Copyright 2011 publications on the planets and space, can be confusing at best.  This text covers eight planets, four dwarf planets and and the asteroid belt.  Another 2011 publication, in my library, is titled…13 Planets. Suffice it to say that the planets in this text definitely do exist, even though there may be more out there!  Each two page spread covers a planet with cryptic, yet highly interesting facts.  I like having a resource that quickly facilitates comparison of the planets.  Gorgeous photographs and insets are prominent on each page.  The Planet Venus page shows a thermometer and the relative planet temperatures, with Venus being the hottest at 800 degrees fahrenheit. Another extreme fact explains why the sun and the moon look about the same size, as viewed from the earth.  Primary patrons will appreciate this quick reference with it’s wonderful visuals.

This is a large picture book with fabulous cartoon type illustrations by Chris Gall.  It’s the humorous accounting of a day in the classroom at a school where the regular teacher doesn’t show up, and instead, a substitute.  This is no ordinary substitute teacher, it’s actually a substitute creacher.  (The “T” in teacher was erased from the blackboard and a “Cr” was added to the remainder of the word).  This substitute creacher has eyes in the back of his head, appears to be somework of space alien.  The creacher warns the kids with tales of doom regarding previous misbehaving students.  Then he tells the story of a bully who stole Halloween candy from a magical gnome and the gnome cursed him with forever looking like the “creacher” his was dressed up as.  Yes, it was the teacher himself! The students feel sorry for the substitute and he passes out candy to make up for his error and on the way home offers one to an elderly man, who happens to be the gnome.  All is forgiven and the creacher transforms back into a boy and returns to his childhood home.

Contains 7 mini-chapters (usually of 1 – 3 paragraphs) : Xtreme Werewolves, Werewolf History, Becoming a Werewolf, Strengths and Weaknesses, Real-Life Werewolves, Werewolf Movies, and Werewolf Games. This book will treat the eye more than the intellect with its large amount of graphics in comparison to the amount of text.

A few points of interest: a person can become a werewolf during a full moon, by being bitten by a werewolf, or by being cursed. Zeus , in ancient Greece, turned a man into a wolf, “In 1764 King Louis XV [of France] sent troops to kill the Beast of G`evaudau…” , and in 1590, a serial killer said he was a werewolf.

Some words of interest from the index include: lycanthrope, clinical lycanthrophy, hypertrichosis, Jo-Jo the Dog-Face Boy, shape-shifter, and wolfsbane.

Dog “doings” cover the gamut of dog breed/personality types and behavior through intensely bold, crisp, clean, comic-style illustrations and terse rhyming text. Each page illustrates a dog you have known…”Dog inspecting/Dog protecting/Dog that knows the way to guide/Dog that knows just where to hide/Dog in a chase/Dog in disgrace”.  Primary readers, many of which who adore dog books, will pour over these pages, again and again, riveting to the pictures and the stories they tell about beloved dogs.  Beginning readers will find easy success in learning to “read” these pages back to their parents, after a few ‘run-throughs’.  I wish I had a video of my six month old granddaughter totally engrossed in my reading of this book to her.  She couldn’t take her eyes off the pages.

Cheese loving mice Horace, Morris, and Dolores live and breathe cheese until Dolores suddenly becomes allergic to it before the 1st Annual Everything Cheese Festival. Dolores and her mother work hard to become cheese-free. In the end, Dolores becomes a cheese-free gourmet after one last allergy attack brought on by the temptation of the upcoming Everything Cheese Festival.

Amy Walrod’s “cheesy” illustrations make this book a visual delight: Movie posters  of “Gorgonzola’s Revenge” and “Dr. Cheddar and Mr. Hyde” outside of the Muenster Movie Madness theater, an orange cheese ball machine (instead of the usual gumball machine), Delores’ x-ray full of wedges of cheese, a cafe’ with tables made of giant wheels of cheese, and sitting around a cheese fondue pot under the night stars.

On the heals of a very successful crowd pleaser, Rhyming Dust Bunnies, comes  Here comes the big, mean dust bunnies! Although the sequel lacks the punch of the first book, primary kids will still enjoy this clever take on bullies.  The rhyming text affords the elementary teacher a place to take off on an exploration of rhyming words and or “family words”.  The bold, comical illustrations gravitate children to these humarous books!  Be sure you read them in order!!

On the book jacket is the note “10-Minute Bedtime Stories,” to show that the stories are short, although I’m not so sure before bedtime is the best as they can be violent and cause nightmares.  Similar to fairy tales, this compilation of seven stories introduces the reader (or listener) to Ali Baba, Aladdin and Sindbad the Sailor and their adventures.  Stories are simple without too much imagery or multisyllabic words.  The illustrations are sweet, however, I had trouble figuring out if Sindbad was a fox and what other animals portrayed the characters.  The illustrations probably balance out the viciousness of the stories (i.e., sailors eaten alive by snakes).  Nevertheless, this book is a great addition to an elementary library to bring awareness of the classics to children.

This is such a cute book with the extraordinary animal friendships.  The pictures are so cute they draw you in.  The stories are very interesting and unusual.  What a great book to look at.

Drea is who she is.  Smart, witty, self-aware.  But a lot of people treat her with gloved hands, hushed voices, or they go to the the other side of the spectrum, all out mocking and bullying.  As a 16 year old who is literally “on the spectrum” with Asperger’s, she wants to be normal, just like any other 16 year old in the world.  Enter stage left Naomi.  Naomi is the purple haired drug user who accepts Drea for who she is.  This friendship becomes the perfect character contrast for a Venn diagram assignment.  Next, enter stage right Justin.  Justin is the nice guy but is recovering addict who also “gets” Drea’s quirks that come with Asperger’s.  All three share a passion for music, and of course create a band.  Justin and Drea’s relationship is natural, easy-going yet tingling with discovery of what passion is.  Namoi wants this too but has been looking for it through the drug crowd that uses her.  Naomi’s issues take center stage by the end, and unfortunately this trio will never make it to the big stage.  Author Tara Kelly’s account of what life might be like for a high functioning autistic girl coming out of her shell because she found true friends is a great read for high school and public libraries.

Ghosts are a good topic for the series, The Unexplained, because many people have differing opinions on whether or not they exist.  This book presents both points of view with supporting explanations.  Although there is no solid proof either way, the reader is left to form their own beliefs.  There are stories of ghosts and color photos along with a glossary, index, and sources for more information.  This 24-page book provides a balanced beginning introduction to ghosts.

The Bermuda Triangle is a good topic for t he series, The Unexplained, because of the mystery surrounding disappearances in the area.  The 24-page book provides possible explanations but leaves the reader to form one’s own opinions.  Color photos and illustrations are on every page.  Glossary and index included.

This collection of 20 poems highlight things a young boy may do on his weekends – from going to the fair or to Grandma’s, getting a haircut, doing homework, or just being bored.  Most poems are humorous but some lack a rhythmic flow where the rhyming words seem forced.  Illustrator Mark Beech’s colorful ink and watercolor paintings add energy and details to each poem.  Young readers will relate to the topics in many of the poems.

Grab cardboard and wrapping paper to recycle into creative, useful items.  Understandable step-by-step instructions show how to make cartons, bags, envelopes, frames, bulletin board organizers, game boards, and jewelry as well as how to make pressed paper.  The illustrations for the steps of each craft are colorful and clear.  Most crafts can be easily made by upper elementary children with little assistance by adults – except perhaps the pressed paper project.  The glossary includes pronunciation which is helpful for words like “couture” and “decoupage”.  An index and other resources complete this book.

Sasspants is worried.  Mr. Venezi, the pet shop owner, has put up a “help wanted” sign in his window!  What if this means he sells more pets and Sasspants’ friends have to leave their homes?!?  Sasspants sets out to convince Mr. Venezi that he doesn’t need more help after all, but when her efforts are sabotaged, Sasspants must find the culprit!  This charming graphic novel for kids takes a common theme in children’s literature (leaving home) and uses it as the basis for a mystery.  Sasspants is aided (or maybe hampered) by Hamisher the hamster, a goofy sidekick for the ages.  The story is told on square, approachable pages and in bright, friendly colors.  Although this is the third the Guinea PIG series, the reader can enjoy the story with no knowledge of Sasspants’ other adventures.