200 stunning photos from the NASA archives help document the missions to the moon, explain the space race, phases of the moon, and even myths and legends of the moon.  The accompanying DVD contains footage of the Neil Armstrong’s first walk on the moon, as well as future missions.  The DVD is so good, I plan to shelf it with other DVDs in my media section.

Forbidden love begins as soft lapping waves, building and building until it is tidal in nature, only to wash out to sea, leaving behind memories and nothing more.  So is the terse story of Illyria, where two cousins fall madly in love, trying to make sense of their world, their families and their passion for each other.   Rogan and Madeline live across the street from each other, spend most waking hours with one another, and the family mostly ignores them as they hide their romance.  But once cast into Twelfth Night together, the play charts a new course for each character rapidly–maybe too rapidly.   With hints of magic realism, Elizabeth Hand’s story is feels old-worldly at times and then spot on in today’s world.  But a reader knows from the very start that this is a love that can not last.  It’s rapid decline is that crushing tidal wave, only leaving remnants behind.  Anyone who has knowledge of Twelfth Night will enjoy this tale, but it is not required to be enjoyed.

Earth gives us air, water, and soil to live. “But people do things that hurt Earth.” (p. 8)  Author Peggy Hock stays objective as she mentions air pollution from power plants which burn coal and car exhaust, water pollution from chemicals used on lawns and gardens, and land pollution from littering and improper disposal of garbage.

Pages 20-21 “Five Ways to Help Earth”  1- Don’t litter…, 2- Recycle and buy recycled products…, 3- carpool…, 4- turn off lights…, 5- Plant a tree…”

Page 23  Four Pollution Fighting Inventions: electric car, solar plane, soybean-oil-powered bus, pedal-powered bus

“Spanish missionaries set up missions to spread Christianity to Native Americans. Even if the Native Americans did not want to become Christian, the missionaries forced them to follow Christian religious practices.” (p. 21)  The Spanish were not friendly in their methods of establing missions in New Mexico with the various groups of Native Americans.

Author, Robin Lyon, shows missions, not just as a church, but as a place – village- a governmental institution. The missions’ timeline consists of 1500 to 1800.

6 chapters include: 1- Into New Mexico, 2- Exploring New Mexico , 3- Mission Life, 4- Missions of New Mexico, 5- Growing Conflicts, and 6 Times Change.  Also includes: True Statistics, Resources, Important Words, & Index.

* Photo on page 18 is incorrectly labeled – “The Navajo”.

“Palominos are not a true breed. Instead, they are a color type… occur in many different horse breeds… most are classified as light horses.” Since palominos are not a breed, the book gives general information on “Care”, “Feeding”, tack, growing from birth, and training after it talks about palomino horses’ coloring and markings.

Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, meets up with his father, in Africa, after 30 years apart, only to have him snatched away by scientist- Frederick Kiber who’s been working on teleportation. Tony is able to rescue his father, save the day, and keep his secret identity for awhile longer.

An action packed graphic novel with some higher level vocabulary to boot.

This book is fascinating!  Bredeson has done a terrific job in explaining health, disease, and medical practices done during the Middle Ages.  The explanations are short, to the point, in easy to understand language, and totally entertaining.  The accompanying illustrations are equally well done.  In order to get kids hooked on history, this book should be in all school libraries.

The subtitle for this book is “Bizarre, weird and Wonderful Puzzles with Science,” which pretty much describes the random acts of science questions throughout this book.  Example:  “You are in a room filled with 100% methane gas.  What would happen if you struck a match.”  The answer (found at the back of the book0: Nothing would happen because there is no oxygen in the room.  I plan to share this book with our science teachers, who might enjoy asking the class a puzzle a day.

Why does a tea kettle go strangely quiet just before the water begins to boil?  Which two liquids, commonly found in your home, when poured together will not mix?

These and other science questions are posed, with the answers at the back of the book, making a great read for those students with inquisitive science minds.

Abyssinian cats are a recognized breed of the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA). Abyssinian cats get their name from the former name for Ethiopia from which they were once thought to have originated.

“Unless they are eating or sleeping, these busy cats are always on the move…Abyssinian cats are athletic and smart.” (pg. 8)

This breed’s physical description: weight, body shape, coloring, ears, tail, eye color and shape are described.