This story is creative and fun.  It teaches a lot about the fun of using your imagination.  I liked the way the boy with the box includes everyone, even the boy who was showing off.  The font changes when the characters are talking, however the choice of font style is somewhat hard to read and fairly small in places.

The pictures are interesting and unique.  This is a good read for children.

The first half of this book seemed quite different from the second half; shorter sentences almost made it seem it was targeting a very young audience.  The information given was common, not exactly riveting.  However, the second half picked up quite substantially.  The writing seemed to evolve from elementary to something more substantive and meaningful.  Comparisons were made but no judgment given.  Illustrations are like caricatures of the people themselves; nicely done.  The end of the book features a list of the presidents, in order, stating the dates served and major events and/or accomplishments during their term(s).

Darwin’s Frog, Rhinoderma darwinii, is a small frog, about one inch in length, indigenous to southern Chile.  This frog is different from other frogs because of mothering of the male frogs.  A female frog will choose a strong frog with which to mate, lays her eggs and is gone.  The male frog sticks around the eggs to watch over them.  Just when the eggs are about to hatch, he scoops them up into his mouth and keeps them in his vocal sacs  for about two months.  When they have developed into mini-frogs, he opens his mouth and they hop out, about as big as your little fingernail.  These frogs are hard to find because their habitat is being destroyed by development.  They are also masters at camouflage and can hide quite easily.  If they fear being caught, they flip over and play dead.  All in all, Darwin’s frogs are quite unique from other frogs.

Hooray! It’s baseball season ! Mr. Putter decides there is more to summer than taking naps. Mr. Putter and  Mrs. Teaberry  demonstrate their baseball prowess in this short 5 chapter story of geriatric baseball. Mrs. Teaberry’s dog Zeke almost causes them to loose the game when Zeke runs away with the balls after they have been grounded by the batters.

In this colorful mixture pf cut paper, folded paper, photos, and painting, a story unfolds as a newly folded origami dog discovers his new garden environment: smells, dirt- soil, and Roger the earthworm. In this enjoyable introduction to earth science for the primary grades, Roger the earthworm teaches Kitanai, the origami dog, the importance of dirt and about its composition: topsoil, nutrients, humus, bacteria, decomposers, subsoil layer, and bedrock.

Includes directions on how to fold an origami dog (head) like Kitanai.

Also includes: www.facthound.com.

Camellia loves pretending and her favorite scene is being a flower girl, until one day she is asked to be a flower girl for real.  It’s her dream come true, until she finds out there are two other flower girls.  Planning on being grumpy for the wedding, her attitude changes when she finds out the other two girls love to play the same thing as her.  They all become new friends and the wedding is perfect.  Cute story for little girls who know what flower girls do.  In visiting the website, www.flowergirlworld.com, you will find more than you ever thought possible about flower girls.  There are books, activities, crafts, fashion, tips and more.  Great idea for feminine little girls.

Wendell Minor must really like pumpkins; here’s his second picture book on them.  In this story, the emphasis is on BIG pumpkins.  Each pair of pages uses a synonym for BIG to demonstrate what big really means.  Pumpkins are seen at Mt. Rushmore, at a litehouse, at Cape Canaveral, and other places of comparison.  Synonyms are in a different color in all caps.  Some of the words are too hard and unfamiliar for the younger students.

Everyone knows that the custodian is one of the most important people of the school and he is somewhat of a mystery.  He’s the only one who knows where all the secret places are hidden.  In this elementary school, Fester Smudge (Uncle Fester?) is the custodian, and apparently he has talent for disaster.  Kids have the best imagination when it comes to what adults do, and this is a great example of that imagination.  After fantasies of flood, dragons, and caves, Mr. Smudge is actually a pretty nice guy.

This book begins and ends with the same idea:  all dogs are related to the wolf and how the resemblance remains regardless of breeding.  Dogs are put into categories such as hunting dogs, herding dogs, lap dogs, etc.  Each page shows a photo of a dog and gives information as to it’s history, trainability and temperament.  Not included are weaknesses, height, weight, etc.  Kids will enjoy reading about dogs and this book may help them decide on what type of dog to get.

This TRUE Book is disappointing in the lack of  information it delivers. There are five chapters: 1- Studying the Earth, 2- History of Geology, 3- Our Rapidly and Slowly Changing Earth, 4- The Rock Cycle, and 5 – Frozen Fields and Outer Space.  Chapter 1 and 2 each begins with a set of rhetorical questions that peak curiosity, but the chapters do not satisfy.  Chapter-1 Studying the Earth indicates there are at least six varieties of geologists: study the materials that make up the earth, study fossils, study major structures on earth’s surface, study how earth’s surfaces change, look for energy sources, and look for areas conducive to building, but do not go into detail.

Chapters 3 and 4 deliver the most information the reader would expect to learn from a book with the title- GEOLOGY: The Study of Rocks. Chapter 3 informs the reader about the layers of the earth in a comparison with a peach and includes a diagram, grinding tectonic plates and erosion change the earth slowly, while earthquakes and volcanoes change the earth quickly. Chapter 4 informs the reader of the rock cycle with its three stages: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.

Finally, chapter 5 deflates the reader by mentioning studies of geologists in  arctic regions and in outer space which one day may prove of interest, but for now is too theoretical for young readers.

How are zombies and electricity related you ask? They aren’t in physical science, but the psychology behind putting them together surely works.  What intermediate or middle school student doesn’t want to see zombies! ? Author- Mark Weakland  has teamed up with illustrator- Jok,  and editor- Anthony Wacholtz (from Mummies and Sound) to make electricity memorable to students by pairing electricity with zombies in a graphic format. A reader may remember a wind turbine as a renewable resource after hours of study, but I bet it will be easier to remember once the reader has seen the hilarious picture of a zombie hanging onto the whirling blade of a wind turbine. What fun!

Chapter 2- Charge! describes the basic atom before stating, ” When electrons make the jump between atoms through certain materials, such as air or metal, electricity is created.” (page 9)

Chapter 3 -Zombies and Current Events gives the basics of terms: current, static electricity, circuit, conductor, and ground.  Each is accompanied with illustrations of zombies. “Consider a zombie dressed in a wool shirt lurching against a bunch of balloons. When the zombie brushes the balloons, negatively charged electrons move from the wool shirt to the balloons.” (page 13)

Chapter 4 -Push, Pull, and Power Plants gives the basics of terms: electromagnet, turbine, voltage, and generator.  And Chapter 5 -Safe From Zapping, Safe From Zombies gives the basics of electricity safety using brainless zombies in dangerous situations compared with humans demonstrating safe practices.

If you are looking into getting a dog, this is the perfect book for you.  Kramer takes the 200 (how many are there?) most popular breeds, shows a picture of it, and gives basic info as to height and weight.  This is what most dog books do, however, Kramer takes it a wonderful step further: how did this breed evolve, what, historically, was this dog used for, maintenace of it’s coat, life span, temperament, trainability, socilizing, special needs, health, and so on.  Kids love to learn about their own dogs and this book does that.  I, personally, think I found my next dog, and I’d never heard of the breed before.

In 1897, prospectors returned to Seattle with a fortune in gold, causing another gold rush. Stanley Pearce and Marshall Bond, two young Seattle men, borrowed money from their parents to outfit themselves and headed out to Dawson City with high hopes. On their way, they encountered multiple hardships beyond belief. This piece of literature is far above other pieces due to the numerous primary sources woven together with narration. A collection of letters written home to their parents, diary entries, telegrams, and newspaper articles have been handed down to Mr. Kim Richardson, a descendent of Stanley Pearce. Kim Richardson and David Meissner made a great author team. The historical photographs deepen the understanding of their world. This is a must have for every library.

Perhaps you have eaten farm-raised salmon? Most of us usually don’t think of fish as something to be farmed. This book takes that idea a bit further with farm-raised butterflies. This 10″ X 9″  book opens up to end papers of 6 compartment sections each filled the a different variety of life-size butterfly pupae! Gorgeous!

A Boston museum receives a shipping box of live butterfly pupae from Costa Rica. The reader sees the box before and after it is opened. The text goes on to tell the life cycle of a butterfly accompanied by a diagram. A few pages later, ” Unlike most mother butterflies, this one lives in a greenhouse. She was moved here from the nearby forest so that she could lay her eggs inside the greenhouse’s tall, screened walls.” ( page 9)  So begins the photo essay of butterfly farming. Appropriate vocabulary is used to describe the life cycle as it unfolds on this farm : exoskeleton and molting. The larger than life color photos show the pupae color patterns and hairlines in great detail. As the pupae mature, some will be released back into the local forest, some will be kept to the next life cycle to begin over again inside the greenhouses, and the majority of them will be shipped to museums, etc. around the world. The reader is shown a well organized lab setting with the numerous varieties of butterfly pupae sorted for shipping, then a shipping package, and the live cargo being readied to board the airplane, while the text explains a few of the finer details.

The book ends with some general information- “INSECTS AND THEIR LIFE CYCLES”  and “INSECT WORDS”. The former describes complete, simple, and partial metamorphosis each in an easy to understand paragraph. Then the latter, gives general life cycle terminology first, followed by more specific terminology for three different insects:

egg -> larva-> pupa-> adult

egg-> caterpillar->chrysalis-> butterfly

egg->maggot->pupa-fly

egg->grub->pup->beetle.

Includes: a glossary with cross-references to photos in the book, information for a free download, books, and websites.

This 10″ X 9″  book  closes to end papers of 6 compartment sections each filled the a different variety of life-size adult butterfly ! Gorgeous!

Brian P. Cleary presents 20 of his own haiku (5,7,5 syllable poems) and 15 of his own lantern poems (1,2,3,4,1 syllable) poems, plus directions on how to create them yourself. “Traditionally, haiku have nature as their subject, and they often capture a specific moment. For this book, I’ve taken a broader approach to topics. You’ll find poems about nature as well as about school, pets, pizza, pancakes, and more.” ( page 4) These often funny poems, coupled with Andy Rowland’s often hilarious illustrations around each and every poem make this book a ‘hoot’ for even non-poetry lovers.

DECISIONS

Spanish homework or

a nap? Compromise: we’ll call

it a siesta.  (page 7)

Makes me want to take my hand at creating one or two haiku or lantern poems myself.

Includes: Further Reading list of books and websites.

This story in the Just Grace series has third grader Grace looking forward to the spring fair.  During a short visit from Grandma, Grace learns how to make amazing cupcakes.  This give her an idea for the theme for the fair.  As with all of the Just Grace books, Grace shares her thoughts, lists, and includes many mini-headings. She is continually upbeat.  She realizes when she hurts her friend Mimi’s feelings and tries to apologize.  She discovers good qualities about her least favorite classmates.  Many pen and ink drawings are sprinkled throughout the text with conversation bubbles and explanations, complete with arrows.  The format of this book provides a good transition from picture books to chapter books.  Grace’s voice is solidly third grade.

Danny Shine likes comic books, not baseball.  He was only at the baseball game because he had free tickets.  When a game winning ball came streaking toward him, he reached out to catch it.  Because the third baseman did not catch it, the team lost the championship and Danny gained the reputation as the school jinx.  Wherever he went, bad things happened.  When he bumbled his way into the spotlight to defend his friend Luke, his luck finally changed and many issues were resolved.  Danny Shine is typical of many middle schoolers and Holly Kowitt portrays the insecurities, interactions, and friendships with humor and insight.  There are many ink drawings and the text font resembles a handwritten diary.  Fans of the Wimpy Kid and Big Nate will also enjoy this series.

Another great Urgency Emergency series book, with a spin on a common nursery tale.  In this tale, the spider falls off the spout and is whisked to the emergency room, thanks to Miss Muffet’s quick actions.  At the hospital the itsy bitsy spider is treated and can be released, but has no way home.  Sad and dejected, Doctor Glenda asks Miss Muffet to take the spider home, but Miss Muffet is afraid of Spiders!  But with compassion and setting her fear aside, she agrees to help out.  Everyone is happy and it’s another winning day in the emergency room with Doctor Glenda.

An honest nonfiction book about the person named Cristiano Ronaldo as well as his soccer achievements.  There’s a chapter called “Troubling times” which talks about family issues, health problems, and the isolation he felt.  He is portrayed as emotional as well as a super athlete.  This is a good honest glimpse into Ronaldo.  This would appeal to upper elementary and middle school readers.  High interest book. Great Additional read.

A literacy book about getting ready for college and managing your own finances in a “kid friendly” way.  Great comparisons for careers with degrees and correlated pay scales.  Discussions of money and how it  effects your quality of life and choices in life.  It would make for some good required reading for students as they contemplate the idea of going on to college.  Recommended.

The hunt is on!  Geronimo, our beloved mouse  is writing a book on his laptop computer.  It must be finished in time for the party that Grandfather William is throwing for him. But, an unexpected thing happens.  Geronimo’s laptop is stolen!  It has the only copy of his book.  The mystery is set and and he is out to find the thieves.  With the help of his friends, the culprits are caught and the party goes on.

Great use of font, color, graphics and comprehension questions discussed as clues.  Recommended for elementary readers.

“In the still of the night, just before dawn, slowly and silently…

…the meadow filled with rabbits.” writes Carrie Weston to which illustrator Richard Byrne draws a patchwork farm landscape panorama of the blues, purples, and lavenders of early morning. The page turn reveals the farm is now in hues of sunrise reds, yellows, and oranges. The next page turn changes from colors to the onomatopoeia of barnyard sounds: Cock-a-doodle-do, Moo! Neigh! Baa-baaaaaaaaaa! Oink! Oink! [page turn] Meow! Woof!! Chu-chu-brrr-chug, chug, chug! “The farm rang out with noises.” As Raggety-Taggle, the rabbit, ponders the title question of “What Noise Does a Rabbit Make?” a cat begins to stalk him. The the chase is on! The miaowing cat, followed by the barking dog, the mooing cows, the baaing sheep, the neighing horses, the oinking pigs, and the cock-a-doodle-doing rooster. “The angry farm blew the tractor horn, TOOT! and everybody… stopped. All, that is except for Raggety-Taggle, who quietly tacked up his tail… and ran… and ran… and ran… all the way home.” Later  in the blues, purples, oranges of evening  Raggety-Taggle “wondered just why anybody would want to make a noise at all.”

Here’s a new book especially for the Kindergarten and First Grade teachers who love the Gingerbread Man! The ones who have the Gingerbread Man hunts all around the school in September will now have a second story for the month of October- Fire Prevention Month.  2013 Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award nominee author Laura Murray has created a sequel to The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School. The class is going on a field trip to the fire station. Gingerbread Man is wary of the fire station’s dalmation which seems extremely interested in him. To keep away from the dalmation, he goes into the cab of the  fire engine. “I’ll VROOM and I’ll ZOOM, as fast as I can. I’ll STEER this big truck, I’m the Gingerbread Man!” Then Gingerbread Man goes up the fire pole over the bunks and into the kitchen for five-alarm chili, when the alarm sounds. Gingerbread Man goes back down the fire pole and onto the back of the fire truck. At the fire, he attempts to hold the fire hose “but that hose whipped and bucked like a rodeo bull.”   The women fire chief thanks him for his help and takes him back to the station.

Teachers will, also, enjoy the 21″ X 16″  two-sided poster found in a pocket inside the back cover. The poster’s front shows Gingerbread Man with the saying- “Smart cookies know: If there is smoke- stay low. Crawl below!”

On the back of the poster are four reproducible student (worksheets) activities: a Gingerbread Man coloring sheet, a Gingerbread Man maze, fire safety tips, and 6 pictures from the story to be put into sequence .