It’s big on the cool factor, with lots of color photos of cool cars, and lots of data on different cars from different years, just the kind of thing my brother has always loved to read, and I’m sure it will be a hit with the boys.  It nearly got a “Recommended” rating, but for a gripe I had with the design of the layout:  there are all these yellow pages inserted into the body of the book, with “Smokin’ Facts.”  If the layout had been reconfigured, so that these fell between sections (or at least between paragraphs), it would’ve been better.  Falling as they do, often mid-sentence as the reader turns the page, the result is that they interrupt the readers’ flow, making for choppy reading (heck, a hyphenated word that starts on page 39 isn’t finished until page 43).

Though I’m certainly not the target audience for this book, I can certainly imagine some of my boys thinking it’s really cool.  And they’ll actually be getting some solid information into the bargain.  This little volume does a clear job of describing the history of drag racing and explaining the differences between different types of cars and events.  It nearly got a “Recommended” rating, but for some gripes I had with the design of the layout:  there are all these yellow pages inserted into the body of the book, with “Smoking Facts.”  if the layout had been reconfigured, so that these fell between sections (or at least between paragraphs), it would’ve been better.  Falling as they do, often mid-sentence as the reader turns the page, the result is that they interrupt the readers’ flow, making for choppy reading.

Even though it’s only got a couple sentences of simple text per page, accompanied by full-color photographs that support that text, this little book does a surprisingly good job of concisely explaining, in step-by-step fashion, how big sturdy trees get turned into thin, flimsy paper.  It’s got all your basic non-fiction text features, it’s designed to be held by small hands, and it’s got a sturdy binding, too.

Though it may not be a hot topic for kids to pick up for casual reading, as a tool to support the curriculum, this book is packed with solid information.  The layout is attractively designed, with plenty of photos and diagrams to support the text, and the text itself is broken up enough into manageable blurbs to keep it from being intimidating.  The concepts contained in this book (different types of energy, different modes of transferring energy, different sources of energy) are ones that I remember being quite confused about clear until I got to college, this book is quite clearly written, giving concrete examples.

I’m not exactly sure what the purpose of this book is.  If it is trying to be informative about life in a circus, the depth of knowledge it offers is really quite shallow.  If it is trying to illustrate how to write a diary (which is kind of suggestion by the two-page spread in the back offering tips on “Writing a Diary”), then it’s modeling bad writing: this is reported to be the diary of a grown man, but he’s writing in very short, choppy sentences, showing no evidence of personal voice or fluency.  Also, even though this is supposedly a diary, written in first person, the photos used to illustrate the book keep showing a different guy.

The illustrations certainly are striking (if sometimes a bit puzzling, as to their links to the stories).  If you’ve got a large folktale collection and want a variety of editions for comparison’s sake, this one could be a nice addition.  If however you are limited in how many fable volumes you can have, I think I would recommend looking elsewhere.  This volume does contain some of the classics, such as The Tortoise and Hare and The Lion and the Mouse, but several of the selections are a bit obscure.  One of the defining characteristics of a fable is that they typically include a moral or a lesson they are trying to impart, but several of these left me wondering just what the point was supposed to be.

Dinosaurs are always a hit, and the illustrations in this one are certainly eye-catching, but what makes this one a real gem is that it tells the story of how those illustrations came to be — how our knowledge of dinosaurs has grown over time as new evidence is discovered, and how scientific illustrators piece together available evidence, and extrapolate from it to create the images we see of these long-ago creatures which no one ever has actually seen.  I think it’s important for students to learn that scientific understanding (heck, most understanding for that matter) is not static, but is based in evidence, and changes as new evidence comes to light.

A beautifully-illustrated non-fiction book!  It is packed with information, describing in detail different kinds of volcanic eruptions: creative and destructive.  The layout makes it suitable for a wide range of students, because it allows for a more surface introduction of the material if one reads only the larger print, but most pages also offer  smaller-print paragraphs providing more in-depth information for older or more interested readers.  I learned a few new things myself.

On the one hand, the whole gross gimmick has been so trendy lately that it’s getting a bit old, but on the other hand, it does hold a certain appeal to its target audience, and it’s certainly applicable as a window to look at history.  I like the way this book focuses on the everyday experiences of people long ago, serving to paint a picture of the times which students need to develop if they are going to have the necessary context for reading/pondering history or historical fiction.  It’s interesting enough that I don’t want to give it a Not Recommended rating, but I don’t feel like I can quite recommend it, on account of some doubtful bits of information:  I find it hard to accept without question its assertion that “There are no such insects on the other side of the Atlantic” when referring to mosquitoes, given that malaria in Europe is documented back to at least the middle ages; though corsets may have been worn by both sexes, and primarily for purposes of encouraging good posture, as this book declares, you can’t tell me that some of those women weren’t also concerned with keeping their jiggly parts from jiggling; and if the whole focus of your book is the ick factor, and you’ve got pages dedicated to dealing with bodily wastes, without a single mention of women’s menstrual hygiene issues, you’re being omitting some pretty significant ick.

Okay, so I am definitely not the target audience for this book, but I know I have several boys who will think it’s great, and even as a non-interested reader, I can appreciate that it was well-organized, and offers a broad look at its sport.  It begins by describing the history of how Mixed Martial Arts got started (a chapter I even found interesting), and then goes on to describe the moves, famous participants, and famous fights, before concluding with speculation about the future of the sport.  I liked that it included information about women fighters and was honest about the dangers inherent in the sport, but I worry that it’s likely to become fairly quickly dated, as more famous people/matches eclipse the famous people/matches of the past — but then, that’s a danger with all books of this sort.

Eye-catching photos, detailed captions, and well-written text make this book on flowering plants exceptional.  Scientific terms are defined within the paragraphs and are continually used throughout the pages.  The reader quickly becomes knowledgeable about commonalities of flowering plants.  Each spread is its own chapter, focusing on one aspect of a plant’s life.  There is a good balance of text and illustrations.  Diagrams are well labeled.  The glossary and index are comprehensive and a list of books for further reading are also included in the back.  A Facthound internet site provides related information.

Who can resist the cute puppy faces gazing out of this book?  But is owning a dog the best choice for you and your family?  This book is jam-packed with all sorts of facts and specifics a potential owner should know.  Beginning with how to make the decision to get a dog and finding a breeder, bringing a puppy home, and making a knowledgeable commitment to owning a pet, this book provides comprehensive information on an extensive variety of essentials one should know.  Every page has several titled paragraphs about a specific topics, photos, and sidebars of information.  Best practices, advice, and checklists are sprinkled among the chapters telling how to feed, care for, play with, and train your pet.  Complete index, excellent internet sites, and books for further reading are at the back.  Extensive and well-organized, this book will be an awesome addition to any library, public or personal.

Here is a new way to think about arts and crafts – use ice!  These projects can be done outdoors when the temperature is below freezing, or anytime by using the freezer.  Most items needed can be found in the home or are inexpensive to purchase.  Each of the 8 projects includes clear, simple directions, photographs that illustrate the procedure, and a list of items needed.  Many projects include fun facts and tips.  The layout is pleasing and colorful.  Obviously, the projects will last longer in cold temperature, but many could be used as temporary extraordinary decorations in many settings.  Small glossary included.

The topic of UFOs is indeed a mystery for those who believe and those who do not.  Short chapters tell of reports by people who have seen some and, at this point, not satisfactorily explained events.  The font is large and the photos and artwork of the occasions are thought provoking.  Words to know are defined on the page as well as in the glossary, which also has the phonetic pronunciation.  Some pages contain additional facts in “!” boxes.  The book becomes confusing on the last pages of chapter 4.  Some of the statements are misleading when presented as true or false statements.  One statement under False reads, “Many things are mistaken for UFOs.  Mistaken objects include sunlight reflection off ice crystals, birds’ wings, mirages, and marsh gas.”  This statement bewilders me.   Without the last chapter, this book is  informative for those wanting to read about observations of unexplained flying objects.

The sheriff and his deputy have a special assignment to safely deliver a dozen donuts home.  The sheriff, a young boy, and his deputy, his dog, decide to check the package for quality.  Oh my!  One plump, powdery donut appeared a little smushed.  The only logical thing to do was to try to even it up.  Oh no!  Now it was missing!  Hoping no one would notice, the sheriff and his deputy hurried home.  Many citizens smiled and asked how he like the donut.  How did they know?!  Arriving home, his parents casually asked about the delivery minus one donut.  Confessing, the sheriff asked how they knew he had eaten one.  Readers will know the answer!  The sheriff has powdery sugar all around his mouth.  Case solved.  Digitally colored artwork is humorous and expressive.  Text is fun as it keeps the young boy in sheriff-mode while the illustrations tell the secret.  Could also be used to start discussions about honesty and responsibility.  Fun and recommended.

Olive’s perfect world involves doing anything and everything with her best friend Emily.  But things are not always perfect in the real world.  When Eva came, things were no longer perfect.  Emily and Eva began doing many things together: taking ballet classes, wearing the same clothes, and eating the same things – all without Olive.  Olive suggested doing things together but Emily and Eva did not want to.  As Olive’s perfect world dissolved, the real world became too much and her eyes filled with tears.  Eva and Emily realize that they have not been including Olive in any of their activities.  Olive realizes that a perfect world can involve more than one friend.  As they started talking, it didn’t take long for the world to become  perfect again as they started laughing and doing things together.  The pastel pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations show the girls as young cats spot-lighted on largely while pages.  Feeling left out is common.  This story lightly shows that a perfect world is possible with more than one best friend.

People have been ice fishing for thousands of years on frozen lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers.  Although not a dangerous sport, ice fishermen need to know how to be safe.  A variety of equipment measures ice thickness, drill holes, and attract fish.  Some people take tents or small houses out on the ice to protect them from cold wind.  Some even provide heat and other comforts.  Insulated clothing is a must, as well as rescue gear in case of an accident.  Ice anglers clean up after they leave and mark abandoned holes so others will be safe.  Minnesota is a popular ice fishing state because of its cold winters and thousands of lakes and streams.  This short book gives very basic information but does not go into much detail.  Photographs are large and a good match to the text.  Some photos also have labels.  Words to know are in bold, red font and are defined in the glossary.  The layout is pleasing.  Many pages have additional facts.

Beginning on a stormy afternoon, the Alden children take a shortcut through the Greenfield Cemetery.  A shadowy figure appears briefly and the children run to the local café.  They join Miss Wolfson who tells them about the legend of the LaFonte’s.  Madame LaFonte had a dress shop and was a benefactor to families with ailing children and to the hospital.  After her death,  according to legend, it is good luck to leave gifts at the cemetery once a year.  The Boxcar children decide to solve this mystery of the ghost, Madame LaFonte, and the gifts required to avoid bad luck.  Using local legend, newspaper reports, and interviews with friends of the historical society, the Aldens bravely push toward the truth.  What is the truth, what is just superstition?  Gertrude Chandler Warner wrote 19 stories before her death in 1979.  This story follows her formula.  The characters are not as developed as many of those in popular literature.  This is #133 in a series that has touched many readers.  Nothing new, but a comfortable new adventure in a reliable series.

Anna, Jose, and Henry are junior members of the secret Silver Jaguar Society and swear to protect important artifacts from around the world.  In this fast-paced adventure set in Costa Rica, a gold Jaguar Cup has been stolen and replaced with a copy.  All members of the Society try to discover the thief and regain the cup.  They travel to Costa Rica and meet Sophia and her family who own the lodge where they will be staying.  Their parents then fly to San Jose to check out the gold museum, where the cup went missing.  Sophia becomes their guide and fellow investigator.  The focus shifts from one suspect to another as the teens track down clues.  Messner’s description of the rainforest and its animals bring the reader right into the scene – sweating in the sultry humidity, stumbling upon biting ants, avoiding poisonous snakes, spotting incredible, yet camouflaged animals within the wilds, as well as running out of breath and energy during riveting chase scenes near the end.  An author’s note in the back includes photos of some of the animals and scenery mentioned in the book.  This is book two in the series, although they do not need to be read in order.  Great series for those who enjoy action adventures and mysteries.

Curious George has his heart set on a red train engine at the toy store only to find he did not have enough money.  Although he does not know how long it will take to earn it, he is determined to do odd jobs and save money.  He learns about addition and hard work along the way.  Finally able to buy the engine, he sees children trying to get a windsock out of a tree.  George sets his piggy bank on a bench and helps retrieve the windsock.  He forgets all about his bank as they all play together the rest of the afternoon.  When he returns to the bench, the bank is gone.  As he sadly walks home, he passes the toy store and sees a little girl holding his bank.  He rushes inside and discovers she and her mother saw it in the park and were returning it to the store whose label was on the bottom.  As George hurries over to get “his” engine, he realizes he should thank the girl and reward her for her honesty.  He buys a less expensive train for himself and another for his new friend and fellow train-lover.  Money facts are included in the back.  Illustration style is reminiscent of other books by Margret and H. A. Rey.

Zander, Kambui, LaShonda, and Bobbi are the free-thinkers that publish The Cruiser, an independent school paper at the Da Vinci Academy for he Gifted and Talented in Harlem.  Once again they dip into hot water.  Their paper outranked the official school paper, The Palette.  Kambui took candid photos and happened to catch another student talking with some boys accused of robbing the mall theater.  The Cruisers have to decide what to do with the photo.  Innocent or guilty?  Should they let the police go through their own procedures?  LaShonda is trying to start a small fashion design business and needs to get the attention of the stores.  Bobbi presents a math problem involving geometry and Fibonacci for the class to solve that pops up throughout the book.  Students share their opinions and thoughts in articles published by both papers.  Dialogue is realistic and the content includes many thought-provoking incidents.  Although this is the fourth in the series, none of the books need to be read in order.

Calef Brown has written and illustrated 18 poems on all types of friendship – some silly, some clever.  Each are first-person poems but illustrated as people, animals, or aliens.  The poems are cheerful and upbeat and point out the qualities that make one person appreciate another.  “I cackle and you chortle.  Together we chorkle.”  ” Noticing things about me, especially, seems to be your specialty.”  “… then my heart twinkles.”  The colorful acrylic illustrations are a great match for the some silly, some clever poems.  This is a fun collection to read to or with a friend.

!  CAUTION  This book contains slime, snot, mud, and other trollific treats!  Crude (finger up your nose)  upper primary and lower intermediate grade humor is laced throughout this collection of three – 4 chapter stories dealing with the lives of two trolls – The Grunt and Grouch.

In story one – ‘ Pick ‘n’ Mix! The Grunt and Grouch are excited about the new movie showing at the theater. They cut to the front of the ticket line by making a terrible smell after eating moldy cheese. The theater’s snack bar has a sign reading ‘ Pick ‘n’ Mix” , which they take to mean they should add some of their own ear wax, real-worms, long slimy booger, and belly-button lint snacks to those already in the snack bar. The Grunt and Grouch get escorted out of the theater by the manager, but they re-enter dressed in the movie’s monsters’ costumes. The audience is scared away, so The Grunt and Grouch are able to watch the rest of the movie by themselves.

In story two- ‘Spick and Span!’ Aunt Greta comes for a long visit and begins cleaning up their house. She sends them to bed without dinner for their terrible ‘dinner-table behavior’. The Grunt and Grouch decide to scare Aunt Greta away using ghost costumed, but that doesn’t work. Finally, they figure out that to beat Aunt Greta’s cleaning, they should keep the house clean themselves, then she won’t have a reason the stay. It works. Aunt Greta is out the door, The Grunt and Grouch mess up the entire house only to have Aunt Greta ring the door bell saying she’s forgotten her purse.

In story three- ‘RAT RACE!’ A teacher becomes ill on his way to school and The Grunt and Grouch decide to take his place at school when they learn it is RATS Award Day. Little do they know RATS stands for Reading and Thinking Silently. The Grunt and Grouch turn the children and their classroom upside down making rats’ nests, an obstacle course, and rat masks.

Almost every page turn reveals some of Lee Wildish’s black, white, and grey illustrations.

Here is a book with a few new twists in dealing with bullying, children with divorced parents, being a twin,  and a teacher who ‘means well’.

Fourth grade Monty (Montana) and his twin Sierra live in Portland, Maine. Sierra is athletic and decisive, while Monty can’t seem to make a decision on anything. Monty needs to make decisions on : choosing a pet, a writing topic, choosing a place to seat for lunch at school, choosing a book for silent reading in class and sticking with it, choosing a name for his new pet rat, and choosing an instrument for band class among other things.

Monty’s indecisiveness has earned him a trip to the school office where his well-meaning teacher decides to put three ‘band-aids’ on his arm as an aid in helping him make decisions. Each time Monty changes his mind in class, the teacher will rip off a band-aid, now known as “decision-aids”. Ouch – both physically and psychologically. While in the office, the principal gets involved calling Monty a waffler. Then, “Principal Edwards said, ‘Well, Jasmine, a waffler is somebody who waffles. They can’t make up their mind. They go back and forth from one thing to another, wasting their time and everybody else’s.’ She pointed to the big clock on the wall, ‘And we don’t have time to waste! It’s time to be learning! So, Jasmine –Monty–off you go!’ (p. 25)” Soon,thanks to Jasmine the ‘town-crier’, the whole school is calling Monty “waffle” , which he doesn’t like.

Next, Monty’s mother wants to start flip-flopping the twins, so one twin is with her, while the other twin is with their father. Now the plot has step-parents and step-siblings involved, in addition to splitting up that special bond between twins (they are already in different classrooms at school).

Kindergarten Reading Buddies are assigned to Monty’s fourth grade class, one per person. Monty feels sorry for the kindergarteners who weren’t assigned a buddy due to the fact these kindergarteners are in their pull-out special education class, or ELL, or some other pull-out program during Reading Buddy time. One by one, Monty gains 3 “unofficial” reading buddies which he meets with during his recess time unbeknownst to his teacher, who insists Monty and all other children may only have ONE buddy.

Special bonds form between Monty and his official and ‘unofficial’ Reading Buddies. When the Reading Buddy -Culminating Event is about to take place, Monty is forced by his teacher to choose only one buddy for the event. How will Monty ever choose and not break the hearts of his other three buddies? Parents, teachers, classmates, and buddies all help in this with multiple twists!

reading buddies.