Reviewed by Sally Phillips, on January 31st, 2012 Author: Susan M. Traugh Illustrator: Series: People in the News Publisher: Lucent Books ISBN: 9781420502374 Year Published: 2010 Price: $27.76 Grade Level: Grades 6-9 Rating: R
- Author: Susan M. Traugh
- Reading level: Grades 6 to 9
- ISBN: 9781420502374
- Length: 104 p.
- Price: $27.76
- Publisher: Lucent Books
- Rating: R
- Series: People in the News
- Year Published: 2010
- Grade Level: Grades 6-9
The American dream for Sean Combs has taken him from his Harlem childhood to fame and fortune as a rapper, fashion designer, record company executive, and multimillionaire philanthropist.
Born in 1969 to an aspiring model and a hustler dad, and he was 14 years old when he learned that his father had not died in . . . → Read More: Sean Combs
Reviewed by Gail Blake, on January 31st, 2012 Author: McGee Randel Illustrator: Series: Publisher: Enslow ISBN: 9780766037250 Year Published: 2012 Price: 20.34 Grade Level: 3rd or 4th Rating: R
- Author: McGee Randel
- Grade Level: 3rd or 4th
- ISBN: 9780766037250
- Price: 20.34
- Publisher: Enslow
- Rating: R
- Reading level: 3
- Year Published: 2012
This book is all about St. Patrick’s Day. There are many fun art projects that can be done in the class room or at home with children. It starts off with the history of St. Patrick’s Day. with each craft there is a bit of history of the holiday that goes with the art. These . . . → Read More: Paper Crafts for St. Patrick’s Day
Reviewed by Gail Blake, on January 31st, 2012 Author: Niven, Felicia Lowenstein Illustrator: Niven, Felicia Lowenstein Series: Publisher: Enslow ISBN: 9780766035423 Year Published: 2011 Price: 20.34 Grade Level: 2-5 Rating: A
- Author: Niven, Felicia Lowenstein
- Grade Level: 2-5
- Illustrator: Niven, Felicia Lowenstein
- ISBN: 9780766035423
- Price: 20.34
- Publisher: Enslow
- Rating: A
- Reading level: 3
- Year Published: 2011
This is a great book with fun jokes for each holiday. These are very funny jokes and tongue twisters and there are fun facts about holidays and other random things.
Reviewed by Carol Hahn, on January 30th, 2012 Author: Lucas, David Illustrator: Series: Publisher: (UK) Andersen Press Ltd. ISBN: 978184270411 Year Published: 2008 Price: 15.99 Grade Level: 2 and up Rating: R*
- Author: Lucas, David
- Grade Level: 2 and up
- ISBN: 978184270411
- Length: 77 pages
- Price: 15.99
- Publisher: (UK) Andersen Press Ltd.
- Year Published: 2008
- Rating: R*
David Lucas has been named one of the ten Best New Illustrators in the UK and his enormous talent is seen in his creation of “The Lying Carpet.” This book is somewhat of a fairy tale, but does not contain the traditional elements of what Americans consider a fairy tale. It is a picture book . . . → Read More: The Lying Carpet
Reviewed by Annette McQueen, on January 30th, 2012 Author: Kristine O'Connell George Illustrator: Nancy Carpenter Series: Publisher: Clarion Books ISBN: 9780618428427 Year Published: 2008 Price: $16.99 Grade Level: Rating: R
- Author: Kristine O'Connell George
- Illustrator: Nancy Carpenter
- Year Published: 2008
- Rating: R
- Publisher: Clarion Books
- Price: $16.99
- ISBN: 9780618428427
Most sisters will relate to the relationship between outrageous Emma, who looks approximately 3 years old, and her older and responsible sister whose perspective this collections of poems is from. Darling illustrations, poems which are not too long or complicated, and the hilarious content ideas for each poem will entertain all of all ages. It’s . . . → Read More: Emma Dilemma, Big Sister Poems
Reviewed by Annette McQueen, on January 30th, 2012 Author: Madonna Illustrator: Series: The English Roses Publisher: ISBN: 9780142411285 Year Published: 2009 Price: Grade Level: Rating: R
- Author: Madonna
- ISBN: 9780142411285
- Year Published: 2009
- Series: The English Roses
- Rating: R
- Reading level: 4
This book by Madonna is a hit with my fourth and fifth grade female students. The main characters are five girls who appear to be approximately 11 or 12 years old. The setting is England and in this book, two travel to the United States. The book is sophisticated in geographical sense and socially, but . . . → Read More: The English Roses, American Dream
Reviewed by Mary Pong, on January 30th, 2012 Author: Gunderson, Megan M. Illustrator: photos Series: Snakes- set I / Checkerboard Animal Library Publisher: ABDO Publishing ISBN: 978-1-61613-433-4 Year Published: 2011 Price: Grade Level: 4, 5, & 6 grades Rating: Ad / R-
- Author: Gunderson, Megan M.
- Grade Level: 4, 5, & 6 grades
- Illustrator: photos
- ISBN: 978-1-61613-433-4
- Length: 24 pages
- Publisher: ABDO Publishing
- Rating: Ad / R-
- Series: Snakes- set I / Checkerboard Animal Library
- Year Published: 2011
Straight forward facts are presented under 9 headings: boa constrictors, sizes, colors, where they live, where they are found, senses, defense, food, and babies.
There are “many boa constrictor subspecies… They live in a wide variety of habitats.. rain forests… grasslands and semidesert areas… by plantations, agricultural land… found near rivers… They live from Mexico, . . . → Read More: Boa Constrictors
Reviewed by Mary Pong, on January 30th, 2012 Author: Slegers, Liesbet Illustrator: SLegers, Liesbet Series: Publisher: Clavis Books ISBN: 978-1-60537-101-6 Year Published: 2011 Price: $15.95 Grade Level: Pre-K, K, & 1 grades Rating: R- / Ad
- Author: Slegers, Liesbet
- Grade Level: Pre-K, K, & 1 grades
- Illustrator: SLegers, Liesbet
- ISBN: 978-1-60537-101-6
- Length: 25 pages
- Price: $15.95
- Publisher: Clavis Books
- Rating: R- / Ad
- Year Published: 2011
Simple charming art work adorns this simple story of a little girl on Halloween. First carving a pumpkin with her father, then deciding on a costume to wear to her friend’s Halloween party, and finally the party itself with games, costumes, and neighborhood trick-or-treating.
Reviewed by Mary Pong, on January 30th, 2012 Author: Rosen, Michael J. Illustrator: McMahon, Hugh Series: Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers ISBN: 978-0-8037-3452-4 Year Published: 2011 Price: $16.99 Grade Level: 1, 2, 3, & 4 grades Rating: R+
- Author: Rosen, Michael J.
- Grade Level: 1, 2, 3, & 4 grades
- Illustrator: McMahon, Hugh
- ISBN: 978-0-8037-3452-4
- Length: 32 pages
- Price: $16.99
- Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
- Rating: R+
- Year Published: 2011
This year the farm pumpkins have decided to have a carved pumpkin contest. They want to see if they can be scarier than the trick-or-treaters. This leads to the brainstorming for ideas.
Professional pumpkin carver- Hugh McMahon provided over 15 different carved pumpkins as the majority of the artwork for this story. Carved orange, white, . . . → Read More: Night of the Pumpkinheads
Reviewed by Mary Pong, on January 30th, 2012 Author: Patricia Byers Illustrator: Tamsin Ainslie Series: Publisher: Little Hare Books ISBN: 9781921541452 Year Published: 2010 Price: $10.99 Grade Level: K-3 Rating: R+
- Author: Patricia Byers
- Grade Level: K-3
- Illustrator: Tamsin Ainslie
- ISBN: 9781921541452, 9781921541452
- Length: 21 pages
- Price: $10.99
- Publisher: Little Hare Books
- Rating: R+
- Year Published: 2010
Author Patricia Byers and illustrator Tamsin Ainslie have collaborated to bring young people 9 visual representations of singular, plural, and then the collective name for the noun group.
Examples: sheep, sheep, flock : goose, geese, gaggle: elephant, elephants, parade: butterfly, butterflies, kaleidoscope
Children in cute playful costumes, with and without hand puppets, and stuffed animals . . . → Read More: One Sheep, Two Sheep: A book of collective nouns
Reviewed by Gail Blake, on January 27th, 2012 Author: Mitchell, Susan K. Illustrator: Series: Publisher: Enslow ISBN: 9780766037113 Year Published: 2012 Price: 20.34 Grade Level: 4-6 Rating: R
- Author: Mitchell, Susan K.
- Grade Level: 4-6
- ISBN: 9780766037113
- Price: 20.34
- Publisher: Enslow
- Rating: R
- Reading level: 4
- Year Published: 2012
This is a well written book about spying and double agents. There is a lot of information for such a small book. You learn what it takes to become a spy. Why people become double agents. What espionage is and you learn about some very famous spies. It is hard to believe that someone would . . . → Read More: Spies, Double Agents, and Traitiors
Reviewed by Kristi Bonds, on January 25th, 2012 Author: Illustrator: Series: Publisher: Little, Brown and Company ISBN: 9780316098250 Year Published: 2011 Price: 17.99 Grade Level: Rating:
- Authors: Heather Cocks
Jessica Morgan
- ISBN: 9780316098250
- Price: 17.99
- Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
- Year Published: 2011
If you like the reality shows such as Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Real Housewives, Run’s House, or others that show off the wealth of pop culture icons, then Spoiled is just up your alley. Authors Heather Cocks (former producer for America’s Next Top Model) and Jessica Morgan (producer of Growing up Gotti), take their . . . → Read More: Spoiled
Reviewed by Mary Mathis, on January 25th, 2012 Author: Erskine, Kathryn Illustrator: Megged, Semadar Series: Publisher: Philomel Books ISBN: 9780399255052 Year Published: 2011 Price: 16.99 Grade Level: 5 - 7 Rating: A
- Author: Erskine, Kathryn
- Grade Level: 5 - 7
- Illustrator: Megged, Semadar
- ISBN: 9780399255052
- Length: 247 p.
- Price: 16.99
- Publisher: Philomel Books
- Rating: A
- Year Published: 2011
14-year old Mike, who is afflicted with dyscalculia, (a math disability) is being raised by a brilliant father who continually tries to cultivate Mike’s love for math and engineering. While he goes off Romania for work, Mike’s father sends him off to rural Pennsylvania to live with distant relatives Moo and Poppy. This small town, . . . → Read More: The Absolute Value of Mike
Reviewed by Gail Blake, on January 24th, 2012 Author: Jankowski, Susan Illustrator: Series: Publisher: Enslow ISBN: 9780766036666 Year Published: 2011 Price: 18.07 Grade Level: 4-5 Rating: R
- Author: Jankowski, Susan
- Grade Level: 4-5
- ISBN: 9780766036666
- Price: 18.07
- Year Published: 2011
- Publisher: Enslow
- Reading level: 4-6
- Rating: R
I enjoyed this book with the rescue stories, but after the Thirtymile Fire story the others seemed not so exciting. I liked the survival facts that were given. They would be of great help if put in those situations. Each story had good information for anyone to know, information that could save your life.
There . . . → Read More: True Wilderness Rescue Stories
Reviewed by Gail Blake, on January 23rd, 2012 Author: Brown, Peter Illustrator: Brown, Peter Series: Publisher: Little Brown and Company ISBN: 9780316015486 Year Published: 2010 Price: 16.99 Grade Level: K-2 Rating: R
- Author: Brown, Peter
- Grade Level: K-2
- Illustrator: Brown, Peter
- ISBN: 9780316015486
- Price: 16.99
- Publisher: Little Brown and Company
- Rating: R
- Reading level: 2
- Year Published: 2010
This is a very cute book about a bear, Lucy, who wants to keep a child as a pet. Mother bear tells Lucy that children make terrible pets. But Lucy is allowed to keep the pet, Squeaker. Lucy and Squeaker are inseparable. But Squeaker does not train well and ruined the furniture. Then . . . → Read More: Children Make Terrible Pets
Reviewed by Kristi Bonds, on January 23rd, 2012 Author: Katie Crouch Illustrator: Series: Publisher: Little, Brown and Company ISBN: 978-0-316-07849-8 Year Published: 2011 Price: 17.99 Grade Level: 9 - 12th Rating:
- Author: Katie Crouch
- Grade Level: 9 - 12th
- ISBN: 978-0-316-07849-8
- Price: 17.99
- Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
- Year Published: 2011
The South has its own fantastical, mythological history, from debutante balls to African-American folklore. When the two mix, one great story can emerge. Twists and turns ripple the story in Katie Crouch’s The Magnolia League. Alexandria Lee is the nail on a chalkboard as she is whisked into Savannah, Georgia after her mother’s tragic and . . . → Read More: The Magnolia League
Reviewed by Carol Hahn, on January 23rd, 2012 Author: Salas, Laura Purdie Illustrator: Series: Alphabet Fun Publisher: Capstone ISBN: 9781429632911 Year Published: 2010 Price: 17.99 Grade Level: PreK-2
Rating: Ad*
- Author: Salas, Laura Purdie
- Grade Level: PreK-2
- ISBN: 9781429632911
- Length: 32 pgs
- Price: 17.99
- Publisher: Capstone
- Series: Alphabet Fun
- Year Published: 2010
- Rating: Ad*
A is for Arrr! is an ABC book telling all about pirates using photographs (they don’t look too scary and may even be from some movies they’ve seen), illustrations, and drawings. The author was able to use every letter of the alphabet. The back of the book includes some interesting tidbits plus the usual glossary . . . → Read More: A is for Arrr! A Pirate Alphabet
Reviewed by Carol Hahn, on January 23rd, 2012 Author: Repka, Janice Illustrator: Series: Publisher: Dutton ISBN: 9780525423331 Year Published: 2011 Price: 16.99 Grade Level: 4-7 Rating: Ad*
- Author: Repka, Janice
- Grade Level: 4-7
- ISBN: 9780525423331
- Year Published: 2011
- Length: 218 pages
- Price: 16.99
- Publisher: Dutton
- Rating: Ad*
This is the story of two 13-year-old girls, each on different ends of the spectrum. Aphrodite, “Dytee,” is a genius and at the age of 13, has already graduated with a master’s degree from Harvard in math. Mindy, also 13, is in remedial math in eighth grade, and must pass or else will be held . . . → Read More: The Clueless Girl’s Guide to Being a Genius
Reviewed by Gail Blake, on January 23rd, 2012 Author: Brown, Calef Illustrator: Brown, Calef Series: Publisher: Atheneum ISBN: 978141978770 Year Published: 2011 Price: 16.99 Grade Level: 3-6 Rating: A
- Author: Brown, Calef
- Grade Level: 3-6
- Illustrator: Brown, Calef
- ISBN: 978141978770
- Price: 16.99
- Publisher: Atheneum
- Rating: A
- Reading level: 3rd and up
- Year Published: 2011
This book has a lot of play-on-words, which are great! Some of them are a bit over the heads of children but are great for adults. It might be fun to explain the meaning of the different play on words.
Reviewed by Courtney Morgan, on January 23rd, 2012 Author: Illustrator: Gerald Kelley Series: Yucky Science Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Inc. ISBN: 978-0-7660-3317-7 Year Published: 2011 Price: Grade Level: 2-6 Rating: Recommended
- Authors: Alvin and Virginia Silverstein and Laura Silverstein Nunn
- Grade Level: 2-6
- Illustrator: Gerald Kelley
- ISBN: 978-0-7660-3317-7
- Length: 48 p.
- Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Inc.
- Rating: Recommended
- Series: Yucky Science
- Year Published: 2011
There seems to be quite the trend these days to capitalize on children’s fascinations with the gross and disgusting. Many of the books I’ve read in this line have either failed to live up to being as icky as it proclaimed, or else hyped the ew without delivering any real information. This one really was . . . → Read More: Dung Beetles, Slugs, Leeches, and More: the yucky animal book
Reviewed by Janet Enlow, on January 23rd, 2012 Author: Stine, R.L. Illustrator: Park, Trip Series: Rotten School Publisher: Harper Trophy ISBN: 978-1-59961-827-2 Year Published: 2005 Price: Grade Level: 3rd-5th Rating: R
- Author: Stine, R.L.
- Grade Level: 3rd-5th
- Illustrator: Park, Trip
- ISBN: 978-1-59961-827-2
- Length: 110p.
- Publisher: Harper Trophy
- Rating: R
- Reading level: 3rd-4th gr.
- Series: Rotten School
- Year Published: 2005
Bernie Bridges attends Rotten House Boarding School, and he is definitely rotten. However, Bernie has decided to change his ways to impress April May June, the coolest, hottest girl in school that gave Bernie one week to be a better student than Sherman Oaks, a spoiled rich kid. Well, Bernie runs into trouble with Headmaster . . . → Read More: The Good, the Bad and the Very Slimy
Reviewed by Courtney Morgan, on January 23rd, 2012 Author: Adam Stone Illustrator: Series: The Unexplained Publisher: Children's Press / Scholastic ISBN: 978-053126406-5 Year Published: 2011 Price: Grade Level: 3-6 Rating: Not Recommended
- Author: Adam Stone
- Grade Level: 3-6
- ISBN: 978-053126406-5
- Length: 24 p.
- Publisher: Children's Press / Scholastic
- Rating: Not Recommended
- Series: The Unexplained
- Year Published: 2011
The problem with trying to write a book about the unexplained is that when you’re writing about something about not much is known, you don’t have much to say. So what’s the point?
Reviewed by Courtney Morgan, on January 23rd, 2012 Author: Donna Latham Illustrator: Series: Endangered Biomes Publisher: Nomad Press ISBN: 978-1-934670-87-3 Year Published: 2010 Price: 16.95 Grade Level: 2-6 Rating: Recommended
- Author: Donna Latham
- Grade Level: 2-6
- ISBN: 978-1-934670-87-3
- Length: 29 p.
- Price: 16.95
- Publisher: Nomad Press, Nomad Press
- Rating: Recommended
- Reading level: O
- Series: Endangered Biomes
- Year Published: 2010
This book packs in a lot of information, and does so in a well-organized manner. The font and the layout and the plenitude of color photos keep the information from becoming overwhelming for young scholars. The words from the glossary are highlighted in bold, and “words to know” sections along the way provide the definitions . . . → Read More: Deciduous Forests
Reviewed by Courtney Morgan, on January 23rd, 2012 Author: Laura Purdie Salas Illustrator: Series: Alphabet Fun Publisher: Capstone Press ISBN: 978-1-4296-3915-6 Year Published: 2010 Price: Grade Level: 1-3 Rating: Additional Purchase
- Author: Laura Purdie Salas
- Grade Level: 1-3
- ISBN: 978-1-4296-3915-6
- Length: 32 p.
- Publisher: Capstone Press
- Rating: Additional Purchase
- Reading level: 1-2
- Series: Alphabet Fun
- Year Published: 2010
A topic of high-interest to many, this book draws on a wide variety of sports to complete its alphabet. Some of the words selected are specific to one sport or another; others are general terms that apply to many sports. Each page is dominated by a large full-color photo supporting the brief text explaining the . . . → Read More: S Is for Score: a sports alphabet
Reviewed by Courtney Morgan, on January 23rd, 2012 Author: Elena Pasquali Illustrator: Nicola Smee Series: Publisher: Lion Children's ISBN: 978-0-7459-6079-1 Year Published: 2010 Price: 12.99 Grade Level: K-3 Rating: Recommended
- Author: Elena Pasquali
- Grade Level: K-3
- Illustrator: Nicola Smee
- ISBN: 978-0-7459-6079-1
- Length: 45 p.
- Price: 12.99
- Publisher: Lion Children's
- Rating: Recommended
- Year Published: 2010
There’s always time for one of these brief folk tales. Each of the ten stories begins by telling the tradition from which it comes. It is then re-told in an engaging yet compact manner. Besides the time benefits of these short re-tellings, the spare nature in which they are told leave room for inference as . . . → Read More: Two-Minute Bedtime Stories
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