A little science meets fun outside in the warmth of sun in this part of the Weather Forecast series by author Kirsten Chang.
Sunshine provides warmth and light ,and also helps plants grow.
There is a graphic on HOW EARTH GETS SUNSHINE, a two word glossary with a photo for each word, and more information safely provided on FACTSURFER.com website.
Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong
A little science meets fun outside in the beauty of snow in this part of the Weather Forecast series by author Kirsten Chang.
Snow provides water once it melts, but before that happens it is frozen ice crystals.
There is a graphic on HOW SNOW FORMS, a five word glossary with a photo for each word, and more information safely provided on FACTSURFER.com website.
Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong
In Jennifer Dugan’s (drawings by Kit Seaton) inconsistent graphic novel for teenagers, Emsy is a blissful California adolescent uprooted from all that she enjoys when she is forced by her parents to move to Upstate New York after the murder of members of the family coven. Emsy is a witch and in New York, she learns about her past, her powers, and her possibilities in ways that are unfortunately cliche for this genre. The novel seems sincere in its approach and is most successful when focusing on the web of social relationships, upheaval, and the sincere passion young people can have for one another so quickly. The drawings are clean and effectively convey a sense of inner vibrancy and intense fire moments. Unfortunately, the writing and plotting are too often tired and predictable. Adults are drearily predictable and two-dimensional. On the other hand, and not for the better, the adolescents are both wildly sophisticated and tediously whiny. “I mean witches? Evil Tomes? Dateless for homecoming? How is this my life?” The writing told excessively through dialogue and images, is weirdly out of their register and does not capture how teens talk. Dugan struggles to develop characters. Her tone is breezy and the writing stays fixated on teen relationships – who likes who – in the midst of murder, witchcraft, and what should be a deep loss. The plot jumps between a Who-Done-It, a tale of the supernatural, and interwoven relationships, without effectively satisfying an element. The book has a lot of potential appeal, unfortunately it treats the characters in such superficial ways the work fails to ignite the powers that the genre is so eager to tap into. Therefore, this is an additional purchase for most libraries.
The book focuses in on the Dime novel Kids on Hatteras Island after a U-boat attack in World War 2. The kids then suspect there are German spies roaming around, and set out to catch them. The book illustrates a mysterious setting, all while adding small suspense in between. The action goes along great with the mystery, making it seem like you’re solving a real mystery. Readers will enjoy this book’s intense, but yet calming setting. However, this book is a great read for everyone, as the suspense and the pace at which information is given will surely keep everyone reading. Readers who enjoy historical fiction and a good mystery should read this book. Book was reviewed by a Washington Middle School student.
Mantis Shrimp vs. Lionfish is part of the Animal Battles series. In this series, two animals face off against each other. Each book starts off with a description of the two competitors, their attack moves, their secret weapons and then finally the battle. The narrative text at the end describes the fight scene and will certainly catch the reader’s’ attention. The book has 4-5 sentences per page for each animal and color photographs.
Text features such as bold words, text boxes, maps, a table of contents, glossary and an index are incorporated to aid the readers. Profiles of animal statistics include the height and weight as well as the physical advantages of each animal and habitat.
In Mantis Shrimp vs. Lionfish, the lionfish is hunting the mantis shrimp. Each animal has unique characteristics that could lead to it winning this face-off. Which animal will come out on top? This series is perfect for fans of Who Would Win.
Badger vs. Bobcat is part of the Animal Battles series. In this series, two animals face off against each other. Each book starts off with a description of the two competitors, their attack moves, their secret weapons and then finally the battle. The narrative text at the end describes the fight scene and will certainly catch the reader’s’ attention. The book has 4-5 sentences per page for each animal and color photographs.
Text features such as bold words, text boxes, maps, a table of contents, glossary and an index are incorporated to aid the readers. Profiles of animal statistics include the height and weight as well as the physical advantages of each animal and habitat.
In Badger vs. Bobcat, the bobcat is stalking the badger. Each animal has unique characteristics that could lead to it winning this face-off. Which animal will come out on top? This series is perfect for fans of Who Would Win.
Asiatic Lion vs. Bengal Tiger is part of the Animal Battles series. In this series, two animals face off against each other. Each book starts off with a description of the two competitors, their attack moves, their secret weapons and then finally the battle. The narrative text at the end describes the fight scene and will certainly catch the reader’s’ attention. The book has 4-5 sentences per page for each animal and color photographs.
Text features such as bold words, text boxes, maps, a table of contents, glossary and an index are incorporated to aid the readers. Profiles of animal statistics include the height and weight as well as the physical advantages of each animal and habitat.
In MantisIn Asiatic Lion vs Bengal Tiger, the lion and the tiger face off over hunting territory. The lion’s camouflage and claws are pitted against the tiger’s sharp teeth. This series is perfect for fans of Who Would Win.
Skunk vs. Raccoon is part of the Animal Battles series. In this series, two animals face off against each other. Each book starts off with a description of the two competitors, their attack moves, their secret weapons and then finally the battle. The narrative text at the end describes the fight scene and will certainly catch the reader’s’ attention. The book has 4-5 sentences per page for each animal and color photographs.
Text features such as bold words, text boxes, maps, a table of contents, glossary and an index are incorporated to aid the readers. Profiles of animal statistics include the height and weight as well as the physical advantages of each animal and habitat.
In Skunk vs. Raccoon, the skunk and racoon face off over food. The skunk’s spray and sharp claws are paired against the raccoon’s ability to make itself look bigger. This series is perfect for fans of Who Would Win.
Chris Bowman takes on an impressive undertaking of providing elementary age readers with the who, what, where, when, and why of the Yellowstone National Park in 32 pages of color photos and text.
Bowman gives basic facts and visuals on the Yellowstone National Park, the third most visited United States National Park in 2021, while not being a travel vacation advertisement.
Bowman includes: plants and animals (p 12-15), history of peoples in the area (p 16-21), how the geysers erupt (p 8-9), top sites (p 22-23), and perhaps most importantly protecting the park from too many visitors and climate change (p 24-27).
Bowman also includes graphics of 6 park facts, food web, and a timeline (p28-29).
More information on the Yellowstone National Park can be gotten safely through Factsurfer.com.
Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong
Chris Bowman takes on an impressive undertaking of providing elementary age readers with the who, what, where, when, and why of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 32 pages of color photos and text.
Bowman gives basic facts and visuals on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited United States National Park, while not being a travel vacation advertisement.
Bowman includes: plants and animals (p 12-15), history of peoples in the area (p 16-21), how the Smokies were formed (p 8-9), top sites (p 22-23), and perhaps most importantly protecting the park from too many visitors and climate change (p 24-27).
Bowman also includes graphics of 6 park facts, food web, and a timeline (p28-29).
More information on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park can be gotten safelythrough Factsurfer.com.
Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong
Chris Bowman takes on an impressive undertaking of providing elementary age readers with the who, what, where, when, and why of the Glacier National Park in 32 pages of color photos and text.
Bowman gives basic facts and visuals on Glacier National Park while not being a vacation travel advertisement.
Bowman includes: plants and animals (p 12-15), history of peoples in the area (p 16-21), how the glaciers formed (p 8-9), top sites (p 22-23), and perhaps most importantly protecting the park (p24-27) from too many visitors and climate change. “Many of he park’s glaciers have started to disappear in recent years”(p 24).
Bowman also includes graphics of 6 Glacier National Park facts, food web, and a timeline (p28-29).
More information on the Glacier National Park can be gotten safely through Factsurfer.com..
Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong
by Marjorie Agosin
This book is about the deep history and woeful past of a city in Chile. It makes it an interesting book for readers who will learn about a culture that may be new to them. Celeste must find her friend Lucilia. She must also learn about her mother’s and father’s past. She’s upset that she got sent away to the states, but will get over it eventually. Until then, everyone in the city is haunted by the past of what happened on the Esmeralda boat when the supposed enemies of the general were kidnapped. The author did a great job setting the plot and making it an eventful and interesting story. I liked Celeste’s interest in finding her parents’ past on the Esmeralda boat and her growing interest in the boys. This book has the same soft illustrations throughout like the first book in the series does. There was nothing I disliked. It was a perfecto book! Overall I’d give this book a 5 out of 5.
Note: This book was originally read from the English edition.
Reviewed by 6th grader, Addison K.
by Marjorie Agosin
Celeste lives on Butterfly Hill in the Chilean city of Valparaiso. She loves her town and her family that live in this beautiful place – the only place she’s ever known. The government is in turmoil, the streets don’t feel safe, and her parents are unfortunately drawn in as they go to help people who need medical attention. Whether a reader knows anything about the history of Chili or not, the story of a young girl sent away from her home to find safety elsewhere will touch many readers. Celeste eventually finds herself sent to her aunt who lives in Massachusetts so she can be safe during the time of violence & changing regimes. She misses home and must learn to navigate in a new place and a new language. I loved the occasional soft illustrations that give the reader a glimpse into Celeste’s new life. I learned more than I ever had known before about Chile, its culture, and its history. This book won the Pura Belpre award & I feel it was much deserved. An immigrant story. A positive portrayal of a feisty Hispanic heroine. A gem of a book!
Note: I originally read this book in the English edition.
Cassie Gustafson’s The Secrets We Keep delves into the emotional journey of Emma, a high school freshman faced with piecing together the truths about her family’s past. When her best friend accuses her father of sexual misconduct, she must confront dire shifts in her closest relationships and decide where her loyalty lies.
Emma writes “fairy tales” to cope with her loneliness, which are dispersed throughout the novel and provide an allegorical illustration of loss and rupture in trust. Within these nightmarish fragments, the reader gets a unique glimpse into a teenage girl’s anxious inner landscape. Meanwhile, the text shifts between accounts of Emma’s painful present-day social interactions surrounding the accusation and her repressed memories, including the scandal that drove her family from San Francisco to rural Oregon. Each vignette reveals poignant bits of information to build a cohesive and direct commentary about the webs of abuse. Though the plot is sometimes predictable and lacks complexity, Gustafon’s story-telling technique unfolds as a nuanced and dimensional study of intimacy and the psyche in grief. Thoughtful of the trauma some people already have experienced in their lives, she also gives readers a warning that the story may be a trigger for some as well as a list of support organizations at the end. Recommended for high school libraries.
by Matt Faulkner
In this book, while living in Manzanar Relocation Center in California, Mari makes a vow of silence not to talk until her brother Mak returns from the military during WWII. She intends to keep this promise by compensating with her facial expressions and her art. This internment camp story will be of interest to those who want to learn how others were treated and how they dealt with events of life in the 1940s. I like the graphic novel sections for the telling of Mak contrasting to the full text sections from Mari’s point of view. It makes it very interesting and easier to see the difference between the 2 main characters and what life was like IN the camp and during the war. I didn’t dislike much about this book, actually. I just dislike how the Japanese-Americans were treated back then. It was so unfair. The book will be a great read for people who are interested in historic events to learn how people had to live back then.
Reviewed by 6th grader, Addison K.
by Brett Riley
This book is a great read for those who are in love with the supernatural. In this story, despite the bullying happening to them in high school, the four friends, the freaks, have to save their Arkansas town from a mysterious danger and bloodthirsty creatures. I like how the kids stick together throughout their hardships. I particularly love the character Christian’s personality. She doesn’t care about what other people think about her. She makes everything seem funny. There wasn’t much to dislike, but maybe there was not enough story on the monster’s side of things. There is some swearing in the book, so if a reader is offended by that, perhaps this wouldn’t be the book for them. Overall, I’d give this book a 5 out of 5 stars. I really liked it!
Reviewed by 6th grader, Addison K.
Note: Book cover recommends 14 years and up. This student reviewer is often the student to let me know if the content is too mature for 6th graders, however, other than the swearing, the rest of the content did not bother her.
Aida Salazar
This book is a great read for people who love learning about struggles and how they overcome it in history. Despite her father’s mood changes which mostly cause aggression and her mother’s sickness, Lula finds the strength in herself to find her voice to fight for her community’s rights. The story is an enthusiastic read for people to help them find the strength inside and their voices. I like the main character’s heroism, even though her father told her not to do certain things. Lula didn’t cowardly stay away. When her friend said, “Let’s go; we are the people that this is affecting, too!” They went to the Labor Union Protest and met the Dolores Huerta, Larry Itliong, and other real labor rights activists in the 1960s. I disliked the verse novel format since this is the first verse novel that I’ve read. I prefer paragraphs. I found it could be a bit confusing to find where sentences and ideas start or continue. For readers who like verse novels, this probably wouldn’t be an issue. Overall, I’d give this book a 4 out 5 stars.
Reviewed by 6th grader, Addison K.
by Matthew Landis
This is a good book for people who play an instrument or have money problems, or perhaps people who have had to play in front of an audience. Characters Ronny and Jo both have problems. Ronny’s family has bills marked “Final Notice” that cannot be ignored and Jo has an audition coming up and is feeling unprepared. They only have until January to take care of these things – only 4 weeks away. Can they do it? The countdown is ticking! The main character Jo plays a cello. She had to play in front of everyone and that made her nervous.. I play the violin and I know what it feels like to play in front of everyone. I liked this book since I can relate. I also know some people who have money problems like the other character named Ronny. I really like the characteristics and personality of the characters that are throughout the story. The dialogue sounds believable. I feel like something the author did well in this were the conflicts that are very relatable. I related to Jo mostly. These conflicts made me wonder what would happen next. Also you could tell how nervous and desperate they both were. I didn’t really like the way it was kinda fast, though other people might like that . Overall, I’d give this book a 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend it to friends.
Review by 6th grader, Victoria L.
This non-fiction book is a guidebook of self-discovery and self-education to help the reader learn to stimulate their brain and get smarter. The strategy involves really learning to see the things around us, but particularly using famous works of art to learn to do this. The author does a nice job asking the reader to interact with each piece of art in the book, often multiple times, as the reader is encouraged to notice more and more interesting aspects of the art. By the end of the book, I found I was noticing more than I was at the beginning of the book. I also liked that by using these strategies, the reader might find these observational skills might help reduce stress since it refocuses the brain on something else, taking a break from whatever might be stressing them. The book is very interactive which I liked, but if a reader is more passive & chooses not to engage, they may not get as much out of the book. And that would be a shame. The message is powerful and the strategies work! This book should appeal to students who like art, but it can equally be enjoyed by someone who knows NOTHING about art.
by Katie Van Heidrich
The author, Katie Van Heidrich did a great job writing this memoir in verse. The In-between is a book about a teen trying to get through middle school and learn about themself as her family deals with financial struggles and divorce. While there are some places that might be hard to get through, stick with them because you will not be disappointed. Using descriptive and precise words and some repetition Heidrich was able to show emotion and let us see into the mind of the character. If you like novels in verse this book is for you. The review was written by a Washington Middle School student.
Clouds in varying shapes, sizes, and colors are shown in this book for emergent readers
Big beautiful color photos of clouds high in the sky and low to the ground let young readers see this weather/climate phenomenon.
There is a 3 step graphic on “How Clouds Forms” (p 15) , a “Question” ( What shapes do you see in the clouds?”) [p21], and a graphic “Cloudy Day Activities” chart (p 19) . Four science vocabulary words, appropriate to the topic (example- droplets), are given in the glossary each with a definition and color photo.
There is more information available on-line through Bellwether Media’s safe “factsurfer.com” website.
Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong
Gentle breezes to stronger winds are shown and talked about from cooling, to creating power, to causing damage in this book for emergent readers..
Big beautiful color photos of wind blowing through palm trees and meadows of grass let young readers vicariously feel the benefits of wind.
There is a 3 step graphic on “How Wind Forms” (p 15) , a “Question” (Have you ever felt a very strong wind?”) [p21], and a graphic “Windy Day Activities” chart (p 19) . Six science vocabulary words, appropriate to the topic (example- turbines), are given in the glossary each with a definition and color photo.
There is more information available on-line through Bellwether Media’s safe “factsurfer.com” website.
Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong
A tiny-in-size, mighty-in-voice book in the Pocket Change Collective, I enjoyed this quick modern biography about a young black woman’s journey into the technology industry. As a writing and communications major in college, she knew she wanted into the lucrative tech industry, knew there were jobs for more than engineers and coders, and knew there were not many in the big tech companies who looked like her. She had to create a new path for herself where few had gone before. She chronicles the many steps she took in finding a job that allowed her to be authentically herself as a Black woman in an industry that is not very racially diverse. The book is an inspirational guidebook for others trying to get ahead in places that may feel out of reach. She worked hard. She took every opportunity to learn and grow. It’a quick 62 page, 4 ½”x 6 ½” book. My only criticism with this and others in the Pocket Change Collective series (& I have a few) is that because of their tiny size, they can get a bit lost on the shelf with other books. They are perfect for a reluctant reader who wants a quick read by an authentic author who will hopefully inspire them.
Young emergent readers will see rain as a good part of nature that occurs “all over the world.” (p 8)
Big beautiful color photos of dark rain clouds, people in rain coats joyfully standing out in the rain or under umbrellas, lush plant-life, and a thirsty fox will let young readers experience rain as a wonderful gift to the planet.
There is a 4-step graphic on “How Rain Forms” [p 15], a “Question” (What do you do when it rains?) [p 19], and a graphic “Rainy Day Activities” chart [p 21]. Four science vocabulary words, appropriate to the topic (example- ‘evaporates’), are given in the glossary each with a definition and color photo.
There is more information available on-line through Bellwether Media’s safe “factsurfer.com” website.
Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong
Thunderstorms should not be frightening for young readers once they learn how they are formed and the storms are part of nature.
Big beautiful color photos of lightning, wind blown trees, and driving rain will let young readers see the lightning bolts that disappears so quickly as it happens in real time . One young observer has his fingers in his ears from the thunderous ‘booms’, while another is watching out a window wide-eyed in shear amazement to the storm outside. These two boys do not look scared.
There is a 4-step graphic on “How Thunderstorms Form”, “Question” ( Have you heard thunder or seen lightning during a thunderstorm? [p 19]) , and a graphic “Stormy Day Activities” chart .
Six science vocabulary words, appropriate to the topic, are given in the glossary each with a definition and color photo.
There is more information available on-line through Bellwether Media’s safe ‘Factsurfer.com’ website.
Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong.