In Beastly Brains: Exploring How Animals Talk, Think, And Feel environmental educator and photographer Nancy Castaldo explores the minds of animals and explores how animals communicate, use tools, live in social societies, and show empathy. Using interviews and historical information, Castaldo looks at the  researchers from Charles Darwin to Jane Goodall, and many others, to look at the minds of animals. The reader will discover all kinds of fascinating information, including that dolphins are the animals with largest brains relative to body size next to humans. But dolphins have more folds in their cortex than any other animal, including man. Scientists believe that the folds provide more room for neurons.  

There are many more interesting facts and stories of animals, accompanied by wonderful photographs. The book includes sidebars, a glossary, source notes, an index, lists of recommended videos, books, and a Nobel Prize lecture, in addition to an extensive bibliography.

For those enjoying science non-fiction, Castaldo has two other books of interest, Sniffer Dogs: How Dogs (And Their Noses) Save the World,   and The Story of Seeds: From Mendel’s Garden to Your Plate, And How There’s More of Less to Eat Around the World.

Maya lives with her Japanese father and American mother in Japan. Her grandmother and Great Grandfather live nearby. Maya is in school on March 11, 2011 when an earthquake hits off the Japanese coast, followed by a tsunami and damage to a nuclear plant. Her family is safe and intact, but Maya is scared as the aftershocks keep coming for days and weeks. She makes paper cranes and writes messages to “The People in the Northeast” to help her cope.

Written in verse, the author uses fonts and color to show the aftershocks and Maya’s feelings. Dates at the top and timestamps for the aftershocks make you feel the anxiousness that Maya was feeling. Maya and the other characters in the story of different ways of coping and the story shows us that we all have different ways of getting through a disaster.

Clarissa is ready for a tea party, but all of her stuffed animal guests are not in the mood. They are upset about being left outside, having a rip, being forgotten, and having ice cream spilled on their head. Each animal is upset with Clarissa for a different reason and do not want to have at tea party. Clarissa has reasons for all of these things and the stuffed animals finally realize that she was trying to be kind to them.

While the premise of this story could be fun, it just doesn’t quite hit home. It is written like a script which does not lend itself to a read aloud, but the content may not be interesting to independent readers. The illustrations are colorful, but also feel chaotic.

This book was inspired by the medley “Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World” created by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole. When a baby boy is born, his grandpa tells him to listen because the world is a lullaby. All through the story the boy is trying to listen for the song until one day he finally hears it and plays his ‘ukulele and sings about dreams and rainbows. Penelope Dullaghan’s vibrant illustrations reflect the feelings on each page. There is a note about IZ and the inspiration for this story as well as the words to the song at the end of the book.

The animals are playing Duck, Duck, Goose and Goose really wants to play. Every time an animal is called goose, Goose gets upset because he is a Goose. Goose points out the reasons why the other animals are not a goose, including Dodo, who should not even be there because Dodo is extinct. In the illustrations there are three squirrels in the tree commenting on the scene below. The book is funny and would be an enjoyable read aloud. Goose does get a little obnoxious as the story goes on, but the ending was one I didn’t see coming.

Written as a message from the parents to their child, this books starts before the baby is even born, letting the child know that they have always mattered. The words are lyrical and gentle and the message important. The author’s note says she wrote this book to help parents start conversations about the racial climate today. The illustrator used collage and petal shapes to create striking images.

You can be lonely, even when other people nearby if they don’t have time for you. With mom busy teaching and sister wanting privacy, a young girl decides to just leave to see if anyone will even miss her. While she waits in a nearby lilac bush, she decides to build her own house using cardboard and sticks. First her cat then her sister join her in her new house and finally mom arrives with her student. Room is made for each of them.

Having room in your life is more than just about space – it’s also about time and attention. This story illustrates that you can make space for yourself and those that are important to you and in doing so, take positive action to nurture your interconnection with others.

A sweet story that embodies both imaginative play and the love between siblings. Building castles, wrestling alligators, and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro are just a few of the many wonderful adventures a little girl plans for when her brother comes home. The sprinkler is a waterfall, a stream is the unexplored rainforest, and packing boxes create a castle. The story reminds us that simple things when paired with imagination and a companion are the recipe for great adventures. The joy and affection of the sibling’s reunion makes the grand plans of the little sister seem possible.

Litchenheld’s sweet soft illustrations show a the little sister waiting and her imagined adventures. The repeated refrain, “When my brother gets home…” is accompanied by a crayon illustration of a school bus as it traverses the town.

Being willing to stand up for what you believe in and raise your voice for change can be demonstrated in many ways. Art can be one of the ways you can share your message with the world. Rise Up! the Art of Protest is a powerful book on how we shape and communicate our messages calling for change.

Written in collaboration with Amnesty International, Rise Up! is an excellent book for readers interested in social justice, the history of protest art, graphic art, or art history. It is written in concise, factual language without any sentimentality – letting the art itself convey the most powerful message. The book is organized in chapters around the themes of women’s rights, race, peace, youth, LGBTQ, and environmentalism. Each chapter begins with a brief description and history of the protest theme followed by gallery of protest art examples. The majority of the examples originate in the United States, but samples of protest art from all around the world are also included.

The art reproductions are excellent quality and printed with bright colors. Each example includes a caption with artist(s), date, region, and a brief description.

Includes a forward by Mari Copeny, a youth activist known for her work during the Flint water crisis. Also includes a brief description of Amnesty International at the end of the book.

Sherlock Bones leads the reader step-by-step through his thought process as he attempts to find who stole the museum’s Royal Blue Diamond. Sherlock Bones is a Tawny Frogmouth bird skeleton from one of the museum’s exhibits and his partner Watts is a stuffed Indian Ringneck Parrot, Blue Mutation from another exhibit. Together Sherlock Bones is sure he and Watts will be able to solve the mystery of the stolen diamond, otherwise all of the museum exhibits will be packed up and put into storage. They definitely do not want that to happen. Watts never says a word or moves, for that matter. Sherlock Bones has to carry Watts everywhere. But that does not stop Watts from being a great partner. Sherlock bounces questions off of Watts and either ‘hears‘ Watts’ answer ( no one else can hear Watts) or comes up with an answer on his own. Sherlock is suspicious of everything that moves in the museum after closing hours: the raccoon- Grace, the rats, and even the security guard.

While Sherlock Bones, Watts, and even Grace try to solve the mystery the reader goes on a very nice walking tour of the museum after hours. Educational, perhaps. There are several false leads before the mystery is solved on this inside job. The question now is, who solved the mystery first?

The graphic novel format makes for a hilarious tongue-in-cheek read.

Watch Over Me by Nina Lacour is a mysterious young adult read, with ghost and magical realistic twists of grief and trauma, teaching how to love others and be loved back.   This novel was about Mila, an eighteen year old girl that has aged out of the foster care system. She is offered an internship teaching children on an isolated self-sustaining farm on the coast of Northern California. All the children and interns have experienced trauma in their life in some way. The farm that they all live at is haunted by ghosts that come out at night. Everyone seems to accept the ghosts presence and almost welcome them.  The significance of the ghosts is revealed at the end. This story goes through flashbacks of Mila’s past and deals with her wanting to overcome the grief of her past and the want to be loved.  Readers will enjoy the raw emotional side of the story and it will leave them wanting more at the last page.  Recommend for any avid reader that is looking for mysticism that could be read over the weekend.

Written by Alice Fay Duncan
Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

In this historical fiction picture book, the author tells the story of the Sanitation Strike of 1968 through the eyes of a young girl that was there. Using poetry and prose throughout the dazzling illustrated book, Alice Fay Duncan recounts this tragic event. Ms. Duncan didn’t focus on the death of Martin Luther King Junior but on the strike and the fight for equality among the Blacks in the South. The text has been thoroughly researched and is cited. It is written in such a way that young readers will understand.

Rachael L. Thomas

In this information packed book, young readers will learn about Prairie Dogs. With great pictures, diagrams and easy to read text, readers will walk away with an abundance of knowledge of how Prairie Dogs live, why they are important to our ecosystem and how they got their name. The book includes a quiz and a glossary.

By Christine Peterson

Discover Rocks introduces readers to rocks; the different types, how rocks are formed and the rock cycle. With beautiful pictures, easy to read text and a wide range of examples, this book is a good supplement to any cirriculum.

This book is a great example of a nonfiction book with a table of contents, glossary and index. As an added bonus, this book includes a rock making activity.

By Rosemary Wells

Noisy Nora is at it again. In this whimsical book, Nora hears someone playing a violin. She is so intrigued that she convinces her parents to let her learn to play. She practices hard but the rest of the family doesn’t enjoy it. Nora has it set in her mind to be able to play a particular song for a very special day and person. Read this brightly colored book to find out if she meets her goal.

Written by Billy Aronson
Illustrated by Jennifer Oxley

Two unlikely girls meet in an unusual way. Melia, the scientist who likes everything orderly is bombarded by her new next door neighbor, Jo, who fancies herself a dancer. Jo enters Melia’s lab without permission and starts touching and rearranging Melia’s inventions. After the disruption, Jo dances her way home leaving Melia to clean up her lab. While cleaning up, Melia starts looking at her inventions in a different light. Melia reializes that her and Jo are more alike than she thought. Is there a collabration in their future?

In the back of the book, the author shows the readers how to make paper airplane. He also includes a check list for the Perfect Steam Dream Team.