cute story.

This story is told in a tradional way having the Gingerbread man outsmart all of the characters until he meets the fox! Questions to check comprehension and higher level thinking can be found on each page spread. Bright, colorful illustrations enhance this cute story.

Little kitten crawls into bed to read, and falls asleep. When he wakes up, his book is missing! He thinks of all the possibilities to explain what could have happened to his book from a bear eating it, to a stegosaurus stomping on it. Well, after looking and looking, little kitten finds it under the bed! He loves his book so much, he crawls back into bed to read it and falls asleep again! Questions to check comprehension and higher level thinking can be found on each page spread. Bright, colorful illustrations enhance this cute story.

Edward wants to be a firefighter, so he decides to visit a firehouse. While he is there, the firefighters have a fire drill, and Edward gets to go with them! He has trouble with the drills, learning first hand how challenging the job is. However, when a real emergency occurs, Edward steps up to save the kitten that was stuck in the tree! Questions to check comprehension and higher level thinking can be found on each page spread. Bright, colorful illustrations enhance this cute story.

In this series, various animals are compared to human beings. While people and birds have similar activities the comparison in this case seems stretched, grasping at straws.

Both birds and humans sing .  Baby birds learn song patterns much the way human babies learn speech patterns. They both repeat over and over again until they pattern is correct. This is a fine comparison.

Other comparisons include: terns mate for life, dandelion down in nests compared to swaddling, some nests are woven and tied to branches compared to knitting, some birds are single mothers while others use two parents after birth, both birds and humans feed their babies, birds keeping a “poop-free” nest is compared to changing diapers, and “just like human kids , chicks learn by watching”.

The comical illustrations of birds in action are fun and entertaining, especially because there is always a photo of a real bird hidden in the display. The information is accurate and interesting. Some of the comparisons  seem too remote.

The timely issues of anti-immigration and Islamophobia are addressed in this YA novel by Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah. Abdel-Fattah is an attorney of Muslim of Palestinian and Egyptian heritage who served as the Media Liaison Officer at the Islamic council of Victoria, a role that gave her the opportunity to write for newspapers and engage with media institutions about how they represented Muslims and Islam. Although the story takes place in Australia, the issues with refugees and white Australians closely mirror similar beliefs and attitudes seen here in the United States.

The two main characters are Michael and Mina. Michael is a white Australian teen whose parents are active in an anti-immigrant group. They take him to anti-immigration rallies. Mina is a pretty girl he sees on the other side of the picket lines. She is a Muslim refugee from Afghanistan who has experienced many adversities as she fled her warn torn homeland. Mina receives a cold reception at private school she attends on scholarship. Once Michael meets Mina, his parents’ politics become very complicated.

Mina and Michael tell their story in alternate chapters. The reader hears first hand the conflict Michael has with his parents for taking a stand to defend Mina’s family and other refugees. The pain of the persecution and harassment that Mina and her family suffers is clearly shown. The Lines We Cross is a story of how fear and hate can destroy lives, and how important it is to chose tolerance and love.

It is rare to find a YA novel with high functioning Autistic characters, and The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily has such a character as the narrator. And, it is female character.
Lily also has ADHD, and struggles every day to make it through school. Then one day, after being sent to the principal’s office for breaking a wall in her classroom, she meets Abelard. Turns out he, too, is on the spectrum. He’s handsome, and he has the name of Abelard, the philosopher who was Heloise’s true love. And, he enjoys medieval literature. They share an impulsive kiss in the principal’s office and then begin texting each other with lines from The Love Letters of Abelard and Heloise, a book Lily loves, with a character that she relates to. It is her favorite, most tragic love story.

Lily is beside herself with excitement and she and Abelard text, get together, play chess, and fall in love. The problem for Lily is that when things get rough, she begins doing what she is best at: destroying things.

Will her story have a happier ending than Heloise’s?