Reviewed by Mary Pong, on March 11th, 2013 Author: Hamilton, John Illustrator: Photos Series: Military Aircraft / A & D Xtreme Publisher: ABDO publishing ISBN: 978-1-61783-268-0 Year Published: 2012 Price: Grade Level: grades 4, 5, 6, & 7 Rating: R
- Author: Hamilton, John
- Grade Level: grades 4, 5, 6, & 7
- Illustrator: Photos
- ISBN: 978-1-61783-268-0
- Length: 32 pages
- Publisher: ABDO publishing
- Rating: R
- Series: Military Aircraft / A & D Xtreme
- Year Published: 2012
“The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole fighter jet. It Is flown by the United States Air Force and Air National Guard.”(page 5) So begins this 32 page, 13 chapter book by John Hamilton. The photography will amaze the reader with every turn of the page. Photos taken of the F-16 flying in formation and . . . → Read More: F-16 Fighting Falcons
Reviewed by Courtney Morgan, on March 10th, 2013 Author: J. Patrick Lewis Illustrator: Michael Slack Series: Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books / Houghton Mifflin Harcourt ISBN: 978-0-547-51338-6 Year Published: 2012 Price: 16.99 Grade Level: 3-5 Rating:
- Author: J. Patrick Lewis, additional purchase
- Grade Level: 3-5
- Illustrator: Michael Slack
- ISBN: 978-0-547-51338-6
- Length: 37 p.
- Price: 16.99
- Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books / Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Year Published: 2012
I debated about whether to give this book an “additional purchase,” or a “not recommended.” Since I really wished I could recommend it, I decided “additional purchase” was the compromise rating. Each two-page shares a twist on a classic poem (“based on the poem…by…), in which a mathematical puzzler (or two) has been tucked. It’s . . . → Read More: Edgar Allan Poe’s Pie: Math puzzlers in classic poems
Reviewed by Courtney Morgan, on March 9th, 2013 Author: Joyce Sidman Illustrator: Beth Krommes Series: Publisher: Houghton Mifflin ISBN: 978-0-547-31583-6 Year Published: 2011 Price: 16.99 Grade Level: All ages Rating: Highly Recommended
- Author: Joyce Sidman
- Grade Level: All ages
- Illustrator: Beth Krommes
- ISBN: 978-0-547-31583-6
- Price: 16.99
- Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
- Rating: Highly Recommended
- Year Published: 2011
Stunning! Fabulous! Amazing! The simple text is almost poetical as it describes a spiral as a snuggling shape, a growing shape, a strong shape, a clever shape, and the gorgeous illustrations on each page depict examples from nature where spirals are found in the context described in that bit of text. Labels tucked cozily in . . . → Read More: Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature
Reviewed by Raina Sedore, on March 8th, 2013 Author: Seiple, Samantha Illustrator: Series: Publisher: Scholastic ISBN: 9780545296540 Year Published: 2011 Price: $17.99 Grade Level: 6-12 Rating: R
- Author: Seiple, Samantha
- Publisher: Scholastic
- ISBN: 9780545296540
- Year Published: 2011
- Price: $17.99
- Grade Level: 6-12
- Rating: R
If you live in the United States, you probably know that Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese military in 1941, an act which triggered America’s involvement in World War II. You probably DON’T know, however, that the Japanese invaded Alaska’s Aleutian Islands six months later. This meticulously researched book tells that story.
The . . . → Read More: Ghosts in the Fog: The Untold Story of Alaska’s WWII Invasion
Reviewed by Carol Hahn, on February 27th, 2013 Author: Van Vleet, Carmella Illustrator: Rizvi, Farah Series: Build It Yourself Publisher: Nomad Press ISBN: 9781934670828 Year Published: 2011 Price: $21.95 Grade Level: 4th and up Rating: R
- Author: Van Vleet, Carmella
- Illustrator: Rizvi, Farah
- Grade Level: 4th and up
- ISBN: 9781934670828
- Length: 119 pgs
- Price: $21.95
- Publisher: Nomad Press
- Year Published: 2011
- Rating: R
- Series: Build It Yourself
Students who are interested in history or geography or travel, will love this book. It includes the seven wonders of the ancient world as the seven wonders of the newer world. The first seven are all located in the Mediterranean Sea area and the structures of the newer list include countries such as India, China . . . → Read More: Seven Wonders of the World
Reviewed by Christine Evans, on February 21st, 2013 Author: Gwenyth Swain Illustrator: Series: Interactive History Adventure
You Choose Books Publisher: Capstone Press ISBN: 978-1-4296-6020-4 Year Published: 2012 Price: $24.00 Grade Level: 4-8 Rating: R*
- Author: Gwenyth Swain
- Grade Level: 4-8
- ISBN: 978-1-4296-6020-4
- Price: $24.00
- Publisher: Capstone Press
- Rating: R*
- Series: Interactive History Adventure
You Choose Books
- Year Published: 2012
This is a “you choose” book set during World War I. There are three story paths including resisting the Germans in Belgium, joining the British military, or enlisting in the American forces. With 41 choices the reader can enjoy this book with a new story ending 21 unique ways. This book should appeal to boys . . . → Read More: World War I
Reviewed by Carrie Dye, on February 17th, 2013 Author: Illustrator: Series: Publisher: Chicago Review Press ISBN: 978-1-61374 064 4 Year Published: 2012 Price: $16.95 Grade Level: Rating:
- Publisher: Chicago Review Press
- Year Published: 2012
- Authors: Gurstelle, William
- ISBN: 978-1-61374 064 4
- Price: $16.95
Synopsis: William Gurstelle, a professional engineer, is a believer in DIY Science and the creativity of amateurs. He wanted to create a book to inspire new generation of young scientists and engineers and encourage hands on experimentation. He was told he would never find a publisher due to safety concerns with the projects he . . . → Read More: Backyard Ballistics: Build potato cannons, paper match rockets, Cincinnati fire kites, tennis ball mortars, and more dynamite devices by William Gurstelle 2nd edition.
Reviewed by Carrie Dye, on February 17th, 2013 Author: Fitzmaurice, Kathryn Illustrator: Series: Publisher: Viking ISBN: 978 0 670 012923 Year Published: 2012 Price: $16.99 Grade Level: Rating:
- Author: Fitzmaurice, Kathryn
- ISBN: 978 0 670 012923
- Publisher: Viking
- Year Published: 2012
- Price: $16.99
Synopsis: After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Tetsu Kishi, his mother and sister Kimi are sent to Arizona to a relocation camp called Gila River. Their father is sent elsewhere to be questioned by the government. At Gila River the family faces a harsh climate with rattlesnakes and scorpions, a community latrine with no . . . → Read More: A Diamond in the Desert by Kathryn Fitzmaurice
Reviewed by Kristi Bonds, on February 14th, 2013 Author: Conor Kostick Illustrator: Series: final book in the Avatar Chronicles trilogy Publisher: Viking: Penguin Young Readers Group ISBN: 978-0-670-01218-3 Year Published: 2011 Price: Grade Level: Rating:
- Author: Conor Kostick
- Series: final book in the Avatar Chronicles trilogy
- Publisher: Viking: Penguin Young Readers Group
- Year Published: 2011
- Length: 440
- ISBN: 978-0-670-01218-3
The final book in the Avatar Chronicles trilogy, Edda‘s story follows immediately upon the previous books, Epic and Sage. As very little back story is presented in Edda, it is best read after the first two books. The main character, Penelope has known no world beside the video game universe of Edda her entire life. . . . → Read More: Edda
Reviewed by Christine Evans, on February 7th, 2013 Author: Heather E. Schwartz Illustrator: Series: Girls Science Club Publisher: Capstone Press ISBN: 978-1-4296-7677-9 Year Published: 2012 Price: $20.49 Grade Level: 3-9 Rating: R*
- Author: Heather E. Schwartz
- Grade Level: 3-9
- ISBN: 978-1-4296-7677-9
- Price: $20.49
- Publisher: Capstone Press
- Rating: R*
- Series: Girls Science Club
- Year Published: 2012
This book has instructions for 10 simple engineering projects that girls might particularly enjoy. Each project has a very specific material list and most would require a quick and inexpensive trip to the hardware store. The instructions are clear and easy to follow and a scientific explanation is included with each project. A glossary, index . . . → Read More: Cool Engineering Activities for Girls
Reviewed by Janet Enlow, on February 6th, 2013 Author: Weyn, Suzanne Illustrator: Series: Bar Code Publisher: Scholastic Press ISBN: 978-0-545-42529-2 Year Published: 2012 Price: $17.99 Grade Level: 5th, 6th, 7th Rating: A
- Author: Weyn, Suzanne
- Grade Level: 5th, 6th, 7th
- ISBN: 978-0-545-42529-2
- Length: 202 pgs.
- Price: $17.99
- Publisher: Scholastic Press
- Rating: A
- Reading level: 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade
- Series: Bar Code
- Year Published: 2012
As the law states, Grace gets her bar code tattoo the day of her 17th birthday, although Eric, her crush, warns her against it. It appears that Global-1, a large corporation tracks people through a tracking device injected with the bar code. Grace, the daughter of the bar code invention, goes home to find that . . . → Read More: Bar Code Prophecy
Reviewed by Carol Hahn, on February 6th, 2013 Author: Renner, Ellen Illustrator: Swain, Wilson Series: Publisher: Houghton Mifflin ISBN: 97805477444469 Year Published: 2012 Price: $15.99 Grade Level: 4-8 Rating: R*
- Author: Renner, Ellen
- Grade Level: 4-8
- ISBN: 97805477444469
- Length: 390 pages
- Price: $15.99
- Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
- Year Published: 2012
- Illustrator: Swain, Wilson
- Rating: R*
Charlie, short for Charlotte, is the daughter of a king who is slowly going mad. Ever since her mother, the queen, left in the middle of the night six years ago, the king has been lost and Charlie has been left on her own. A nasty housekeeper who thrives on punishing her, locking her in . . . → Read More: Castle of Shadows
Reviewed by Kristi Bonds, on February 5th, 2013 Author: Ivan Suvanjieff and Dawn Giffor Engle Illustrator: Series: Publisher: Puffin Books ISBN: 9780142412343 Year Published: 2008 Price: 16.99 Grade Level: Rating:
- Author: Ivan Suvanjieff and Dawn Giffor Engle
- ISBN: 9780142412343
- Price: 16.99
- Publisher: Puffin Books
- Year Published: 2008
How brilliant to connect socially motivated young people with adult leaders, Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, who have actually achieved recognition for making change happen. Peace Jam is an inspiring look at the work of the Nobel Laureates and how that work can also be accomplished by young people all over the world. Motivated individuals can . . . → Read More: Peace Jam
Reviewed by Gail Blake, on February 5th, 2013 Author: Dougherty, Terri Illustrator: Series: Publisher: Capstone ISBN: 9781429676601 Year Published: 2012 Price: 20.54 Grade Level: 3-9 Rating: R
- Author: Dougherty, Terri
- Grade Level: 3-9
- ISBN: 9781429676601
- Price: 20.54
- Publisher: Capstone
- Rating: R
- Reading level: 3-4
- Year Published: 2012
This book was so full of interesting facts about tornadoes through history. The glossary words are not only found in the back, but also on the pages they are used to help increase understanding as you read. The pictures give you a feel for what tornadoes can do.
The end of the book gives good . . . → Read More: Worst Tornadoes of all time, The
Reviewed by Kristi Bonds, on February 1st, 2013 Author: Patrick Jones Illustrator: Series: Publisher: Millbrook Press ISBN: 9780761386353 Year Published: 2012 Price: 32.00 Grade Level: 6-12 Rating:
- Author: Patrick Jones
- Grade Level: 6-12
- ISBN: 9780761386353
- Price: 32.00
- Publisher: Millbrook Press
- Year Published: 2012
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for your main event.” So begins Patrick Jones’s 60 page chronological tour of the “sports entertainment” genre known as professional wrestling. The first 16 pages offer up an interesting historical timeline of the key match ups over the 100+ years of “entertainment” wrestling. The second chapter basically gives . . . → Read More: The Main Event: The Moves and Muscle of Pro Wrestling
Reviewed by Mary Pong, on February 1st, 2013 Author: Doug Cushman Illustrator: Doug Cushman Series: Publisher: Charlesbridge ISBN: 978-1-58089-401-2 Year Published: 2012 Price: Grade Level: 4, 5, 6 & 7 grades Rating: R
- Author: Doug Cushman
- Grade Level: 4, 5, 6 & 7 grades
- Illustrator: Doug Cushman
- ISBN: 978-1-58089-401-2
- Length: 40 pages
- Publisher: Charlesbridge
- Rating: R
- Reading level: 750 Lexile
- Year Published: 2012
“Author and illustrator Doug Cushman hams it up in this hog-wild homage to classic monster movies.”
The poems build and build on the horror of the renown ‘creature’ only to be dashed to pieces by the last 2 lines which are groaners.
Among the 17 creatures are: Frankenswine, The Mummy Pig, The Werehog, Porker From . . . → Read More: Pigmares: Porcine Poems of the Silver Screen
Reviewed by Debbie Koss-Warner, on January 30th, 2013 Author: Jess Rothenberg Illustrator: Series: Publisher: Dial Books ISBN: 9780803737204 Year Published: 2012 Price: $17.99 Grade Level: Grade 7 and Up Rating: R*
- Author: Jess Rothenberg
- Grade Level: Grade 7 and Up
- ISBN: 9780803737204
- Price: $17.99
- Publisher: Dial Books
- Rating: R*
- Reading level: Grade 6
- Year Published: 2012
Teen Brie literally dies of a broken heart. She ends up in a place like Limbo; not really gone, but not able to connect with the living. She meets a mysterious spirit named Patrick who might be connected to her past. Overall, Brie must relinquish her former life and accept the fact that she is . . . → Read More: Catastrophic History of You and Me, The
Reviewed by Debbie Koss-Warner, on January 30th, 2013 Author: Chris Wooding Illustrator: Cassandra Diaz Series: Publisher: Scholastic ISBN: 9780439877596 Year Published: 2012 Price: $12.99 Grade Level: Grade and Up Rating: R*
- Author: Chris Wooding
- Grade Level: Grade and Up
- Illustrator: Cassandra Diaz
- ISBN: 9780439877596
- Price: $12.99
- Publisher: Scholastic
- Rating: R*
- Reading level: Grade 5
- Year Published: 2012
In this fantasy graphic novel, the main character, Seifer Tombchewer, has a great life being one of the most popular boys in his small village. But that all changes one day when he is kidnapped by the royal guard. It turns out that Prince Pandemonium, the next in line to the throne, has disappeared and . . . → Read More: Pandemonium
Reviewed by Debbie Koss-Warner, on January 30th, 2013 Author: Dan Jolley Illustrator: Joelle Jones Series: Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group ISBN: 9780761349037 Year Published: 2012 Price: $29.27 Grade Level: Grades 6 and Up Rating: R*
- Author: Dan Jolley
- Grade Level: Grades 6 and Up
- Illustrator: Joelle Jones
- ISBN: 9780761349037
- Price: $29.27
- Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group
- Rating: R*
- Reading level: Grade 5
- Year Published: 2012
In this graphic novel, there is a serious plague that kills off everyone that is over 12 years old. The main character, Lisa Nelson, is one of the surviving 12 year olds. In a world without adults, she must try to keep her younger brother and herself alive. Lisa must keep her family safe from . . . → Read More: Girl Who Owned a City, The
Reviewed by Christine Evans, on January 30th, 2013 Author: Illustrator: Series: Publisher: Trafalgar Square Books ISBN: 978-1-57076-532-2 Year Published: 2012 Price: $15.95 Grade Level: 3-8 Rating: R*
- Authors: Andrea and Markus Eschbach
- Grade Level: 3-8
- ISBN: 978-1-57076-532-2
- Price: $15.95
- Publisher: Trafalgar Square Books
- Rating: R*
- Year Published: 2012
This book is a clearly written step by step guide to basic horse training for kids. Every page has several demonstrative photographs along with instructions for training objectives. The philosophy is horse control through respect, body language and establishing yourself in the hierarchy as leader of your horse. The authors explain that training a horse . . . → Read More: How to Speak Horse
Reviewed by Gail Blake, on January 18th, 2013 Author: Cole, Henry Illustrator: Cole, Henry Series: Publisher: Scholastic Press ISBN: 9780545399975 Year Published: 2012 Price: 16.99 Grade Level: all ages Rating: R*
- Author: Cole, Henry
- Grade Level: all ages
- Illustrator: Cole, Henry
- ISBN: 9780545399975
- Price: 16.99
- Publisher: Scholastic Press
- Rating: R*
- Year Published: 2012
This is an amazing picture book! The drawings are each filled with the story of our history during the civil war. They pull you into the events, and make you think about the part each character plays. They speak of love for others, and courage to help those in need. Good for all ages.
Reviewed by Kristi Bonds, on January 17th, 2013 Author: 50 Cent Illustrator: Series: Publisher: ISBN: 9781595144782 Year Published: 2011 Price: 16.99 Grade Level: Rating: R*
- Author: 50 Cent
- ISBN: 9781595144782
- Price: 16.99
- Rating: R*
- Year Published: 2011
Curtis Jackson III, aka 50 cent, surprises music fans and readers alike with Playground, a one-of-a-kind story about fitting in and the paths people take. In 13 year old “Butterball’s” world, every day is a new battle: dodging the glares of his classmates, eating lunch alone in the bathroom stall, wishing his weight would stop . . . → Read More: Playground
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 Gail Blake, on January 14th, 2013 Author: Galdone, Paull Illustrator: Series: Publisher: HMH Books ISBN: 9780547668550 Year Published: 2012 Price: 7.91 Grade Level: all grades Rating: R
- Author: Galdone, Paull
- Grade Level: all grades
- ISBN: 9780547668550
- Price: 7.91
- Publisher: HMH Books
- Rating: R
- Reading level: 4th
- Year Published: 2012
This is the traditional story of little Red Riding Hood who disobeys her mother and talks to strangers in the woods. In the end little red is alive and grandmother is found alive. but the wolf dies of fright.
Reviewed by Carrie Dye, on January 11th, 2013 Author: Caroline Lawrence Illustrator: Series: Western Mysteries Publisher: G. P. Putnam’s Sons ISBN: 9780399256332 Year Published: 2012 Price: Grade Level: Rating:
- Author: Caroline Lawrence
- ISBN: 9780399256332
- Publisher: G. P. Putnam’s Sons
- Year Published: 2012
- Series: Western Mysteries
Synopsis: In 1862, 12 year old P. K. Pinkerton discovers his foster parents murdered in their cabin near Virginia City. He exhibits no grief because of his autism. But he has the sense that his own life is in danger when he discovers that the notorious outlaw Whittlin’ Walt is responsible for the murders. . . . → Read More: Case of the Deadly Desperados
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