Where does an author get his or her ideas? What is a day in the life of an author like? This picture book helps to answer those questions by way of a dog.

The author in this book works from home. Her dog is there with her from the waking of each day, to her getting dressed, to her writing at her desk and tossing away drafts, to staring out the window at the world outside, until finally it is time for the dog’s walk. Here the dog helps the author come across possible things to write about. Then, they go home for dinner. Sometimes the author gets an idea at night when everyone else is asleep. “So one light comes on. And the author sits up and writes.”  Then one day, “The dog knows something is different.” He gets left at home “because it’s Author Day at Fred C. Underhill School!” with autographs and book signings. The author leaves telling the boys and girls they are all authors, too. Then it is back home to her dog who is waiting for her.

The story is understandable , but the text is halting at times and does not flow well. Steven Henry’s illustrations carry the story along during those times.

This biography for young readers is too simple. There are nine pages of text accompanied by nine pages of photographers and two maps. The pages of text average three sentences per page. There are thirty-one sentences in all, plus a time line.

The book tells where and when Amelia Earhart was born. It tells she was one of the first female flyers and that she flew across both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Then, on her flight around the world, she missed her refueling stop in the Pacific. ” Amelia and her plane have never been found.” (18)

I hope someone at ABDO writes a biography on Amelia Earhart using the information found in the abdokids.com websites for an older audience.

The traditional tales of native peoples are a niche in our libraries which can sometimes be difficult to find.  This story offers an introduction which gives the reader a context for the tale, setting it within the tradition from which it comes.  The illustrations capture the adventurous nature of the story, drawing the reader in.

The real strength of this alphabet book lies in its illustrations, which are bright and stylized and incorporate each of the letters they are representing.  The text is somewhat limited in the information it provides, really more it spark one’s curiosity than to quench it.  It uses a lot of slang of the time and genre, which some readers may find confusing, but it includes a glossary of terms in the back to explain itself.  The two-page introduction at the beginning sets the stage for the rest of the book by offering a basic, straight-forward history of the development of jazz, which even made sense to this musically illiterate reader

On the one hand, when I was 10-12 years old,  I would have been delighted with this book, and anxious to try it all, and I know plenty of girls today who would like it, too.  On the other hand, reading it now as an adult, I can imagine my mom would’ve been very discouraging to my youthful enthusiasm, and now I understand why.  The crafts that are included require expensive and hard to locate items (although, to the book’s credit, they do offer suggestions of where to locate the more obscure items), and are unlikely to turn out quite so tidily as those in the photos.  It would have been helpful if the step-by-step directions included more photo support.

The story is that of the Biblical narration of the first Christmas, with some elaboration to add dialogue and expand on the setting.  What really recommends it are the illustrations — they’re beautiful, full of rich colors and soft edges.

It tells the story behind the creation of the famous Christmas carol, setting the scene in an Austrian village in the early nineteenth century, where the people are downtrodden by war and cold.  It tells a bit about the background of the writer and composer who collaborated to create it, and it tells a bit of how it spread around the world.  The illustrations suit the tone and era of the story.  But it’s not told in the most direct manor, and I’m not sure there’s enough here to compel young readers to be interested.

I don’t know if it’s a problem with the translation, or if it’s the fault of the editor, or if it’s just a cultural difference in story telling.  According to the information on the dust jacket, there are thirteen books published in this series in Japan, which would seem to indicate it was  popular there.  The illustrations are cute, and will attract certain readers, but the story really rambles.  It’s essentially about a community effort to raise funds to restore an old abandoned house that had once been a cafe.  They hold a homemade cake contest, selling pieces of the entries to raise money, then they all work together to rebuild the house, and everyone made themselves at home as they liked.  Except it took a long time to tell it, and the reader is never really sure what the point is.

I like the end papers in this book.  Unfortunately, that’s about all I like about it.  When a young girl wakes up to a horrible hair day, both her parents are too absorbed in their own interests to care, so the girl imagines a bunch of if-only scenarios that would make it better, until at the end she runs home, and this time her mom decides to pay attention and she brushes it.  It’s just a bit odd.

I guess there’s nothing bad about it.  I just couldn’t find much to get excited about, either.  I’m not sure what the point of the books is.  I can tell from the back flap that it is apparently a sequel to Cats Got Talent, and maybe if I had read that one as background, I would care about these further adventures of the cats.  But as it is, there’s here to actually make me care about this trio of cats getting kidnapped by an untrustworthy talent agent who uses trickery to make them famous.

This is book five of the Lighthouse Family series.  Pandora the cat,  Seabold the dog and 3 adopted mice have created a family characterized by kindness and comfort.  In The Octopus, the mice children Whistler and Lila explore an estuary during the lowest tide of the year, seeing creatures they have never seen before.  They offer friendship to Cleo, a stranded octopus and Cleo in return helps free Lila’s feet from the dry crusted sand as the tide comes in.  The story ends with Cleo bringing his family to share a companionable afternoon with the lighthouse family in the sea cave below the lighthouse cliff.

Short chapters and a peaceful, kind message make this book a good choice for young readers.

This book addresses many of the inter-dependencies and complexities of this rain forest ecosystem; from food chains, to pollination, seed dispersal, and human impact.  The book includes primary source documents and online extensions.  Questions appear at the end of many sections and captions.  Photographs, diagrams and maps support the text.

Contains Table of Contents, Stop and Think, Glossary, Learn More, and Index.

While the information is solid, the sentence structure appears stilted and oversimplified making it a choppy read.

‘Every Christmas Eve in the little village of Dorta where I grew up, high in the mountains of Switzerland, we have a carnival like no other. We call in ‘Drumming the Mountain Dragon’. ” (4) The carnival beginnings with the retelling of the story of Mimi and the Mountain Dragon around a bonfire in the center of town.

Hundreds of years ago, the towns folk of Dorta would try to frighten the Mountain Dragon every Christmas Eve in hopes she’d leave the town alone for another year. Then one year, 1314, little Mimi found a baby dragon in her family’s wood shed. Not wanting the baby dragon to be killed Mimi decided she would take the baby back up the mountain to its mother on Christmas Eve while the entire town would be in church. No one would try to stop Mimi at that time.

When Mother Mountain Dragon first saw Mimi with Baby Dragon she was angry. Then Baby Dragon flew to her and Mimi was no longer a threat. Mountain Dragon was thankful for the return of her baby. ” Why it should have happened that the mountain above the castle began at that particular moment to shed itself of its winter snows, none will ever know. But it did. And as Mimi could clearly see, it was not the Mountain Dragon roaring and raging that set the avalanche tumbling and rumbling down the mountainside.” (38) Mountain Dragon flew down to Dorta with baby and Mimi on her shoulders. Mountain Dragon saved all the towns people who were still in the church, now buried in snow, by melting the snow with her deep blast of fiery breath.

“And from that day to this, with the Mountain Dragon, and the little dragon, looking out for us and protecting us, we have never once had an avalanche anywhere near the village, nor a forest fire, and no one ever since has disappeared in the mountains.”   (45) They retelling of the story is done. The village people leave the bonfire and go home, knowing they are safe for another year.

Aislyn Hollings, Ryan’s central character in this gripping, unusual book, has a serious social disorder, a deep and lifelong terror of speaking in public, of doing anything that draws attention to herself outside her family and small circle of friends. Debilitating as it is, this crippling imbalance has kindled her interest in gene therapy, to which end she’s engaged in research at a genetic engineering company, Nova Genetics, in Tacoma. Her oral presentation about her investigation into DNA and gene therapy in a scholarship competition goes awry due to her disorder, heightening the desperation and causing her to say yes to trying an experimental therapy, CZ88, developed by a professional on the staff of Nova Genetics, works, to Aislyn’s amazement, but the secrecy surrounding the drug and the side effects of the treatment soon expose the deadly consequences not just for Aislyn but for the others to whom this viral experiment has been administered.

The writing is tense and interesting, exploring a subject rarely represented in literature for Young Adults, opening the reader to the burgeoning, controversial world of genetic experimentation. “How much do we allow humans to change themselves and at what price?” asks the writer. What therapies are ‘right’ (like easing the suffering of those with Cystic Fibrosis like Aislyn’s little brother) and the sudden development of traits like instant charisma.

The book, 317 pages long, touches on themes of scientific integrity, responsibility, trust, copycat drugs, viral terror, military uses of bizarre inventions and the quest of a young woman to find a cure. It’s a great read.

Highly recommended!

Reviewer: Holly Gwinn Graham

The first book written by author A.J. Grainger, Captive is sure to leave an impression on young readers as well as old. Readers will quickly be drawn into the plot, written in both the past and present.

Things are not always as they seem for Robyn, the sixteen year old daughter of the British Prime Minister. Especially when the Prime Minister’s best friend owns a large pharmaceutical company that has been targeted by the extremist group AFC. The AFC already has one of its members in jail for the assassination attempt of the Prime Minister himself. Now they want the release of their member! Nothing will get in their way.

Despite the increased security and words of reassurance from the security team, Robyn is taken hostage by the AFC. Her captors tell her she can go home as soon as their demands are met. That was ten days ago and no one has come for her. During her capture she learns the pharmaceutical company her father is associated with was responsible for the death of a 12 year old boy; the younger brother of one her captors. Was the head of Bell –Barkov responsible for the young boy’s death? Did they knowingly skip the vital trial studies and put a drug on the market knowing it was unsafe? Did the Prime Minister, her father, help to cover it up?

While held captive, the young Robyn begins to question her father’s honesty. Could she really take the word of her captors, after all they are Extremist. One of her captors is not like the rest, he is kind to her. He only wants answers and an investigation into his brother’s death. Will the two help each other and will feelings start to arise as often do between captor and captive?

The author does a great job of developing the characters in this story and the well-developed mystery makes this work of fiction a page turner for its readers. Recommended for anyone wanting a quick read.

In this early elementary fantasy graphic novel, Fluffy the cat, the Commander of P.U.R.S.T., must save his friends when his base gets invaded by aliens.
This is a cute and hilarious read. It is well-written and easy for young children to understand. Young adults and up would appreciate this endearing book. The art is adorable and expressive.
Cat lovers would especially enjoy this read! A wonderful book for all.
— Kellyn S.

In this graphic novel, the story follows an elephant named Otto who leaves his home in Africa in search of his best friend, a monkey named Georgie who was taken by a man with a wooden nose. His search leads him to New York City where he gets caught up with a gang of nefarious crocodiles…where trouble for Otto ensues.
Overall, the story is cute and well-written. The art-style is eye-catching, but not overbearing with too many details. Students who enjoy reading about animals and adventure will enjoy this read.
— Kellyn S.

This book is a collection of Bigfoot eyewitness accounts in graphic novel form.
Recommended for elementary and middle school children who are interested in reading testimonies about Bigfoot sightings in the United States. The illustrations are fair for the story lines and the informational text is easy to understand although the font of the spoken text could be easier to read. Overall, this was a fun informational read.
— Kellyn S.

Elizabeth tries so hard to learn the constellations of the night sky so that she can grow up to be a sailor like her father, but she just can’t seem to learn.  When her father doesn’t return from a voyage, Elizabeth uses the postcards of the constellations he sent each week to follow and rescue him from his ship wreck. They then sail off to see the Northern Lights together.  A cute story about perseverance and courage.

Elizabeth’s Constellation Quilt ties imagination with the concept of navigating by stars.  The constellations Elizabeth sees are items that are part of her life, a ship, a bear, and a fish rather than the more difficult to recognize and remember constellations of Gemini, Ursa Major, or Cassiopeia.

Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely give readers a firsthand look into what it is like to be black and white growing up in today’s America with police brutality on the rise and racism still at the forefront. Main characters Rashad and Quinn are 2 teenage “American Boys” growing up with different perspectives in the heart of America because of the color of the skin with which they were born. Despite the modern times, racism is alive, and police brutality is increasing, but only towards black youths. All American Boys makes you take a hard look at the racism that still exists today and makes you confront it head on. The authors captured 2 different perspectives with chapters alternating between each boy’s perspective yet the collaboration and editing brilliantly intertwined them beautifully opening my eyes as a reader to a racism that still exists today. Young and old readers alike will be pulled into this story and make them take a look at themselves and ask some serious questions on the problems around racism today in America. I definitely recommend this book.

Have you ever wondered how you got so many knots in your hair? If you’re a girl, you have. The Knit-Knotters are little tiny sprite that come out at night when you’re asleep and knit knots in your hair. They’re magical so no human can see them. They are quite naughty and are responsible for lots of other nuisances. When Stella went unhappily to get her new glasses, she met an unusual woman who enchanted her glasses and allowed her to see things that humans had not known before. This is a second-grade, getting-used-to-chapter books kind of book and offers an interesting reason as to why we get knots in our hair. It kind of goes along with the tooth fairy. Charming story for early readers.

Siamese cats have quite a unique history and many physical characteristics which distinguish it from other cats. The photographs are beautiful and children will fall in love with these cats. This book is good for beginning readers and cat lovers.

Labs are one of the most popular breeds of dogs; they are strong, used for rescue, smart, used for hunting, and are terrific in families with young children. The photographs in this book are clear and detailed, and children will pore over each one. Good book for beginning readers.

Siberian Huskies originally came from Siberia, Asia, used to pull sleds heavy with meat from hunting. In the early 1900’s they were brought to Alaska and are well known for sled dog races. The rest of the book deals with the dogs’ temperament, fur, eyes, and color. Good book for young children beginning to read. Dogs are always popular.

Thick glossy pages filled with saturated colors show the highlights of Seattle. The art in this book is pretty phenomenal. An ABC picture book, this book will help to prepare the youngest of visitors to the Emerald City. The best that Seattle offers is mentioned.