This book is a little “all over the place.” Lots of facts about Superpipe but resented in a disjointed way. Many references to things kids may not know. ie-IOC. Also seems add that they start the book talking about a successful gal and say she died.
Author Archives: SSBRC Former Member
Big Pigs
Some similarities to the three little kittens, as the mother pig is very concerned that her naughty pigs are so muddy. She is so concerned that she gives them all a reward for their terrific pig-like behavior. Very wonderfully illustrated, charming picture book, suitable for a library or private collection. Recommended.
Colin Kaepernick: NFL Phenom
Colin Kaepernick was a competitive child growing up and excelled at sports. He got good grades in school and many awards for sports. Both in college and the pros, Kaepernick has been a top-notch player. This book will appeal mostly to reluctant readers, especially boys who love football. Other than playing football, not much else is told about Kaepernick and his life outside of football.
Homestretch
Gaston, “Gas,” is devastated by the loss of his mother, who he believes was killed by an illegal alien in an auto accident. When Gas’s father begins drinking more and becomes physically abusive, Gas decides it is time to leave. He ends up in another state, working with a family of Mexicans – the people his father has taught him to hate. Gas finds out that the family he works with are more trustworthy than his new boss, who will do anything for money. This coming of age novel is fast-paced and will pull the most reluctant readers along for the ride. The characters aren’t fully developed, but Gas’s feeling ring true. NOTE: some language and ethnic slurs.
Falling for Hamlet
Ophelia is paparazzi fodder: she is the daughter of the King of Denmark’s adviser and the girlfriend of the King’s son, Hamlet. Her life is the epitome of today’s celebrity culture. When Hamlet’s dad dies unexpectedly and his mother marries his uncle Claudius, Hamlet begins to fall apart. The novel follows Shakespeare’s plot in great detail, which is not a good thing. It might have been better if this modern retelling was loosely based on the play and let go a little more. Shakespeare fans will be put off and those who have never read the original will miss some of the references and events. Girls who enjoy Lauren Conrad might enjoy this one.
My Unfair Godmother
After being forced to move in with her father and new step-family because her mother must travel with her actress little sister, Tansy thinks life is horribly unfair. Her father has never had enough time for her, and now she goes to great (and destructive) lengths to get his attention. When her new bad boy boyfriend abandons her after spray painting city hall, Tansy is picked up by police, meets a cute guy at the police station and is grounded to her room for life. Enter Chrissy – Chrysanthemum Everstart, Fairy Godmother in training. Unfortunately Chrissy hasn’t quite gotten the wish thing down, so all kinds of havoc ensues. While the plot (the retelling of Rumplestiltskin) strains the reader’s credulity, the characters are likable and the book is fun. Where other modern retellings of fairy tales circ well, this one should, too. Sequel to My Fair Godmother.
The Different Girl
In a dystopian future, where global warming has threatened resources and the religious right does not trust scientists and bullies want to wipe out education and replace it with the rule of might, four “girls” are being raised on a small tropical island to observe everything by two adults who are not their parents. One day they observe the remnants of a wrecked ship and find a girl who is different. May, the new girl, brings the outside world to their little haven. You can guess how it proceeds from there.
The problem is, I didn’t care how it proceeded. I was not attached to the characters. The stereotypes were grossly exaggerated. There seemed to be no point to the novel at all. It was so slow that it was difficult to finish. I can’t imagine teens picking this up, let alone finishing it. Even science fiction fans would have little to interest them; there is almost no information about the “girls” or how they work. This was a chore to read.
Snowy Owls
Snowy Owls is one of a series on Arctic animals by Julie Murray. A small map of the Arctic Circle shows the many countries included in the snowy owls’ territory. Backgrounds for photos are colorful and work well with the large, black font, except on a couple of dark blue pages, where the text is harder to read. Physical descriptions define males, females, and chicks. Facts on what they eat, behavior patterns, and habitat are beautifully presented on these birds who mate for life. Still and action photos are captioned and many pages include Uncovered! text boxes with additional facts. A final WOW! page concludes the book with other related details. The glossary defines words highlighted on pages. Index and an ABDO website finish this engaging 32 page book.
Komodo Dragon
Well-written text provides accurate information about this exceptional predator. What type of animal the komodo dragon is, where they live, and what they eat is presented in a clear, easily read format. Captioned, colorful photos and side boxes offer additional facts. Web sites supplement pages with fascinating, additional material. Captions not only offer more information, many share primary sources, and include questions to encourage deeper thinking. Aligned to Common Core Standards, one is prompted to write reports or responses to observations made from the text. Students will be drawn to this nonfiction book starting with the cover photo. Teachers will see this as an excellent resource as a teaching tool for informational text.
Guantanamo Boy
Khalid, a fifteen year old from England, is on a trip to Karachi to visit family when he is mistaken for a terrorist and sent to Kandahar and then Guantanamo Bay. An innocent victim of the war on terror, he is held, interrogated and tortured for two years. This fictionalized story representing real situations illustrates the captives’ feelings of helplessness and boredom, the brutality and indifference of the jailors, and the consequences both intended and unintended of the war on terror. This story is riveting and will grab the attention of most teens. There is a timeline and discussion questions at the end that should prompt a lot of dialogue.
Getting Somewhere
Instead of serving time in juvie, four girls elect to enter a new correctional program. Each of the girls has some sort of history that makes them reluctant to trust. Working together helps the girls to slowly begin to open up to each other. However one of the girls tries to sabotage both the girls’ success and the entire program.
This could have been a compelling story about four girls bonding and coming to terms with their issues, however, the characters are not well-developed. Lauren, the girl who betrays the others, is unpleasant, vindictive and not a sympathetic character at all. Could have been much better than it was.
Better off Friends
Levi moves to the Midwest at the beginning of seventh grade and just hopes to fit in with the guys. When pretty girl Macallan is assigned to show him around, they immediately discover their love of British comedy and become fast friends. The book, looking back and told in alternating voices with a few present day comments thrown in, follows the pair through 11th grade and attempts to answer the question: Can boys and girls just be friends? While the pair seem to navigate more than a few ups and downs, jealousy sets in when they date others. Sweet, gentle – definitely a summer read.
Snorkeling With Sea-Bots!
Kolten goes out into the water for some snorkeling fun. What he discovers is an underwater city of hard working robots whose job it is to keep the ocean running smoothly.
I feel comic books and graphic novels are a great way to draw reluctant readers into reading. Comics Land stories I believe are trying to do just that – draw in reluctant readers. The stories are brightly colored, easy to read and follow and are written with a touch of unexpected humor.
I like that the back matter includes a “word power” section where readers can check the glossary for unknown words. Here they will also find a pronunciation guide as well as the meaning of the word. Each book in this series also contains questions to aid in critical thinking skills, vocabulary scramble, word/picture match, find the hidden objects and a how to draw section.
Yes the story line does not hold much weight, but the beauty in these little gems (the Comics Land series that is) is that this format is highly appealing to young readers. Beginning readers will gain confidence in their skills in a easy to access manner and learn along the way.
The Good, The Bad and The Monkeys
Jake has an unusual job of herding monkeys. When monkey rustlers come and try to steal his “herd”, Jake acts responsibly to tend to his small group.
I feel comic books and graphic novels are a great way to draw reluctant readers into reading. Comics Land stories I believe are trying to do just that – draw in reluctant readers. The stories are brightly colored, easy to read and follow and are written with a touch of unexpected humor.
I like that the back matter includes a “word power” section where readers can check the glossary for unknown words. Here they will also find a pronunciation guide as well as the meaning of the word. Each book in this series also contains questions to aid in critical thinking skills, vocabulary scramble, word/picture match, find the hidden objects and a how to draw section.
Yes the story line does not hold much weight, but the beauty in these little gems (the Comics Land series that is) is that this format is highly appealing to young readers. Beginning readers will gain confidence in their skills in a easy to access manner and learn along the way.
Triple H
Pro wrestling WWE fans this might be the book for you if you like a bad boy champion.
Triple H has gone by a few names on his way to the top: Terra Ryzing, Jean-Paul Levesque, The “Connecticut Blueblood”- Hunter Hearst Helmsley now shortened to Triple H, and his nickname – The Game. His real name is Paul Michael Levesque. He loved wrestling from an early age and started working towards it by first becoming a body builder. Then he moved on to wrestling, first with the IWF, then WCW, and finally with the WWE.
The book is set up for fans with more photos than text. The photos show the “intense competitor” Triple H is especially through glimpses of his facial expressions. Nine times the text is centered within the fist shaped hole of a shattered glass window, adding to the intensity.
Includes an eight item timeline of his life, an index, and glossary.
Hidden Like Anne Frank
This book tells the stories of 14 Jews who went into hiding in the Netherlands during World War II to survive. The stories are stark; a few have moments of happiness but most are stories of desperation, fear and longing. Some of the survivors lived in more than 25 different locations before the Netherlands was liberated. Some spent their time hiding in confinement in small spaces; others were able for at least a while to move around in a home and have contact with other people. Some stayed with family or friends; others lived with perfect strangers.
Prins was inspired to write the book because his mother was forced to go into hiding in the Netherlands when she was only six years old. The experiences of the survivors vary greatly; however, many describe themselves as broken after the war. So many looked forward to liberation, only to discover that it was not significantly better: they had no homes to return to, no possessions, no businesses, and frequently, no sense of family after living apart for so long. They could not connect again with parents who sent them into hiding and had to hide apart from their children. Many felt closer to their “foster” families than their own.
Although I was compelled by the stories to finish the book, I am not sure who the audience will be. The voices in this book are stilted; whether that is a factor of translation, the unease of telling of their stories or that the survivors told their stories in the voices of the children in them who lived it, it felt off. I do think students who are fascinated by the Holocaust, especially if they have just finished The Diary of Anne Frank, will want to read this book.
Itsy-Bitsy Animals
From zebras to badgers, from parrots to seahorses, this cuddly picture book celebrates cute animals. Each page features one adorably illustrated species, surrounded by butterflies and pastel-patterned backdrops. The illustrations are accompanied by short sentences pairing each animal with an action. It is unclear what qualifies an animal as “itsy-bitsy” – not all of the animals featured are babies, and neither are all of them small. This is especially obvious when animals pictured opposite each other are in very different scale. This does not profess to be a nonfiction work, however. Thus, these small problems may be overlooked. Families will enjoy the gentle text and friendly beasts. While we may not see a badger curled up with rabbits and ducklings any time soon, it isn’t a bad way to imagine the world. The field is thick with inoffensive books like this – making this entry an additional purchase.
The Arab-Israeli Six-Day War
Recently a group named Hamas, located in the Gaza Strip, and the nation of Israel engaged in prolonged exchanges of rocket attacks and air strikes. A series of “ceasefires” did nothing to assuage the violence. This military tit-for-tat response has its roots in the results of what historians refer to as the Arab-Israeli Six-Day War and which is the topic of a new book (by the same name) in the “Perspectives on Modern World History” series.
The 1967 Six Day pitted Israel against Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. In that short conflict Israel defeated all three and took land from each. The land taken from Jordan, the West Bank (of the Jordan River) and East Jerusalem were inhabited by Palestinians, a Moslem ethnic group. Israel won the war, but has been unable to win the peace, mainly because of their inability to figure out what to do with the Palestinians. This Israeli victory on the battlefield has spawned numerous negotiations, an occasional agreement, and Palestinian anger which nurtured terrorism.
“The Arab-Israeli Six-Day War” is a collection of essays examining in detail the causes, miscalculations, and results of that short-lived conflict. The book begins with a short chronology of events leading to war, the war, and its results. The intent of the essays is to provide different perspectives on the major questions which still dominate the debate. For instance, was Israel’ pre-emptive attack on it neighbors justified? Abba Eban, Israel’s Ambassador to the U.N. at the time, builds a case for war. Another essay contends that Israel, militarily, had nothing to fear. “The Postwar Occupation Provided Many Benefits to Palestinians as Well as Israeli” is countered a short piece written by a Palestinian, “Israel’s Postwar Occupations Imposed Harsh Conditions on Palestinians.”
A couple of essays touch on the subject of how to unravel this complicated issue, but one comes to understand how national myths and bravado, domestic politics, and the international political scene make reasonable men seek solace in armed confrontations.
This volume provides an excellent introduction for someone new to the subject, relying on historical facts wrapped in competing perspectives.
(Submitted by the Washington State Civics Educator of the Year, Ed Bergh)
Knit Your Bit: A World War I Story
During WWI, when fathers went off to war, those remaining at home plan on knitting hats, socks, and scarves to help keep servicemen warm. Mikey resists, saying knitting is for girls. When challenged to enter a contest by the girls, Mikey rashly accepts without knowing what he is volunteering his friends to do. Mikey and his friends are the only boys in the 3-day event. Mikey knits one perfect sock and is on his way to finishing his second when he notices a dropped stitch back at the beginning. As he considers the whole contest, a soldier with only one leg approaches him and encourages Mikey to continue doing what he can to support the men overseas. At the end of the contest everyone has something to contribute. Mikey gives his one perfect sock to the soldier. Although his friends never knit again, Mikey finally finishes a pair to send to his father. An author’s note tells of knitting clubs and bees for men and women whose sole purpose was to do projects for supporting the troops. Illustrations are very simple and reminiscent of days gone by. End pages show photographs of boys and girls knitting items for military forces.
Mary Wrightly, So Politely
Mary Wrightly is a quiet, polite girl who has such a small, soft voice, she often has to repeat herself. When Mary and her mother go to a toy store to buy a birthday gift for her young brother, they find the store quite crowded. As people keep bumping into Mary, she quietly apologizes. When someone takes the toy for which she was reaching, she apologizes. She knows it is not polite to sulk, but over and over again, her hopes for finding the perfect gift are dashed. At last, she finds a perfect small, blue elephant and again someone takes it. This time asserting herself, Mary exclaims in a loud voice that she wants to give that toy to her baby brother. This time the other person apologizes! As Mary carries the soft elephant home, many people admire it. Mary again uses her good manners and responds politely. Charming illustrations in jewel-toned pastels are digitally retouched. They portray expressions and emotions of Mary and others quite well.
George Brown, Class Clown: Three Burps and You’re Out!
When George Brown moves to his new school, he is determined to turn over a new leaf and no longer be a class clown. However, he has recurring super burp that takes over his body and causes him to say and do crazy things. George’s baseball team, the Sea Monkeys, are about to play a championship game with their rivals, the Klockermeister Elementary Kangaroos. George is worried the burp-curse will ruin everything. Black and white illustrations are on almost every page. Every page also has some words in bold font. They are not necessarily words important to the story, but oddly enough, add interest. Action moves at a good pace and George’s super-burp antics are sure to attract readers.
Women Heroes of World War II
Atwood tells the stories of heroic women from eight different countries, women who served as couriers, spies, rescuer, and correspondents. She includes the stories of many famous women, like Corrie ten Boom and Marlene Dietrich, and many unsung heroes, like Hannie Schaft, the Dutch woman with “the red hair.” The book is very text-dense; a few photos and sidebars are included but not many. At the end of each bio there is a short list of books by or about the hero. I found the stories fascinating and inspiring, how each of the women decided to help the cause and their reasons for risking their lives to help others. I was aware of Josephine Baker’s career as a singer, dancer and actress. But I had no idea that she also served as a spy for the French government. Students could easily use this book as the first step in research on the Resistance during WWII, on the lives of specific women, or on heroes in general. The book does not have to be read cover to cover and does include a glossary at the end.
Forest Animals and Wildlife
Beginning with the basic shapes of circles, ovals, and triangles, pictorial directions for 20 forest animals and wildlife are shown. In five or six steps, sketches can go from simple cartoon shapes to a recognizable animal. Brief information is given about each animal, including a “Fun Fact” in a box with a photograph of the animal. There are no written instructions however the diagrams are numbered so the progression is obvious. The first tools and materials used are paper, pencils, a sharpener, and eraser. Then colored pencils, felt markers, or paints and brush can be used for the finishing touches. This is one of fifteen books in the Learn to Draw series.
A Very, Very Noisy Tractor
A uniquely, self-assured woman drives her extremely noisy tractor down the road. As she passes different people, they each notice a feature in her appearance: a beehive hairdo, thick glasses, blue raincoat, rubber boots, red purse, and remark that she should not be driving a tractor. The tractor chugs so loudly she cannot hear a word. As she turns off the road into a pretty village, a young boy happily greets her and they have a very pleasant conversation. He learns her husband is the cook and stays home with their daughter. This untraditional family is extremely happy. When the daughter tells her mother she wants to grow up to be a farmer too, her mom encourages her to follow her heart, but to be sure the tractor is deafeningly loud so she cannot hear the silly things grown ups say. Large, colorful, interesting illustrations add fun details to this tale that encourages individuality and turning a deaf ear to disapproval and narrow-mindedness. Translated from Spanish by Jon Brokenbrow.
There Once Was a Cowpoke Who Swallowed an Ant
A southern cowpoke has taken “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” to Texas. After consuming a fire ant,”Yippie-ti-yay! My stomach’s on fire!”, our gritty hero ingests one southwest critter after another: spider, roadrunner, horned lizard, armadillo, rattlesnake, boar, and longhorn. Finally, he swallows his horse, rope, and eventually himself. “If I want it done right, I’ll do it myself.” The clever cowboy starts a stampede and drives everything out. Will Terry’s large, warm-toned illustrations place this story solidly in the desert with plenty of cacti, sand, and rock formations. An unexpected ending is entirely fitting for this ol’ cowpoke! A great read, or sing, aloud for all to enjoy.