This is a picture book about a king who outlawed music because all the musicians sounded so horrible.  That is, until one enterprising group invented musical notation so that they could play together, harmonizing their sound.  Based on real historical events from the time of Emperor Charlemagne around 800 A.D., which are explained in a detailed Author’s Note in the back, this picture book is an excellent addition to a school library.  In addition to the history lesson, several medieval instruments are introduced including the pipe, tabor, mandolin, contrabass recorder, sackbut and harp.  The illustrations are comical and weave in musical sounds and notations.  I can’t wait to share this wonderful new addition with our Music Teacher at school.

This picture book provides an excellent historical account of the development of train technology.  From the earliest trains to the recent engineering marvels, this full color picture book clearly explains how and why trains have developed and changed our world.  The text is very easy to read and understand, following logically through time.  The illustrations are bold and train diagrams are clearly labeled.  There is an AR test (Level 8.3, 1 point) which will make it especially attractive to our student readers.

This is a funny and rhyming picture book about what it would be like if a bunch of pirates went to school.  Full of pirate references and comical situations, this book is sure to entertain at story time.  I think K – 2nd grade students would enjoy this book as a read-aloud and would be amused by the illustrations as much as the text.

We have several Cowgirl Kate books in our library and you’ve got to love a cowgirl and her talking horse.  These early reader chapter books are sweet and fun.  In this story, Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa (her horse) help deliver a new calf, adopt a puppy and help some baby owls.  The illustrations are colorful watercolors, cartoon-style, and expressive.  I recommend this series especially for 1st and 2nd grade emerging readers.