Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on April 23rd, 2013 Author: Deborah Kent Illustrator: Series: America the Beautiful Publisher: Children's Press/Scholastic ISBN: 978-0-531-18593-3 Year Published: 2009 Price: Grade Level: 3-8 Rating: R
- Author: Deborah Kent
- Grade Level: 3-8
- ISBN: 978-0-531-18593-3
- Length: 144 pgs
- Publisher: Children's Press/Scholastic
- Rating: R
- Reading level: 5th Grade
- Series: America the Beautiful
- Year Published: 2009
In the latest Third Edition of the America the Beautiful series, the design and layout has been updated to appeal to readers who like gorgeous photographs, or illustrations, sidebars with FAQs, “Who knew?” facts to keep you thinking, travel guide tips, and incredible ideas for school assignments and research projects. Of course the usual information . . . → Read More: Washington, D.C.
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on April 23rd, 2013 Author: Barbara A. Somervill Illustrator: Series: America the Beautiful Publisher: Children's Press/Scholastic ISBN: 978-0-531--18588-9 Year Published: 2009 Price: Grade Level: 3-8 Rating: R
- Author: Barbara A. Somervill
- Grade Level: 3-8
- ISBN: 978-0-531--18588-9
- Length: 144 pgs
- Publisher: Children's Press/Scholastic
- Rating: R
- Reading level: 5th Grade
- Series: America the Beautiful
- Year Published: 2009
Designed for kid appeal, this well researched, latest third addition to the American the Beautiful state books series, will give students detailed and interesting information about what started out as William Penn’s 1682 colony. The contents covers Land, First People, Exploration and Settlement, Growth and Change, More Modern Times, People, Government, Economy, and Travel Guide. . . . → Read More: Pennsylvania
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on April 23rd, 2013 Author: Conrad R. Stein Illustrator: Series: America the Beautiful Publisher: Children's Press/Scholastic ISBN: 978-0-531-18500-1 Year Published: 2010 Price: Grade Level: 3-8 Rating: R
- Author: Conrad R. Stein
- Grade Level: 3-8
- ISBN: 978-0-531-18500-1
- Length: 144 pgs
- Publisher: Children's Press/Scholastic
- Rating: R
- Reading level: 5th Grade
- Series: America the Beautiful
- Year Published: 2010
Well researched and well designed layout with gorgeous photographs, as well as helpful special features, make this a top consideration for a print choice in state studies. Content covers Land, First People, Exploration and Settlement, Growth and Change, Modern Times, People, Government, and Travel Guide. Special features provide sidebars, charts, graphs, original maps, FAQs, WOW . . . → Read More: Montana
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on April 14th, 2013 Author: Nancy Tuminelly Illustrator: Series: Cool Recipes for Your Health Publisher: ABDO ISBN: 978-1-61783-584-1 Year Published: 2013 Price: Grade Level: 3-6 Rating: AD
- Author: Nancy Tuminelly
- Reading level: Grades 3-6
- ISBN: 978-1-61783-584-1
- Length: 32 pages
- Publisher: ABDO
- Rating: AD
- Grade Level: 3-6
- Series: Cool Recipes for Your Health
- Year Published: 2013
Having eaten a 100% raw food diet for three years, I was interested in how raw food recipes would be presented to elementary students. Raw food “cooking” typically requires using kitchen equipment like blenders and juicers…which need close adult supervision. A two page spread on The Basics covers getting permission from an adult, clean hands, . . . → Read More: Cool Raw Food Recipes
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on April 14th, 2013 Author: Kristen McCurry Illustrator: Series: Eye-Look Pictures Games Publisher: Capstone ISBN: 978-1-4296-7551-2 Year Published: 2012 Price: Grade Level: K-1 Rating: R*
- Author: Kristen McCurry
- Grade Level: K-1
- ISBN: 978-1-4296-7551-2
- Length: 32 pages
- Publisher: Capstone
- Rating: R*
- Reading level: Grades 1-2
- Series: Eye-Look Pictures Games
- Year Published: 2012
As a first introduction to analogies, this book teaches the concept by using photos, and giving lots of visual support for success. ”Tail is to wag…as hand is to _______” is the first example used to introduce the concept. The reader is presented with three labeled photos. Which of the pictures is related to hand . . . → Read More: Look and Compare: A Photo Analogy Game
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on March 7th, 2013 Author: Sid Farrar Illustrator: Ilse Plume Series: Publisher: Albert Whitman & Co. ISBN: 978-0807581292 Year Published: 2012 Price: $16.99 Grade Level: K-5 Rating: R*
- Author: Sid Farrar
- Grade Level: K-5
- Illustrator: Ilse Plume
- ISBN: 978-0807581292
- Length: 32 pgs.
- Price: $16.99
- Publisher: Albert Whitman & Co.
- Rating: R*
- Year Published: 2012
This sweet gem of a book invites the reader to take a contemplative journey through the seasons of the year by reflecting on one haiku for each month…and one accompanying, gentle and beautiful watercolor. I, personally, felt the world actually slowing down from the race-a-day world, as I read and pondered the mental and visual . . . → Read More: The Year Comes Round: Haiku through the Seasons
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on March 1st, 2013 Author: Illustrator: Gina Capaldi Series: Publisher: Carolrhoda Books ISBN: 978-0-76135257-0 Year Published: 2011 Price: $17.95 Grade Level: 3-6 Rating: R*
- Authors: Gina Capaldi, and Q.L.Pearce
- Grade Level: 3-6
- Illustrator: Gina Capaldi
- ISBN: 978-0-76135257-0
- Length: 32 pgs
- Price: $17.95
- Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
- Rating: R*
- Year Published: 2011
How refreshing to come across a picture-book biography other than the pat same-ol’, same-ol’ that fills our shelves. Zitkala-Sa (born Gertrude Simmons), a Native American Sioux born in 1876 in South Dakota, was taken from her tribe, at age 8, to be educated at a Quaker Indian Boarding School in Indiana. Despite the loneliness, foreign . . . → Read More: Red Bird Sings: The Story of Zitkala-Sa, Native American Author, Musician, and Activist
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on February 28th, 2013 Author: Paula Russell Illustrator: Gaye Chapman Series: Publisher: Little Hare Books ISBN: 978-1921272882 Year Published: 2012 Price: $16.99 Grade Level: K-2 Rating: R*
- Author: Paula Russell
- Grade Level: K-2
- Illustrator: Gaye Chapman
- ISBN: 978-1921272882
- Length: 24 pgs
- Price: $16.99
- Publisher: Little Hare Books
- Rating: R*
- Year Published: 2012
A simple and delightful personal narrative of a young sister’s admiration for her older sister. Not so much a story as a list of all the ways that “My Olive is the best in the world”…compared to herself. “My Olive is the best in the world at tying her long stripy shoelaces. My fingers are . . . → Read More: My Sister Olive
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on February 28th, 2013 Author: Jill Kalz Illustrator: Daniele Fabbri Series: Publisher: Picture Window Books ISBN: 978-1404872462 Year Published: 2012 Price: Grade Level: 1-5 Rating: NR
- Author: Jill Kalz
- Grade Level: 1-5
- Illustrator: Daniele Fabbri
- ISBN: 978-1404872462
- Length: 32 pgs
- Publisher: Picture Window Books
- Rating: NR
- Year Published: 2012
Not being a Chinese language expert, I had an Chinese ESL specialist from our district look at this book to give me her take 0n this publication. The Basics explains the four tones of Mandarin along with a graph of “It Sounds Like”, with consonants, vowels, and vowel combinations. Each phrase is presented in English, . . . → Read More: My First Mandarin Chinese Phrases
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on February 12th, 2013 Author: Zebedee Helm Illustrator: Zebedee Helm Series: Publisher: Pucci Books ISBN: 978-0-9560284-3-3 Year Published: 2011 Price: $14.99 Grade Level: K-5 Rating: R
- Author: Zebedee Helm
- Grade Level: K-5
- Illustrator: Zebedee Helm
- ISBN: 978-0-9560284-3-3
- Length: 32 pgs.
- Price: $14.99
- Publisher: Pucci Books
- Rating: R
- Year Published: 2011
Kids with a goofy sense of humor will get chuckle after chuckle with each turn of the page in this book on dog breeds. At first this book looks like a nonfiction title but put your tongue in your cheek and read on…Starting on the cover there are clues…two ring marks that looks as if . . . → Read More: Kit & Willy’s Ultimate Guidebooks to Everything!: Dogs of the World
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on February 11th, 2013 Author: Marla Conn Illustrator: Series: Investigate Materials Publisher: Nomad Press ISBN: 978-1-936313-93-8 Year Published: 2011 Price: $16.95 Grade Level: K-2 Rating: R
- Length: 20 pgs.
- ISBN: 978-1-936313-93-8
- Publisher: Nomad Press
- Price: $16.95
- Grade Level: K-2
- Author: Marla Conn
- Rating: R
- Series: Investigate Materials
- Year Published: 2011
Kindergartners are introduced to scientific investigations in this new Foss related series , Investigate Materials. In this title, learners find the answers to…What is cotton?…Where does cotton come from?…How is Cotton made into fabric?…What does cotton look like?…How does cotton feel?…Why do we use cotton?…What do You have that is made from cotton? Each two . . . → Read More: Cotton
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on February 7th, 2013 Author: Susan Grigsby Illustrator: Nicole Tadgell Series: Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company ISBN: 978-0-8075-2452-7 Year Published: 2012 Price: $16.99 Grade Level: 2-5 Rating: R
- Author: Susan Grigsby
- Grade Level: 2-5
- Illustrator: Nicole Tadgell
- ISBN: 978-0-8075-2452-7
- Length: 32 pages
- Price: $16.99
- Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
- Rating: R
- Year Published: 2012
Do you know what was Thomas Jefferson’s most delightful work…beyond architecture, inventing, founding the University of Virginia, and being the third president?…His thousand-foot-long vegetable garden. In this school garden story, a classroom teacher replicates Thomas Jefferson’s annual neighborhood pea growing contest. The winner was the person with the fastest growing seeds…serving their “sweet as candy” . . . → Read More: First Peas to the Table
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on February 5th, 2013 Author: Mary Ann Hoberman Illustrator: Michael Emberley Series: You Read to Me, I'll Read to You Publisher: Little Brown for Young Readers ISBN: 978-0316-04117-1 Year Published: 2011 Price: 16.99 Grade Level: K-4 Rating: R*
- Author: Mary Ann Hoberman
- Grade Level: K-4
- Illustrator: Michael Emberley
- ISBN: 978-0316-04117-1
- Length: 32 pgs.
- Price: 16.99
- Publisher: Little Brown for Young Readers
- Rating: R*
- Series: You Read to Me, I'll Read to You
- Year Published: 2011
This addition to the hugely successful series is delightful. Packed with thirteen Aesop fables, the majority of which are well known, such as The Lion and the Mouse, Hoberman has added a few of the lesser known…The Dog in the Manger and The Peacock and the Crane. The repetition and rhyme is the perfect support . . . → Read More: You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You: Very Short Fables to Read Together
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on February 4th, 2013 Author: Ann Malaspina Illustrator: Steve James Series: Publisher: Albert Whitman and Company ISBN: 978-0-8075-3188-4 Year Published: 2012 Price: $16.99 Grade Level: K-5 Rating: R*
- Author: Ann Malaspina
- Grade Level: K-5
- Illustrator: Steve James
- ISBN: 978-0-8075-3188-4
- Length: 32 pages
- Price: $16.99
- Publisher: Albert Whitman and Company
- Rating: R*
- Year Published: 2012
The author focuses her tale on Susan B. Anthony’s act of civil disobedience when she illegally voted in the 1872 presidential election. Susan believed that the new law, the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which included rights for all citizens, obviously meant women. She was arrested, tried and fined $100. The story ends informing the . . . → Read More: Heart of Fire
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on January 17th, 2013 Author: Barbara Kerley Illustrator: Edwin Fotheringham Series: Publisher: Scholastic Press ISBN: 978-0-545-22268-6 Year Published: 2012 Price: $17.99 Grade Level: 2-8 Rating: R*
- Author: Barbara Kerley
- Grade Level: 2-8
- Illustrator: Edwin Fotheringham
- ISBN: 978-0-545-22268-6
- Length: 48 pages
- Price: $17.99
- Publisher: Scholastic Press
- Rating: R*
- Year Published: 2012
Award winning author of biographies, Barbara Kerley teamed with her outstanding illustrator Edwin Fotheringham, to bring us an outstanding introduction to two important Founding Fathers of American history…John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Comparing and contrasting their differences… background, temperament, physical traits, and their two things in common…distaste for the tyrant British King George and a . . . → Read More: Those Rebels, John & Tom
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on January 8th, 2013 Author: Tamara L. Britton Illustrator: Series: Economy in Action Publisher: Abdo Publishing ISBN: 978-1-61783-486-8 Year Published: 2013 Price: $20 Grade Level: 4-8 Rating: R
- Author: Tamara L. Britton
- Grade Level: 4-8
- ISBN: 978-1-61783-486-8
- Length: 32 pgs
- Price: $20
- Publisher: Abdo Publishing
- Rating: R
- Reading level: 5
- Series: Economy in Action
- Year Published: 2013
Students are hearing a lot about “the economy.” Abdo Publishers has a series called Economy in Action. This book helps students and guides teachers in an introductory understanding of economic systems. In each two page spread, questions such as, “What is an economy?”, “How does an economy work?”, or “What are the three main types . . . → Read More: Economic Systems
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on November 15th, 2012 Author: Monica Carretero Illustrator: Series: Publisher: Cuento de Luz ISBN: 978-8415241065 Year Published: 2011 Price: $14.95 Grade Level: K-5 Rating: AD
- Author: Monica Carretero
- Grade Level: K-5
- ISBN: 978-8415241065
- Length: 32 pages
- Price: $14.95
- Publisher: Cuento de Luz
- Rating: AD
- Year Published: 2011
Packaged like a “Picture Book”, I was surprised to see that this title is actually chocked full of information and activities about witches. It begins with a story about two kids who received an urgent letter from their Aunt Amarga, instructing them to come to her house where they learned that she is the last . . . → Read More: Witches Handbook
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on November 15th, 2012 Author: Steve Jenkins Illustrator: Series: Publisher: Houghton Mifflin ISBN: 978-0-547-68084-2 Year Published: 2012 Price: $16.99 Grade Level: Rating: R
- Author: Steve Jenkins
- ISBN: 978-0-547-68084-2
- Length: 31 pages
- Price: $16.99
- Rating: R
- Year Published: 2012
- Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Hurray…another gorgeous, large-format book by Steve Jenkins. The stunningly rich and vivid illustrations entice the reader in. Then you are hooked by the impeccably researched wealth of information. “Line up every kind of plant and animal on Earth…and one of every four will be a beetle.” There are even forest fire beetles with special heat-sensors . . . → Read More: The Beetle Book
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on April 13th, 2012 Author: Lauren Child Illustrator: Lauren Child Series: Charlie and Lola Publisher: Dial ISBN: 978-0-8037-3586-6 Year Published: 2011 Price: 16.99 Grade Level: PreK-3 Rating: R
- Author: Lauren Child
- Grade Level: PreK-3
- Illustrator: Lauren Child
- ISBN: 978-0-8037-3586-6
- Length: 32 pgs
- Price: 16.99
- Publisher: Dial
- Rating: R
- Reading level: 2-3
- Series: Charlie and Lola
- Year Published: 2011
Another tried and true Lola and Charlie story with an issue close to the heart of reading fans…fear of losing our best friend. Lola and Lotta do everything together. They play witches making spells. They swap lunch items. They observe the tadpoles in the school fishpond, imagining the tadpoles are playing hide and seek. When . . . → Read More: My Best Best Friend
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on April 12th, 2012 Author: Jef Czekaj Illustrator: Jef Czekaj Series: Publisher: Charlesbridge Pub. Inc. ISBN: 978-1-58089-228-5 Year Published: 2011 Price: 12.95 Grade Level: 1-3 Rating: R
- Author: Jef Czekaj
- Grade Level: 1-3
- Illustrator: Jef Czekaj
- ISBN: 978-1-58089-228-5
- Length: 48 pgs
- Price: 12.95
- Publisher: Charlesbridge Pub. Inc.
- Rating: R
- Reading level: 2-3
- Year Published: 2011
The letters in Alphabet City are happy with the status quo except for X, who calls for a new alphabet where he can have a more prominent place in words and not be the third from last all the time. During a dream before the vote, he revisits the responsibilities of the the other letters . . . → Read More: A Call for a New Alphabet
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on April 12th, 2012 Author: Karla Oceanak Illustrator: Kendra Spanjer Series: An Aldo Zelnick Comic Novel Publisher: Bailiwick Press ISBN: 978-1-934649-06-0 Year Published: 2010 Price: 12.95 Grade Level: 2-8 Rating: R*
- Author: Karla Oceanak
- Grade Level: 2-8
- Illustrator: Kendra Spanjer
- ISBN: 978-1-934649-06-0
- Length: 149
- Price: 12.95
- Publisher: Bailiwick Press
- Rating: R*
- Reading level: 3-5
- Series: An Aldo Zelnick Comic Novel
- Year Published: 2010
I’ve been waiting for a series to come along that could knock Wimpy Kid off its pedestal as the most popular series in my library. Well, this may be it… Aldo Zelnick Comic Novels. Artsy Fartsy, Bogus, and Cahoots. These are an action packed alphabet series with laugh-out-loud, smart, fast moving stories. The slap stick . . . → Read More: Bogus
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on March 21st, 2012 Author: Ruth Strother Illustrator: Bob Marstall Series: Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press ISBN: 978-1585364541 Year Published: 2011 Price: 16.95 Grade Level: K and up Rating: R*
- Author: Ruth Strother
- Grade Level: K and up
- Illustrator: Bob Marstall
- ISBN: 978-1585364541
- Length: 40 pgs
- Price: 16.95
- Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
- Rating: R*
- Reading level: 4-8
- Year Published: 2011
A visual delight for children to take this “abecedarian journey” through our planet’s ecosystems, geological wonders and weather phenomena. Enlarged, captivating watercolor drawings rivet your eyes, as the side bar text informs and instructs. A poem accompanies each letter to ground your mind to the subject. I appreciated learning about an unusual geological landform . . . → Read More: B is for Blue Planet: An Earth Science Alphabet
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on March 21st, 2012 Author: Joyce Sidman Illustrator: Rick Allen Series: Publisher: Houghton Mifflin ISBN: 978-0-547-15228-8 Year Published: 2010 Price: 16.99 Grade Level: 3-6 Rating: R*
- Author: Joyce Sidman
- Grade Level: 3-6
- Illustrator: Rick Allen
- ISBN: 978-0-547-15228-8
- Length: 32 pages
- Price: 16.99
- Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
- Rating: R*
- Year Published: 2010
Nocturnal life in the forest is brilliantly illuminated throught poems, compelling linoleum-block print artwork, and detailed notes of the subject on each double-page spread. The poetic forms are quite varied as nine creatures are featured…snail, primrose moth, great horned owl (Dark Emperor), orb spider, baby porcupette, cricket, wandering red efts (newt, salamander)…plus the oak, mushrooms, . . . → Read More: Dark Emperor
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on March 21st, 2012 Author: Xavier W. Niz Illustrator: Jesus Aburto Series: Graphic Flash Historical Fiction Publisher: Capstone/Stone Arch Books ISBN: 978-1-4342-1581-9 Year Published: 2010 Price: 18.48 Grade Level: 3-5 Rating: Ad
- Author: Xavier W. Niz
- Grade Level: 3-5
- Illustrator: Jesus Aburto
- ISBN: 978-1-4342-1581-9
- Length: 49 pgs
- Price: 18.48
- Publisher: Capstone/Stone Arch Books
- Rating: Ad
- Reading level: 2.5
- Series: Graphic Flash Historical Fiction
- Year Published: 2010
Utilizing both novel text and graphic novel, this historical fiction may appeal mostly to reluctant readers. Based on the late 1970′s where, in California, a drought caused most swimming to be emptied, skateboarders honed their skills “in the deep end”. A surfboarding store, in Venice Beach, (Zephyr Productions) joined with a skateboarding team (Z-Boys) to . . . → Read More: Drop In to the Deep End: Skateboarding with the Z-Boys
Reviewed by Donna Dannenmiller, on February 7th, 2012 Author: Don Brown Illustrator: Don Brown Series: Publisher: Houghton Mifflin ISBN: 978-0-547-19487-5 Year Published: 2010 Price: 17.00 Grade Level: 2-5 Rating: R*
- Author: Don Brown
- Grade Level: 2-5
- Illustrator: Don Brown
- ISBN: 978-0-547-19487-5
- Length: 32
- Price: 17.00
- Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
- Rating: R*
- Year Published: 2010
What does the life of a boy look like, who, as a man created 1,093 inventions, many of which profoundly impacted and improved our world. This picture book biography with charming watercolor and ink illustrations, follows young Tom’s life, presenting little episodes that illuminates his personality, full of mischief, boundless energy, and an insatiable thirst . . . → Read More: A Wizard from the Start: The Incredible Boyhood & Amazing Inventions of Thomas Edison
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