The 1970’s Decade in Photos: Protest and Change

Geared for middle school students, these books in the Amazing Decades in Photos series would be fine for upper elementary as well as useful for ELL high school students.  Each book authored by Jim Corrigan has identical formats, providing highlights for each decade: world, national, and cultural happenings.  Though extremely brief, enough information is provided to give an overview of the particular who, what, when, where and why of each topic.  Colored illustrations with captions appropriately placed balance the text on each page.  A chronology, glossary, and bibliographic references, along with and index, are provided.  Additional purchase for most school libraries.

Sylvia Jean Scout Supreme

All the scouts in Sylvia’s pig scout troop had to do a good deed to earn their next badge.  Sylvia wanted to help her neighbor who twisted her leg. Unfortunately, Sylvia had to stay away because she was too clumsy. Sylvia couldn’t give up that easy. She dressed up as different people delivering food, chocolate, a painting, and a book so the neighbor could rest easy. However, Sylvia could not reveal her secret to the troop because she was told to stay away from the neighbor.  However, the neighbor showed up to the troop meeting praising Sylvia’s good deed which allowed Sylvia to get her badge.

Scary Stories

This  23 page book contains 6 stories telling of specific ghost and alien sightings ranging from the year 1718 to modern day.  Each story is written with simple vocabulary and has 7-14 sentences.  Photos or illustrations accompany each page spread.  Some stories have a “Fact or Fiction” page questioning the authenticity of the account. There are reference pages including a table of contents, glossary, read more, internet sites and index.

Determining the Cause of Death

This 32 page book has approximately three sentences of text, a color photograph and a fact box which contains a fact or vocabulary word and definition.  Four main topics are covered. The first is about death and the questions that need to be answered about each death.  The second is about procedures done on the scene, such as looking for clues, taking photographs and blood samples. The third is about procedures once the body is in the lab including all the jobs of the medical examiner. The fourth is about determining the official cause of death and filing charges , if necessary.  This book contains a table of contents, glossary, read more and internet sites page, and index.

Bedtime Without Arthur

Bella has a stuffed bear named Arthur that can protect her from monsters, dragons, slugs, and shadows. One night Arthur shows up missing and Bella has a hard time sleeping. Then, Bella finds Arthur in her baby brother’s crib and takes Arthur from him…until she sees his worried face. She then realizes that her brother needs Arthur more than she does, and she finds inner strength to ward off all monsters.

I Barfed on Mrs. Kenly

Cleo always seems to get carsick.  Well, after eating a large pancake breakfast, she was crammed into a car with several other people on her way to a birthday party, and after a while, she started feeling a little green. Suddenly she threw up on Mrs. Kenly’s mink coat.  Feeling very embarrassed, she painted on a fake smile, but felt better when she showed her diving tricks in the pool. Later, she told her mom about the experience and felt better after a good cry.    Ad   Gr 2-3

Salamanders

Salamanders,  Nelson,Robin  … Lerner Publications Company ..  2009    978-0-7613-4065-2   Ad

This 32 page book discusses the life cycle of salamanders. Each page has a single sentence of information with a large color photo to support the text. This book includes pages specifically for salamander facts, adult salamander facts, glossary and index.   Ad

It’s a Baby Spiny Anteater!

It’s a Baby Spiny Anteater!  Hengel, Katherine  ..  ABDO Publishing  ..  2010  978-1-60453-578-5

This 24 page book has approximately two sentences of spiny anteater facts with an additional fact box that contains additional information.  Each page spread has a large color photo to support the text. The reader will learn about the litters, the babies’ weight at birth, their age of independence and adult facts as well.  Ad

Smelly Bill

Bill, the dog, was very smelly and escaped every plan for a bath, until the family went on vacation and left Bill with Aunt Bleach! Aunt Bleach had quite a tussle, rolling in the compost bin where Bill was hiding, where she finally trapped him. Aunt Bleach finally prevailed with Bill smelling like a rose…but Aunt Bleach stunk! Adorable watercolor illustrations enhance this story. This story is told in changing rhyming patterns.

Where Is Home, Little Pip?

Reminiscent of  the story, “Are You My Mother?” by P.D. Eastman, Little Pip, a penguin, wanders off against her mom and dad’s orders, and gets lost.  Of each animal she encounters she asks, “Can you tell where home is?”  Each animal responds with a description of where their home is, not hers.  Finally, mom and dad find her, and she realizes that home can be anywhere just as long as they’re all together.  A warm and fuzzy story.

One More Acorn

In this 2010 release, Roy Freeman continues the legacy begun by his father Don Freeman of ‘Corduroy’ fame.  Finding unfinished work from his father’s estate, Roy Freeman was able to give us another delightful tale of a squirrel who is looking for the acorns he’s stored away.  His search takes him through the grounds of the National Mall in Washington DC where he encounters a class of students on a field trip.  Out of his habitat, he scurries until he finally makes it home to his family.  A sweet story enjoyed by young children.  Illustrations are nearly identical to the style of previous Don Freeman books.

America in the 1960s

Having been a child growing up in the 1960s, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.  The writing is engaging and the information is clearly presented.  The author has done a fine job in making this book both interesting and informative.  Chapters touch on every aspect of the decade:  U. S. Foreign Policy, Civil Rights, Science & Technology, Social Change, Writing, Art & Design, Stage & Screen, Music and Sports.  Profiles of famous folk are distributed throughout the book.  Photos, which complement the text well, are printed in black-and-white or red brown-and-white.  The book also includes a timeline, a selected bibliography, a “To Learn More” section, a “Selected 1960s Classics section and an index.  A very useful resource as a research tool.

If Wishes Were Horses

It’s just a tiny white lie when Annie Boyd tells her best friend that she’s getting a horse when her family moves to the country.  The truth is that Annie makes up the story to hide how much she’ll miss the mall, movies, street  food, and most of all, her best friend, Jade.  But in the country Annie does meet friends, and she (and the readers) learn lots about caring for and riding horses. There’s advice on the proper dress for riding club events, practical knowledge like tying a horse with a quick-release knot, and safety tips such as keeping your dog on a leash around horses.  A “Horse Tips” page, a glossary, and an “Advice from Annie” section with tips on finding new friends, are useful.

Everything turns out a bit too perfectly in this book, but after all, it is a book about wishes coming true.  Young horse lovers will find lots to dream about.

Up Close: John Steinbeck

In this book, the author does a fine job of consolidating information to produce a biography on the fascinating and complicated life of American writer John Steinbeck.  The book is well-organized and well-documented; a sound and comprehensive source of information from a well-designed series.  Fans of Steinbeck’s writings will walk away from reading this book with a deeper understanding of 20th century America, as well as, the man himself.  This biography is a welcome addition to any collection.  The book includes black-and-white photos, a bibliography and an index.

Up Close: Elvis Presley

Elvis!  Elvis!  Who better to write a an engaging biography of the King of Rock-and-Roll than Wilborn Hampton, obviously a true fan.  Hampton offers his readers a look at the life of Elvis from his childhood in Mississippi, his stardom and his tragic death.  The author hits the right tone in this biography with his well-rounded portrait of the man whose music made a major lasting impact on culture.  This book is suitable for reports and for the casual reader.  And…it is a welcome read for any true young adult rocker!  The book includes black-and-white photos, a bibliography and an index.

Up Close: Harper Lee

Nelle Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird,  was published in 1960.  Today, it is a cherished conscious-raising American classic.  But who is Harper Lee?  And how does one write a biography on Lee who does not give interviews.  Kerry Madden, through extensive research, has managed to write a well-rounded portrait of this down-to-earth Southern woman.  This book is a valuable resource for students; it is well-documented and clearly presented.  Fans of To Kill a Mockingbird will definitely put this on their “Must Read” list.  The book includes several black-and-white photos, a bibliography and an index.

The Case of the Lost Boy

This is the first book in the series, The Buddy Files. It introduces the main character, a dog named King. King has a big problem. His family is missing and he has been sent to the pound. The first mystery King tackles is finding out where Kayla and her family have gone and why he is in the dreaded pound. Luckily, he gets adopted by Connor and his mom (who rename him Buddy). After Connor goes missing, Buddy has yet another mystery to solve. Where is his new best friend, Connor? I read this book to my first grader and our whole family really liked it. It is funny! It is about the same level as Junie B. and the Magic Treehouse series. The only thing I didn’t really like is it had a lot going on. I found myself confused at times. I am excited to see a new series for those emerging readers.

The Life Cycle of a Salmon

This nonfiction book introduces salmon to young readers. The book discusses what salmon are and the different stages of their life. This book is written simply enough to engage young readers. I feel it gives just the right amount of information. The book teaches students that salmon can live in salt and freshwater and about their stages of life. It introduces terms such as alvien (the babies that grow in the eggs), fry (the next stage in which they grow teeth, skin and begin to hunt for insects) and smolt (the stage right before adult when their bodies are becoming adjusted to being in salt and freshwater). The book has wonderful photographs to accompany the text. There is also a glossary, learn more and index at the end of the book.

No Snow For Christmas

Fawn Braun was so worried that there would be no snow for Christmas, and no snow meant no Christmas in Pfeffernut County! She had the townspeople gather to try to create snow out of chalk dust, cotton balls, marshmallows, bubbles and pop corn, but it just wasn’t quite right. Before she could announce to the townspeople that there would be no snow or Christmas, the townspeople started singing carols and making merry.  Christmas had come after all!  This story comes with a Pfeffernuesse cookie recipe, follow-up questions encouraging higher level thinking, and fun snow facts.

Crash Bang Donkey!

Farmer Gruff is quite tired from chasing the crows out of his corn. Unfortunately, hip, music loving Donkey shows up playing multiple instruments creating LOUD music which disturbs Farmer Gruff’s sleep.  Farmer Gruff sends Donkey away until he figures out that Donkey’s music scares the crows away. Donkey is invited back to play as loudly as he can!

Big and Bad

A wolf is gobbling every creature across the land and the animals cannot find a way to stop him.  However, a few cats come up with a plan, using three pigs as bait.  The first house made of straw…with an escape route; the second house made of logs…with an escape route, and the third horse made of bricks.  Well, once the wolf went down the chimney and hit the hot coals, he flew into the sky and is still flying around the earth as a comet.

Millie in the Snow

Millie in the Snow  Steffensmeier, Alexander… Walker and Company … 2007 978-0-8027-9800-8

Millie is a mail cow who delivers mail and packages with a mail carrier. When all the delivering was complete one Christmas Eve, the mail carrier sent Millie back to the farm with gifts for the farmer and the farm animals. Well, Millie had quite a time finding her way through the snow, slipping, sliding, and falling so much that the packages lost their tags. The mail carrier was quite surprised during his next visit to see that everyone had received the wrong gifts but made great use of them. This is a fun Christmas story that the reader must use the illustrations to assist with comprehension.       Ad

Smelly Bill

Bill, the dog, was very smelly and escaped every plan for a bath, until the family went on vacation and left Bill with Aunt Bleach! Aunt Bleach had quite a tussle, rolling in the compost bin where Bill was hiding, where she finally trapped him. Aunt Bleach finally prevailed with Bill smelling like a rose…but Aunt Bleach stunk! Adorable watercolor illustrations enhance this fun story. This story is told in changing rhyming patterns.

Off Like the Wind

Author Michael Spradlin researched the short and courageous 18 months of the Pony Express.  Few accurate records remain but this story pieces together the first 11-day journey between St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento, California.  Although several riders participated, many names were lost.  However, it is known that on April 3, 1860, Johnny Fry left St. Joseph, MO on the first leg west while Billy Hamilton left Sacramento, CA on the first leg east.  The book is a composite of riders’ experiences throughout the history of the Pony Express.  Each rider carried a mochila, a small locked pouch, of mail to be delivered to the next rider waiting at a station on the trail.  He then helped out at the station until a rider arrived from the opposite direction with another mochila.  He would take that pouch and return to his original base.  Each leg could be hazardous and riders needed to be expert horsemen.  The end-pages contain a map and a timeline of the route.  Layne Johnson’s lively, richly colored oil paintings do an admirable job of illustrating the text.  Along with an author’s note are suggestions for further reading, a bibliography, and websites for more information of this exciting time in out country’s history.