Oceans

This nonfiction book by Donna Latham in the Endangered Biomes series reminds me, in a good way, of the movie FINDING NEMO. The colorful action shots of clown fish, tropical fish, coral reefs, sea turtles, kelp beds, shark, and pelican mixed with the ocean currents,  topography, and how ocean plants and animals adapt bring the . . . → Read More: Oceans

Deserts

Author Donna Latham presents a short 8 chapter, 27 page run down on deserts – “the most arid biome”. The page lay-outs help the reader move from the generalities of the  text to specifics of captioned inset photos and “Do You Know?” factoids. The vibrant colors in the photos with the accompanying text grab the . . . → Read More: Deserts

Thanksgiving Play, The

I f you have ever been in a play one of the worst things you can do is to forget your lines. When Herbie Bear’s class puts on a Thanksgiving play, he fears this will happen to him and is teased about it by another classmate. In the end, Herbie performs on cue and rescues . . . → Read More: Thanksgiving Play, The

Best Birthday Ever, The

As Herbie Bear’s birthday approaches he realizes he has outgrown the skateboard his father made for him. At his party , each present is a new piece of skateboarding equipment. After the cake and ice cream , the grand finale is the new skateboard Herbie has secretly been wanting. “Thanks, Dad! Thanks, Mom! This is . . . → Read More: Best Birthday Ever, The

The Year Money Grew on Trees

Thirteen-year-old Jackson Jones becomes a young entrepreneur when his widowed neighbor, Mrs. Nelson, convinces him to get her neglected apple orchard up and going again.  If he does so, she promises the deed to the orchard to young Jackson.  Seeing dollar signs, Jackson accepts the challenge, getting a lesson in the hard work it takes . . . → Read More: The Year Money Grew on Trees