A harlequin clown main character in this book is what makes the book qualify with a number circus theme. I found this particular clown ‘creepy’.

The book itself is good on several levels. Each numeral from one to five has a page of its own. Each numeral is represented with an embossed spot the reader can touch, there are items to count, and the numeral is written in word form. I did not like the numeral represented by the clown(s)  contorted into the shape of the numeral.  The set of objects to count, often behind a window to open, is good, but not from a library longevity point-of-view. Once the reader reaches the numeral six, there is a quick one page count to ten, before giving 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 their own page. The six through ten pages have the numbers shown, but in a jumble of overlapping numbers which are not in sequential order.

The windows to open ( I had trouble opening some of them without causing small tears)  and the cut-out shapes do not make this a book suitable for library use, due to poor longevity.

If you know right off the bat what an ‘anorak’ is than this might be the alphabet book for which you are looking. I had to use the dictionary, though the illustration on the front cover of the book had me convinced an ‘anorak’ was a raincoat. This book was first published in Australia, so that being said, some of the pictures chosen might not be as familiar to children in the United States. The pictures are cute and often hilarious: Urchins in Undies, Ibis in an Igloo, Owl in Orbit, and Newt in a Necktie. There is one picture per page for each letter of the alphabet and as always, some of the items pictured are obscure: Jackdaw in a Jar, Elephant in an Eggcup, Giraffe in Galoshes, and Xantus in an X-ray. Depending on the child’s age, one of the alphabet words will be recognizable and the other may need to be inferred.

The entire alphabet is recapped with its illustration in 1 inch tall miniatures on the last page.

Jon Scieszka brings to human anatomy, in this new book, in the new Frank Einstein series what J. Cole brought to science through the Magic School Bus series. The Frank Einstein series is written for a slightly older audience, in that it is  not written in picture book format, although there are black and white (and orange) sketches sprinkled through out its 173 pages.

As this book begins, 11 year old Frank Einstein wants to create a better human body to make his good friend, Janegoodall, a better baseball pitcher before this season’s team try-outs. Frank, his friends Watson and Janegoodall, and robots Klink and Klank are practicing on Menlo Park’s baseball field when one of Klank’s hits flies over the ballpark fence breaking the window on villain T. Edison’s laboratory destroying his latest invention the SuperBrain.  Hearing the glass break the young baseball players run to Frank’s home before they are caught by T. Edison.  At home in his laboratory, Frank begins analyzing the human body’s  five senses by systems in an effort to improve on Janegoodall’s pitching. While Frank does this, Klink spouts off the functions of that particular body system. Klank tells bad jokes. Watson and Janegoodall inform Frank why Frank’s first possible idea/ invention for each sense isn’t a desirable solution. Thank goodness Frank’s philosophy is- if at first you don’t succeed- keep trying new ideas and inventions. Along the way, they investigate blind spots (sight), having a bigger outer ear (hearing), the number of nerve cells (touch), brain freeze (taste), and taste without smell ( smell).

Meanwhile, T. Edison, who found out who broke his window and the SuperBrain, is working on his latest invention the Brain Swirler which looks a lot like a toilet sitting on his head. When the T. Edison Brain Swirler does not pass all of its tests, T. Edison decides to take Frank’s “Brain Turbo.” Frank has Klank guarding the Super Brain so they can rest up for the team try-outs. Klank tries out the Super Brain, scaring people in the neighborhood. Mr. Chimp leads Klank away and right into T. Edison’s hands. Now, T. Edison uses the Brain Turbo, he has transformed, to control all the minds of the humans on the baseball try-out field. Edison has Watson doing the chicken dance. Edison wants to control the minds of the town, no the world. As a result, the power is turned up on the Brain Turbo which causes Klank’s head to blow up ending Edison’s dream to control the world.

Frank, Watson , and Janegoodall are all sad Klank is gone, but they soon find out Klank is not gone for long.

Includes: Frank Einstein’s Human-Body Notes, Pitching with Janegoodall, Watson’s Inventor Corner, Bob and Mary Einstein’s Travelallovertheplace.com Travel Hot Spot!, Klank’s Turing Test, Mr. Chimp’s Word Search, and Mr. Chimp’s Alphabet.

A king hears of the existence of the singing moon dragons with silver scales that live on a far-away mountain top. So the king, desperate to have a moon dragon of his own, sends messengers to all corners of the kingdom announcing the payment of a room full of gold to anyone who finds the moon dragons. Although many people tried, huntsmen, herders, trappers, mountaineers, etc… no one could find the moon dragons.  Alina, a young girl who’s grandmother told her stories of the beautiful, mysterious moon dragons, lived alone at the base of the mountain and announced she will find the dragons. Even though the king and the villagers laughed at the young girl, Alina was determined in her search. When she slept in a hollow tree, she was awakened by the singing of the moon dragons and was amazed by their graceful flight, their beautiful song, and their scales of shining pearl and silver that shone in the moon light.

She returned to the kingdom and announced to the villagers that she had not seen the dragons, fearful the king would put them in cages or hang their heads on the palace walls. Although she was ridiculed, she knew a flight of dragons was worth far more than a room full of gold.

This is a great message of humanity.

The tenth book of the Dork Diaries series, drama hits the beginning of this book hard!! Nikki and Brandon find a dog and litter of puppies, but can’t keep them at the pet shop until space opens up. In the meantime, Nikki volunteers to care for the dogs against her parents’ wishes. This means that Nikki has to sneak puppies around the house, in the school and principal’s office with disastrous situations around every turn. Once the dogs are taken to a girl scout troop meeting, the dogs are all adopted, including the puppy that Nikki’s family gets to keep. Many illustrations are found throughout the book, making this series enticing to children.

This is book number eight of the Scream Street series where Luke, Resus, and Cleo are out on another adventure. Scream Street is in trouble. Although the trio worked so very hard to open the portal into Scream Street, they have decided they need to close the portal to keep the “normals” from coming through it to tour Scream Street.  As a result they must return all of the relics they collected to open the portal. The first item they attempt to return is the fang from Count Negatov. Their adventure  has danger around every corner that includes trolls and piranhas. One or two black and white illustrations are included in each chapter.

Murphy-Stop-That is a scruffy terrier who lives in the country.  One day, his family takes him to the city.  Although he hates riding in cars, he discovers that there are many dog-friendly places to visit in the city.  Soon, Murphy-Stop-That grows bored.  After wandering outside and barking at a flock of birds, he is taken to the city pound.  After his family retrieves him, they return home and Murphy-Stop-That realizes that he really doesn’t mind sleeping in the barn at the farm.  Although the illustrations are engaging, the story is predictable and somewhat rote.

Flowers are stationary plants, rooted firmly in the ground.  They rely on birds and insects for pollination.  In rhyming pros, Rita Gray describes the interactions between flowers and the insects and animals that complete nature’s cycle.   The illustrations are stunning.  Although this book could be incorporated into a STEM activity, it doesn’t hold wide appeal for young readers.

At first, I thought this book was specifically for preschoolers and the primary grade kids, but after re-reading the book, I realized that the message of love, kindness, and thoughtfulness are not restricted to the youngest but should be modeled for people of all ages.  It is a story of a young boy and young girl who spend time with their grandparents, and when they perhaps do something not quite right, instead of saying ‘No, that’s not how you do it,’ the grandparents encourage and help them do it,  making positive statements.  Kids who have adults in their lives who do this are lucky and maybe in reading this book will learn how lucky and to do it themselves.

Science, math, and technology have just become “way cool” in this book using a hands-on approach through the graphic novel format and Max Axiom -super cool, lab coat wearing, action figure, super hero science guide.

Max begins his guided step-by-step instructions of nine activities with, “ Join me at my lab for the inside scoop on a variety of machines. From simple to complex, test your engineering skills by designing and constructing your own amazing mechanical projects.” (p. 5)

Each of the nine activities consist of a list of the equipment needed, step-by-step photo and text instructions, and Axiom Alternative suggestions on how the reader could take this machine a step further.  The nine activities include making: a hovercraft, pulley system, diving submarine, pendulum painter, pump drill, trebuchet, hydro-powered winch, hydraulic arm, and an electric fan motor. Some of the equipment will be easier to get hold of than other pieces, but Home Depot and Lowe’s will be a good starting point.  Max is quick to add, each and every time, “Safety First” when a hot glue gun, utility knife, drill, and / or saw will need to be used get  permission from an adult. There a couple of spots where the photo definitely is needed in conjunction with the written instruction, but between the two, the reader should be able to make the machine.

Includes: Index, glossary, and www.facthound.com.

I, myself, can be a picky eater with foods from the United States. This book offers foods from around the world that I would be squeamish about eating. It is all a matter of culture! The book is broken down into “Bizarre Breakfasts”, “Loony Lunches”, Strange Suppers”, “Surprising Snacks”, and “Wacky Desserts and Treats”. Each section has at least seven food items, usually accompanied with a color photo, name of the food, what the food is made from, and country where it is eaten. It is too bad the index does not list the countries from which the foods come.

“We live in a world that offers a variety of strange food options. Let’s take a look at some of the bizarre foods people around the world prefer on their plates.” (p. 5)  From “Bizarre Breakfasts” comes scrapple from the eastern United States, cow’s feet soup from Ecuador, and laverbread (seaweed) from Wales. From “Loony Lunches” come mopane worms from southern Africa and fried tarantulas form Cambodia. From “Strange Suppers” come guinea pigs from Peru and Ecuador, svartsoppa (sweet and sour goose blood soup) from Sweden, and kangaroo from Australia. From “Surprising Snacks” comes a variety of deep fried insects and other animals, like starfish and sea horses, from China.

This book ends with, “try to keep an open mind. If you’re traveling in a different country, you never know which far-out food might become your new favorite!” ( p. 29)

Includes: Index, glossary, and  www.facthound.

Very simple, easy-to-read text pairs up with fun photographs to teach little readers that hands are for touching, as well as all the soft and fuzzy–or rough–things they can touch!

When young Hillary Rodham’s hopes of joining NASA as an astronaut were dashed because she was a girl, she didn’t stop dreaming or doing. Following Clinton from girlhood to the presidential campaign trail, the narrative hits on many of the high points and as few of the low points as possible along the way. As seen in Bates’s watercolor, she goes from a perky, ponytailed girl to the somewhat careworn but determined figure readers will recognize. Timed for release with the Democratic National Convention, this picture-book nevertheless has a dated feel to it already, although the conclusion hedges its historical bets: “Not afraid to fly, daring to compete, she decided to run for the highest office in the land. Was the land ready? No matter—she was propelling her way into history.”

In this emotionally rich story, a little girl and her family live happily in Paris until Nazi soldiers arrive during World War II. She and her family must flee or risk being sent to a concentration camp, so they run into the woods, where they meet resistance fighters. But they’re still not safe. They must cross tall mountains and sail in a rickety boat to England. Yet the whole time they’re struggling to survive, the little girl thinks of the stone angel near their apartment in Paris and imagines it watching over her family.
Filled with sorrow, hope, comfort, and triumph, this gorgeously illustrated book is a perfect vehicle with which to share a difficult subject with school-aged children.

In a charming and accessible introduction to the beloved holiday classic, Bea and her ballet school classmates perform a simplified interpretation of The Nutcracker. The group of dancers, who appear to be only 3 or 4 years old, includes adorably costumed children of different ethnicities, indicated by hairstyles and facial features rather than skin tone, as the children are outlined against white backgrounds. The ballet’s plot is skillfully summarized, including integral elements such as the Nutcracker/Prince, the battle between the mice and the soldiers, and the visit to the Land of Sweets. The text, set in attractive silvery type, is just one sentence per page plus some speech balloons, reduced to the simplest terms that even young preschoolers will easily comprehend. Isadora conveys the magical aspects of the beloved holiday ballet in an easy, straightforward way that will prepare first-time attendees for a holiday performance.

Little readers will learn all about what mail carriers do, where they work, and why they are important in our communities. The very simple text combined with correlating and colorful images will both inform and strengthen reading skills.

Adapted from the bestselling book of the same title for adults (2011), this abridged version presents the true story of a friendship between an impoverished African-American boy and a young white woman who becomes his mentor.

The boy, Maurice, narrates this relatively lengthy story of his budding friendship with Laura, a professional woman working in an unnamed big city. He first meets Laura when he asks her for spare change and she buys him dinner. Maurice explains that he doesn’t have enough to eat at home. This leads to regular weekly dinners with Laura, visits to her apartment, and a Christmas visit to Laura’s extended family. Maurice enjoys the big family’s holiday celebration, and he receives all the presents on his Christmas list. He hopes that someday he will have his own big family like Laura’s. In a sentimental conclusion, Maurice gives Laura his white teddy bear, the only Christmas present he had ever previously received. Illustrations in pencil and watercolor bring the holiday celebrations to life with a wide variety of perspectives and illustration sizes. The final pages include two author’s notes and one from the real Maurice.

The ballerina mouse and her friends take their show on the road.

Angelina and her fellow ballet students board a little blue bus to present the Cinderella Dance Tour in towns all over Mouseland. Angelina is happy to be featured in the starring role, but some of her fellow student performers are not in such good spirits. There are mishaps on stage, lost props, upset stomachs, uncomfortable beds, and a good dose of homesickness. On the way to their final destination, their bus becomes mired in the mud after a rainstorm, and the scenery is ruined. Not to worry. Their hostess, Countess Von Whiskers, suggests a visit to her castle gardens, where Angelina is inspired by Cinderella’s magical pumpkin. She and the other mouselings gather flowers and vines to re-create everything they will need to dance under the stars for their grand finale. Angelina’s fans will enjoy this different take on the ballet world that is not so much a retelling of the classic fairy tale as a gentle glimpse into the travails of a traveling troupe. Craig’s signature watercolors are the ideal medium for the pretty scenery, flowers, and dancing mice.

Max and Marla (pet owl) are best friends.  They are also “Real-life, honest to goodness, cross your heart, Winter-Olympics Olympians.”  They make a number of attempts to sled down the big hill by their house.  Regardless of the setbacks, they don’t give up because “True Olympians never give up.”  This heart-warming story about snowy day fun will delight young readers.

Yetis love winter.  They love waking up on snowy quiet mornings, drinking hot chocolate, sliding down hills on their bottoms, and building snow castles.  But sometimes, Yetis miss summer.  They miss looking for little sea creatures, having sea monster beauty contests, and building sand castles.  So on the coldest, wettest, windiest winter days, Yetis know how to make the warmest, coziest summer day right at home.  This is a beautifully illustrated book that encourages the young reader to find the cup half full and find ways to be happy wherever they are!

It is a day at Grandma’s for little Yujin. It is an ordinary day, nothing special is happening. Since nothing special is happening at Grandma’s, this book is nothing special either, as far as the story line goes. It is good for talking about the passage of time with little ones though, which is the goal of this TanTan Math Story.

As little pre-school Yusin spends the day at Grandma’s both Mother, at home, and Yujin reminisce about what would be happening if they were together. This gave me a sad, lonely feeling.

Dawn, morning, almost noon, noon, afternoon, dusk, evening, and night are each given an activity assigned to it to acquaint and  familiarize the young reader with the concept of the passage of time.  There are no shadows at noon and lunch is eaten then. During the afternoon, you take a nap. “It is evening. I see the lights turn on, one by one, along the street.” Daddy finally comes to pick Yujin up and take her home for the night. ”   ‘Even though we were apart for just one day, I missed you so much, ‘ I say. ‘Tonight I want to fall asleep with you right by my side. And when I open my eyes tomorrow morning, you are the first person I want to see, Mommy!’   “

Two adult pages with suggestions for further use with children follow the story. The second one contains a game. Two more pages, for the young child, review the parts of the day with the sky /sun. Followed by 2 pages of activities a child takes part in during the day.

Kitten wants a basket, a pillow, a blanket AND a puppy.  “No, no, no, Kitten.  You cannot have a puppy.  You are a cat!  Cats do not have pets.”  But this is one insatiable kitten who also wants a helmet, engines, gadgets and lasers and then wants to blast off to Jupiter!  When the Jupiter launch actually goes off (unsuccessfully), the kitten’s owner decides that maybe kitten can have a puppy.  But the plot thickens when puppy wants a bowl, some kibble, a bone, and a dinosaur!  This is an engaging story with vibrant illustrations and will thrill young cat lovers!

Here is a book to recommend to a child looking to purchase a cat as a pet. There is all of the general information needed to take of a cat of almost any breed, mixed in with specific information on the Turkish Van. Some of the general information includes size, care of, feeding, and kittens.  This includes the number of kittens to expect in a litter, the type of foods out on the market, and medical care; such as, vaccinations, and spay and/or neuter.

Some of the specific information, “Turkish Vans are often compared to dogs. They can fetch toys, growl, and learn tricks. Turkish Vans can also be taught to walk on a leash.” (p. 8) Turkish Vans enjoy water, are semi-long haired, white in color with some color on head and tail, and don’t like to be cuddled. “With regular care, plenty of love, and good food, your Turkish Van will be an active addition to your family for 15 to 20 years.” ( p. 21)

The book usually has three paragraphs on the left hand page opposite a full color photo on the right hand page.

Here is a little boy, with an over-exaggerated big head, who is trying to be a spy, but without much luck. He isn’t good at sneaking up on people because he bumps into table lamps, has squeaky shoes, is in need of a disguise, sneezes, and burps. His “Chief”, aka father, helps him get new quiet shoes, but that does not help because the shoes are so colorfully awesome. Then, he tries “some camouflage”, but the tree branches make him sneeze. Finally, because he has been persistent he is able to sneak up on his “Chief”.

”  ‘The secret to spying,’ said Spy Guy, ‘is never stop trying!’  ”

Throughout the book, on every page turn, there is a spider who finally comes into play at the very end to help out Spy Guy. Children will enjoy finding the spider as the read the story.

In some ways the illustrations remind me of those by Tedd Arnold.