Patricia Polacco has related another heart-warming story based on true events.  Johnnie Wallen left home at the age of 15 to join the army after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  Known for his sharp-shooting skills, he soon earned the nickname, Kentucky Jo.  After many dangerous missions, his unit was stationed in the jungles of the Philippines.  There he met a shy little girl he named Little Heart for the birthmark on her arm.  She could only say “Tucky Jo”.  As their friendship grew, he met her English speaking grandfather and helped their village find food.  When they need to evacuate, he convinces his sergeant to save the village, too.  Many years later, after marrying and settling down with his large family, he began having to spend more and more time at the veteran’s hospital.  One day a new nurse came and assisted with new medicines and procedures.  When he questioned why all of a sudden he was able to get such special treatment, she showed him a birthmark on her arm and replied that it was her turn to care for her “Tucky Jo”.  An epilogue completes the story of Tucky Jo and Little Heart.  Polacco relates the story using many expressions that are common in southern dialects.  Her trademark artistic style using pencils and watercolor accurately portray the emotions and conditions of war, family, and love.  This is another winner from Patricia Polacco.

This is a terrific “how-to” book for fly fishing.  Beginning with a description of the equipment and lures, one learns the appropriate gear to use for hooking a variety of fish.  Tips are given for specific techniques required for a successful catch.  Fly fishing is done in both salt and fresh water, wherever the water is fairly shallow along coastlines and shores.  Some of the fish included are trout, steelhead, salmon, tarpon, bonefish, permits, and bass.  Colorful, close-up photos are large, some crossing the gutter, and informative.  There are dangers, so anglers need to be cautious of the conditions of the water, wildlife (ex. bears), and weather.  Glossary and index included.

Ari lives quietly on a small island.  He collects the interesting debris washed up by the sea.  One day, a large ship stops by and the captain shares wonderful stories about other people and places.  Ari decides to creatively display all his found treasures.  When the captain returns, he’s amazed with all Ari has gathered.  From then on, Ari welcomes friends and visitors from many lands and is never lonely.  The charm of this book is in the unique acrylic illustrations.  The combination of this simple story and intriguing artwork enhance a secondary message of using one’s creativity to beautify their surroundings.

This is a great introduction to the sport of pheasant hunting.  Information is presented in an easy reading format with occasional sidebars.  Although native to China and Korea, pheasants were introduced in 1881 to the Willamette Valley in Oregon.  Pheasants readily adapted to the changing environment of wilderness to farm land.  They are ground birds and need cover for nesting and nearby grain fields for feeding.  The book relates the physical traits, behaviors, and habitats as well as successful techniques and strategies for hunting this alert and sneaky game bird.  Two types of dogs are often used – flushers and pointers.  Good breeds for doing each job are mentioned.  Equipment and skills for hunting pheasants are rather unique.  Being able to shoot quickly and accurately is a must.  Hunters need to know local laws and firearm safety rules.  Photographs are informative, well captioned, with a good balance of both male and female hunters.  Also included are a map, diagram, index and glossary.  One item keeps me from giving this an R*.  Page 39 mentions the importance of “field dressing” a bird as soon as possible, yet that term is never explained.  Otherwise, this is a captivating and educational book.

Preschool Lulu is a typical younger sister.  When her older brother wants to play with his friends, she is left to her own devices with her basset hound, Bingo.  After exhausting many possibilities, she dons her ladybug costume and becomes a super hero.  She removes a boulder from the path of ants, jumps over a shark-infested puddle, repairs a broken rock fort, and braves tree root “snakes”.  Taking a rest in an apple tree, she spots her bother and his friends playing ball in the distance.  She squints at them between her index finger and thumb and realizes SHE is not little.  THEY are little!  The illustrations are absolutely delightful and expressive.  Lulu’s red ladybug costume is a focal point on each page.  Bingo’s expressions and body language humorously copy Lulu’s.  What a great book to celebrate imagination.  This super fun edition includes a poster, paper dolls, and stickers.

Henry thinks he talks a lot, but his parents only hear gibberish.  Henry decides to choose a great word, however he has no idea how it will look or sound.  When he cannot find one around his things in the house, he asks some of his outdoor friends.  Neither cat, bird, nor bunny has one for him.  As he looks around for his mother, she is no longer in sight.  How upsetting!  As he worries and begins to cry, the perfect word comes rumbling out, “Mama”!  (Henry uses his first word for everything so perhaps Dada’s feelings won’t be too hurt!)  The illustrations are done in pencil and pastels, a perfect match for this gentle, simple story about one of the first developmental landmarks.

Duddle Puck arrives on the farm in a blue baseball cap and proceeds to show he is a very odd duck indeed.  He clucks with the hens, honks with the geese, oinks with the pig, neighs with the horse, and gives a hip-hip hooray at the farmer’s party.  All the animals try to help him find his quack and become a proper duck.  When they all demonstrated quacking, Duddle just giggled at the irony.  Then “he roared a mighty QUACK – a – doodle – doo!”  This rhyming story not only reinforces sounds different animals make but also celebrates individuality.  The illustrations are in vivid earth-tone watercolors.  Visually pleasing, the backgrounds alternate between full color and white.  Although not major characters until the end, the farmer and his cat can be seen attending to various farm duties.  Another fun creation by Karma Wilson.

There is quite a bit of information for thought in this book, considering there is only one sentence per page. John Wallace does a fabulous job of instilling wonder with his soft watercolors and ink illustrations. His illustrations of having fun in the sun at the beach teaming up with the informational text by Marion Dane Bauer, in this sixth part of their series on weather for young readers hits the mark. SUN has me wanting to go outside to gather some warmth in the daytime and by night to see the other stars in the Milky Way Galaxy of which our sun is a part.

Though our sun is not the biggest star in the sky or the hottest, it is the closest one to Earth. Our sun gives us light, heat, vitamin D, and is just the right distance from Earth so water can be in all three states of matter- solid, liquid, and gas.

There are eight more “Facts about the Sun” on the very last page dealing with size, distance, temperature, and age of the sun.

The reader’s point-of-view will be tested with this book. A young alien, working on earning his Galaxy Scout Solo Explorer badge, crash lands onto Earth in the middle of an elementary school playground.  The third graders, in Mrs. Buckle’s class, hurry out to meet him. Little by little, Spork and the third graders need to apply their classroom rules dealing with respect, especially -“Treating others as we would like to be treated (the Golden Rule)”. Jack makes a disparaging remark about the sound of Spork’s name. Others want to touch the space ship without asking. And Trixie hides Spork’s Gloop which he will need to repair his space ship because Trixie wants Spork to stay. Then, Mrs. Buckle announces Drop Everything and Read, Spork literally drops the tub of markers he is carrying. Trixie soon realizes she needs to return the Gloob to Spork. When she hands it back to Spork it accidentally falls to the floor breaking the container. BOOM! The Gloop fixes all kinds of classroom errors: untucked shirts, untied shoes, cluttered cubbies, and holes in the knees of jeans. Trixie “hung her head. ‘Now that your Gloop exploded all over the classroom, there isn’t any left to fix your flying saucer. And it is all my fault.’…’Oh, don’t worry about that!’ …I’ve got more Gloop. ‘ ” (51)

After the story ends, Spork gives the readers three activities “right out of [his] Scout training manual” (56)- Planets of Peril quiz, R-E-S-P-E-C-T the E.T. quiz, and Space facts: True of false.

Nancy Drew has never been to summer camp and Nancy needs a vacation. Nancy’s best friend Bess talks her into being a camp counselors at Bess’s old camp. Chapter one ends, “Please don’t let there be a mystery to solve at Camp Cedarbark!” (14)

It’s Nancy Drew, so, of course, there will be a mystery. The mystery revolves around a camper who drowned about 5 years ago. One of the new counselors (Bella) wants to hold a seance, after dark, with her ouija board, to keep the drowned girl’s spirit away. Nancy takes the ouiji board away from Bella saying she will tell the new camp’s owners if the seance is held. Next, during the counselors’ swim test of treading water, both Deborah and Nancy are yanked under the water by their ankles. A few days later, the counselors’ training period is over. “Even though the past two nights had been filled with creepy, ice-cube-down-the-spine moments, it was hard to recall those feelings when the sun first shone into our cabins. Even more so now, when our cabin was full of giggling, smiling campers.” (83)

The incidences at the lake set the tune, but Nancy’s up beat spirit keeps this chilling story from becoming too scary. Nancy works with the camp’s new owners to solve who is out to sabotage the camp. Is it one of the campers, one of the counselors, or someone from the small nearby town who is out to close the camp? This story has as many twists and turns as one of the camps’ trails.

I have been at camp as an adult chaperone and this book brought back the wonderful feelings of being at summer camp.

This ‘Carolyn Keene’ writes in the present with references to Netflix and smart phones. This is not a reprint of a former Nancy Drew.

This book is more visual than text oriented, with usually two sentences per page. Those young readers who want military books will enjoy the live action photography.

Official United States military photos from the United States Department of Defense and U.S. Army fill the pages with planes and helicopters both on the ground and in the air. Troops are shown walking into the back’s of open carriers, as well, and repelling out of helicopters. Page ten shows the interior of a C-17 Globemaster (most likely) filled with four rows of 22+ troops in full army gear waiting to get to their destination.

There are specially trained people to load the various transports. Planes are used for equipment, such as, tanks and vehicles, as well as for moving troops. Helicopters are used for moving weapons, fuel, and rescue missions. “Huge ships carry thousands of soldiers. The ships can hold thousands of tons of cargo.” (14)

“Transport is the first step in many military actions!” (20)

The www.factsurfer.com at the end of the book did not seem to take this reader to any more sites.

Hal is a Hoist and Lift forklift. Hal works very hard at the warehouse moving crates all day.( Author / illustrator Ken Bowser has labeled those crates with: silly string, bumble bees, tarantulas, snow skis, kite string, toilet paper, marbles, and monkeys among other things.) When Hal gets to the last crate to move that day, ” ‘ What is this?’ he thought. Automatic Robotic Forklift the label read. Hal was puzzled. ‘A new fork lift?’ he worried. ‘Huh?’ ” (16) Was Hal’s job on the line?  Then, Foreman Frank tells Hal, ” ‘Al’s here to assist you and you’ll be his boss!’ …He could NEVER replace you, Hal! You know this place better than anyone!’ ” (22)

Young readers who enjoy Disney/Pixar’s CARS will enjoy this book, too.

The last page asks four “Big Questions” to help the reader fine tune his comprehension of this story.

Snail and Slug is a  tale of friendship between a slug and snail. Snail invites Slug into her very large home (which has a cellar, a sink, and a dishwasher) because it is so hot outside. The two develop a friendship even though they have differences. While on a picnic, Slug stands up to a bully (a banana slug). Snail and Slug become such good friends that Snail asks Slug if she would like to share her home. The illustrations are bright and colorful and the expression on the character’s faces add to the story.

The story of how three young girls: Maria Merian, Mary Anning, and Maria Mitchell changed science. The stories are told separately, occur at different time periods, and are written in verse. Maria Merian observed and painted pictures of the life cycle of insects. Mary Anning looked for fossils. Maria Mitchell mapped the night sky. All three were doing things that were deemed unladylike, but they persevered and influenced science. There is an author’s note at the end discussing how and why she wrote this book. Although this is a work of fiction, she also includes a bibliography about each girl and notes the books that were written for young readers.

This graphic novel for young readers introduces a new series dealing with how fairies come to learn of their own existence. BUT on a deeper heavier topic, it lets children know about how hard it is when parents split up.

Page one shows Cici and her father crying in front of his packed boxes and suitcases as he moves out. This happens just days before Cici’s tenth birthday. Hazel is having a hot tub party of Cici’s birthday which quite a few students want to attend, even Cici’s good friend. Since Cici’s father won’t be home for her birthday, Cici decides  to go to Hazel’s party. Meanwhile, Cici’s Abuelita comes to live with her, her mother and little sister.

The morning of Cici’s birthday, suddenly she has fairy wings. SURPRISE! So does Abuelita! Abuelita revels, ” In our familia , there have always been fairies. First, your wings grow in. Then, little by little you discover your powers.”(21) Cici’s first fairy power is the power of fairy sight. She sees people for who or what they truly are. Her mother has as many arms as an octopus, which are always busy. The girls at Hazel’s party are all chickens. Distraught by what she is experiencing at the party, Cici finally tells her friend about her father’s moving out. Her friend is not sympathetic and stays at the party, becoming another chicken.

The next morning, Cici must choose to believe in fairies or loose her fairy sight forever. Abuelita tells Cici, ” Your wings are a symbol of your powers. You must be careful who you share them with. Once you decide, you will be able to control when your wings are seen. If you give them up, however, you also give up the power to believe. You will never see wings on yourself or anyone else ever again.” (45)  Cici states, “I choose to believe.” (47)

Just as rainbows silently appear this book begins slowly building filling with falling rain until the rainbow finally shows.

It is a book of few words, but those words matched with the illustrations by John Wallace prove the old saying- a picture is worth a thousand words, especially to young readers. The two page spread of the bright rainbow up above with the small young children in yellow rain slickers pointing up to it down below a dark bluish grey sky show the wonder and awe of a rainbow. Then, the next two pages are filled with the brilliant seven bands of color as the rainbow’s spectrum of colors are listed. Followed by a two page diagram of sunlight going through a giant raindrop which bends the light into what we know as a rainbow.

Now the reader will see a double rainbow, followed by an “upside down” rainbow (20-21), followed by a rainbow at a park fountain, and at a waterfall. Then, it is revealed rainbows are full circles if you can view them from up in the sky, so there are no ends and no pots of gold. Finally, the important fact of needing to have your back to the sun is revealed. The illustrations end with that bit of information, but the very last page states five more “Facts about rainbows” not previously stated in the book.

Eloise finds living in The Plaza hotel has its perks as she watches the Grand Ballroom being prepared for a wedding. When Eloise announces she is going to the wedding, Nanny says, ”  ‘No one asked you to go.’  ”

After Eloise’s bath, “Nanny says, ‘If you are very good you may see the bride.’  ”   Now, (illustrator- Katherine Mitter has) Eloise off and running in her pink bathrobe down to the Grand Ballroom to see the bride. Eloise discovers the bride is crying because her flower girl is sick. Eloise to the rescue, pink bathrobe and all.

Sherlock Holmes never looses its appeal and this version of him is still going strong in this republished story.

Basil and Doctor Dawson learn how to be great detectives through observing the great Sherlock Holmes, himself. The reader discovers that Basil and Dr. Dawson are mice that live in Sherlock Holmes’ building. Basil and Dawson often sit quietly in the corner of Sherlock’s apartment as they discuss their cases. Now, Basil and Dawson are called in to find twin mice who did not return home after school. Basil chides Dr. Dawson, ” ‘You are not making full use of your deductive powers.’ ” (24) after the ransom note is delivered for the twins release. Using a magnifying glass on the dirt left behind from the messenger’s boots, Basil is on the trail to find the missing children. Basil and Dawson disguised as seamen gain more information by casually talking with the innkeeper in a seaport town. Later, they set a trap for the kidnappers by talking just loud enough so they will definitely be heard while eating dinner at the cafe. What the kidnappers do not know is that Basil has gotten the local constable involved in the plan. Basil and Dr. Dawson rescue the twins, but not without a scratch or two to themselves.

The reader will enjoy the text along with the pencil sketches, in every chapter, giving the reader a look at fashion and decor from the late 1800s.

Introduction to the next book- Basil and the Cave of Cats.

Spring has sprung and Nanny informs Eloise she needs a new hat. Eloise tries on all the different hats worn by the employees of The Plaza hotel where she lives on the “tippy-top floor”. Each time Nanny comes up with a reason why the hat is not suitable: too tall (chef’s), no brim ( room service’s), and not colorful enough (bell captain’s). Finally, Nanny brings out a hat box just for Eloise with a hat that meets all of the requirements. Precocious as ever Eloise, ” ‘ Oh, I love, love, love hats!’ “

Chloe Zoe, the little elephant, remembers  making special cupcakes, a heart wand, and fancy paper flowers last year for Valentine’s Day. This year, Chloe Zoe’s class made shoe box mailboxes. Chloe Zoe has a valentine for all her classmates. She is making three extra special ones for her two best friends and teacher. When it is Chloe Zoe’s turn to hand out her valentines, George’s is missing. Tears form in her eyes. The entire class helps her look for it. George tells Chloe Zoe, ” ‘ You and Mary Margaret are my best friends. I know that even without a special valentine.’ ” Just then, Mary Margaret finds George’s special valentine stuck to the bottom of Chloe Zoe’s backpack from all of the glue she’d used. Everyone cheers.

Jane Smith’s artwork is simple yet strikingly intricate, too.  The brightly colored solid blanket on the bed has stripes where it is turned down by the pillows. Half of the valentines are solid color with black outline, while the other half each have a unique design. Chloe Zoe’s ears are patterned with diamond stars and white polka dots, while the rest of her body is a solid yellow. Each elephant has a different pattern on their ears. The balance between solids and patterns is very pleasing to the eye!

Chloe Zoe, the elephant, is celebrating all the secular customs of Easter. Chloe Zoe is sure she will find the special golden egg this year at the park’s Easter egg hunt. Her friends each have a particular item they want to find at the egg hunt.  Mary Margaret, the crocodile, wants only  pink eggs, her favorite color. Later, when Mary Margaret’s basket is still empty Chloe Zoe gives her pink egg to Mary Margaret. “After all, I think, there’s still plenty of time to find the golden egg.” George, the giraffe, and Chloe Zoe help Mary Margaret find pink eggs. Then, Mary Margaret finds the gold egg and Chloe Zoe’s “cheeks get hot”. Chloe Zoe’s mother comforts her with, ” ‘look at all the goodies you did find– eggs, toys, and candy!’ ” Chloe Zoe realizes, ” ‘ I am having a lot of fun, especially finding pink eggs for Mary Margaret…’ “.    When Mary Margaret opens the golden egg there are three sparkling gold coins, ” Three coins for three best friends.”

Looking forward to reading It’s Valentine’s Day, Chloe Zoe! to see if it has as wonderful a message about friendship as this book’s.

Jane Smith’s artwork is simple yet strikingly intricate, too.  The brightly colored solid pink blanket on the bed has pink stripes where it is turned down by the pillows. Half of the colored Easter eggs are solid colors with black outline, while the other half each have a unique design. Chloe Zoe’s ears are patterned with diamond stars and white polka dots, while the rest of her body is a solid yellow. Each elephant has a different pattern on their ears and each giraffe has a different pattern for their spots. The balance between solids and patterns is very pleasing to the eye!

” The creators of the internationally bestselling Bear Snores On Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman” bring us Big Bear, Small Mouse. These two friends meet and greet pairs of their woodland friends on the way to Bear’s den. These pair of friends is compared presenting the reader with a set of ‘opposites’ which are visually reinforced through the colorful artwork: small – big, slow-fast, high-low, quiet-loud, and cold-warm.

Buster is the new puppy in the Roger’s house. Phoebe, the older dog, is tricking Buster by taking his bones while his back is turned. Phoebe the Trickster, might be a better title for this book.

Phoebe convinces Buster his bones need training to stay in place. When Phoebe runs barking out the dogie door, Buster follows. Then Phoebe returns first hiding Buster’s bone. Phoebe tells Buster she’ll help train his bones to “stay”. Each time Buster leaves to see if his bones “stay”, Phoebe takes one, telling Buster, ”  ‘It was not a smart bone… The smart bones will stay. Try again. ‘ ” (13)  Roger watches as Buster growls at his new bone, runs outside, and then back again. ”  ‘ That is one smart bone,’  said Phoebe.” (16)

The second half of the book continues with Phoebe now wanting the bone of the big dog next door. Phoebe pushes Buster through the loose board in the fence.  While Buster is innocently trying to teach the new dog’s bone to stay, Phoebe takes the bone. When caught with the bone in her mouth, Buster reasons that Phoebe is simply returning the bone.

Twenty-one poems and six recipes grace the pages of this book as collage animals romp around their page of food.

The free verse poems,  in one, two or three word lines, usually describing the food’s outward appearance. The poems run from five to twelve lines, but one or two have as many as eighteen or twenty-five lines.

Strawberry Jamboree

So many strawberries

costumed in red–

they carry green parasols

to shade their heads.

Tatseless, or tasteful?

You decide.

They wear their seeds

on the outside.