The chapters are short so as to not be too intimidating for young readers.  The characters are believable, and well-developed, so the reader becomes emotionally entanged The plot is gripping enough to keep the reader always wanting to read one more chapter.  The historical setting allows teaches while story-telling.  As an adult I was drawn in, and finished the book in 2 days, and learned a lot along the way, and I know I’ve got a lot of boys who are interested in war stories, so I’m looking forward to recommending this one to them.  It tells the story of a twelve-year-old boy coming of age in the midst of WWII’s Nazi-occupied France.  With his father stranded in England and his older brother in a Nazi prison, he is working to keep his mother and sister safe while also assisting the dangerous and secretive work of the underground resistance movement working to get downed airmen out of the country, under nazi noses, and back into the war effort. Along the way, he experiences personal growth as well, learning to place being proud of himself over worrying about the opinions of others.  Historical notes, timeline, and glossary in the back help place the story in historical context for students who may be unfamiliar with the time period.

To be honest, I’m not particularly a fan of the Rookie Ready to Learn series in general:  I find the activities in the back of each are often formulaic and only tenuously related to the story; each one ends by telling you someone’s version of what you just learned by reading this story (besides being patronizing, they often don’t hit the mark).  But if you do like this kind of thing, or you’re willing to ignore the extra features that don’t enhance them, the central stories are often good little stories, with redeeming qualities of their own.  This one in particular I’m afraid has little to recommend it.  It has none of the repetition or rhythm or rhyme that other books in this series have to help support emergent readers.  It does have illustrations that support the simple text.  It tells the story of a cat coming to wake up a young girl, which I guess will be content that some young children will be able to relate to, but it makes for a rather bland story.

To be honest, I’m not particularly a fan of the Rookie Ready to Learn series in general: I find the activities in the back of each are often formulaic and only tenuously related to the story; each one ends by telling you someone’s version of what you just learned by reading this story (besides being patronizing, they often don’t hit the mark). But if you do like this kind of thing, or you’re willing to ignore the extra features that don’t enhance them, the central stories are often good little stories, with redeeming qualities of their own.  This spanish language story uses lots of rhythm and repetition in the text to describe what it’s like to have a loose tooth.  Fun illustrations support the text for emergent readers.

To be honest, I’m not particularly a fan of the Rookie Ready to Learn series in general:  I find the activities in the back of each are often formulaic and only tenuously related to the story; each one ends by telling you someone’s version of what you just learned by reading this story (besides being patronizing, they often don’t hit the mark).  But if you do like this kind of thing, or you’re willing to ignore the extra features that don’t enhance them, the central stories are often good little stories, with redeeming qualities of their own.  With one to two simple sentences per page, this one outlines how life is different for a young girl after her parents divorce, listing things she does with mom, things she does with dad, and things she does with both, assuring readers that they both still love her, just like always.

To be honest, I’m not particularly a fan of the Rookie Ready to Learn series in general:  I find the activities in the back of each are often formulaic and only tenuously related to the story; each one ends by telling you someone’s version of what you just learned by reading this story (besides being patronizing, they often don’t hit the mark).  But if you do like this kind of thing, or you’re willing to ignore the extra features that don’t enhance them, the central stories are often good little stories, with redeeming qualities of their own.  This one uses simple rhyming text, supported by the illustrations, to list all the things a big brother doesn’t want to do, but he does, so that he can set a good example for his baby sister.  It’s a cute book, helpful as a tool for emergent readers.

To be honest, I’m not particularly a fan of the Rookie Ready to Learn series in general:  I find the activities in the back of each are often formulaic and only tenuously related to the story; each one ends by telling you someone’s version of what you just learned by reading this story (besides being patronizing, they often don’t hit the mark).  But if you do like this kind of thing, or you’re willing to ignore the extra features that don’t enhance them, the central stories are often good little stories, with redeeming qualities of their own.  This one is a Spanish translation of another book in the series.  In order to preserve some of the rhyme of the original, they needed to make small adjustments to the meaning, so it is not a direct translation, but it still serves the same function: to use the story of a girl’s construction of a rocket to build shape vocabulary.

To be honest, I’m not particularly a fan of the Rookie Ready to Learn series in general:  I find the activities in the back of each are often formulaic and only tenuously related to the story; each one ends by telling you someone’s version of what you just learned by reading this story (besides being patronizing, they often don’t hit the mark).  But if you do like this kind of thing, or you’re willing to ignore the extra features that don’t enhance them, the central stories are often good little stories, with redeeming qualities of their own.  This one uses rhyming, somewhat repetitive text and shape vocabulary to describe how a girl builds a rocket ship to take her to the moon.

To be honest, I’m not particularly a fan of the Rookie Ready to Learn series in general:  I find the activities in the back of each are often formulaic and only tenuously related to the story; each one ends by telling you someone’s version of what you just learned by reading this story (besides being patronizing, they often don’t hit the mark).  But if you do like this kind of thing, or you’re willing to ignore the extra features that don’t enhance them, the central stories are often good little stories, with redeeming qualities of their own.  This one uses simple, repetitive text in the form of prepositional phrases,   accompanied by illustrations that not only support the text, but expand upon it, completing the story.  Together text and illustrations describe the day of a rather forgetful and clumsy girl, from the time she leaves the house for school until she returns.  It’s a good tool for developing prepositional vocabulary, and teaching students to observe both illustrations and text to make meaning.

To be honest, I’m not particularly a fan of the Rookie Ready to Learn series in general:  I find the activities in the back of each are often formulaic and only tenuously related to the story; each one ends by telling you someone’s version of what you just learned by reading this story (besides being patronizing, they often don’t hit the mark).  But if you do like this kind of thing, or you’re willing to ignore the extra features that don’t enhance them, the central stories are often good little stories, with redeeming qualities of their own.  This one uses simple text, with some repetition, using numbers and shape vocabulary to describe a family’s selection and carving of a pumpkin, ending with the contrast of showing another pumpkin made into a pie.

To be honest, I’m not particularly a fan of the Rookie Ready to Learn series in general:  I find the activities in the back of each are often formulaic and only tenuously related to the story; each one ends by telling you someone’s version of what you just learned by reading this story (besides being patronizing, they often don’t hit the mark).  But if you do like this kind of thing, or you’re willing to ignore the extra features that don’t enhance them, the central stories are often good little stories, with redeeming qualities of their own.  This one uses repetitive, rhyming text, and a pattern of opposites, with illustrations that support the text, to suggest different types of work that people do.  One inconsistency in the artwork, not explained in the text, could provide opportunities for discussion as to possible explanations:  the ending illustrations depict the narrator of the story in a wheelchair, but earlier in the book, the page that states, “People work below my feet,” shows the narrator’s feet standing at the edge of an archeological dig.  It allows for speculation as to what might have happened to put the girl in the wheelchair, and whether or not she will need it permanently.

To be honest, I’m not particularly a fan of the Rookie Ready to Learn series in general:  I find the activities in the back of each are often formulaic and only tenuously related to the story; each one ends by telling you someone’s version of what you just learned by reading this story (besides being patronizing, they often don’t hit the mark).  But if you do like this kind of thing, or you’re willing to ignore the extra features that don’t enhance them, the central stories are often good little stories, with redeeming qualities of their own.  This one uses repetitive pattern, rhyming text to describe things balls do, and inviting the reader to count balls in certain illustrations.  The use of varied verbs will be useful for vocabulary development and grammar discussions.

To be honest, I’m not particularly a fan of the Rookie Ready to Learn series in general:  I find the activities in the back of each are often formulaic and only tenuously related to the story; each one ends by telling you someone’s version of what you just learned by reading this story (besides being patronizing, they often don’t hit the mark).  But if you do like this kind of thing, or you’re willing to ignore the extra features that don’t enhance them, the central stories are often good little stories, with redeeming qualities of their own. This one uses repetitive, rhythmic, rhyming text, supported by the illustrations to share safety tips with young children.  One concern to be prepared for is that the effort to stick with the rhyming pattern relies on some unusual use of vocabulary that may need to be discussed in order for students to understand the meaning (e.g. “Sit in your chair right, or you might get tossed”).

To be honest, I’m not particularly a fan of the Rookie Ready to Learn series in general:  I find the activities in the back of each are often formulaic and only tenuously related to the story; each one ends by telling you someone’s version of what you just learned by reading this story (besides being patronizing, they often don’t hit the mark).  But if you do like this kind of thing, or you’re willing to ignore the extra features that don’t enhance them, the central stories are often good little stories, with redeeming qualities of their own.  This one uses repetitive, rhythmic, rhyming text, and silly illustrations to tell about a disastrous attempt of a young girl to help her dad bake a cake.

To be honest, I’m not particularly a fan of the Rookie Ready to Learn series in general:  I find the activities in the back of each are often formulaic and only tenuously related to the story; each one ends by telling you someone’s version of what you just learned by reading this story (besides being patronizing, they often don’t hit the mark).  But if you do like this kind of thing, or you’re willing to ignore the extra features that don’t enhance them, the central stories are often good little stories, with redeeming qualities of their own.  This one tells of a ladybugs search for her missing spots.  It uses repetitive and rhyming text that is supported by the illustrations, and invites the reader to interact with the illustrations by helping in the search for the spots.

To be honest, I’m not particularly a fan of the Rookie Ready to Learn series in general:  I find the activities in the back of each are often formulaic and only tenuously related to the story; each one ends by telling you someone’s version of what you just learned by reading this story (besides being patronizing, they often don’t hit the mark).  But if you do like this kind of thing, or you’re willing to ignore the extra features that don’t enhance them, the central stories are often good little stories, with redeeming qualities of their own.  This one uses repetitive and predictive text that is good for emergent readers, in a counting story with opportunities for discussion of colors and animals.

Karri, the bouncing koala, is peacefully relaxing at home in the bush when a gang of scruffy, homeless cats move in.  The small animals and birds are frightened so Karri is elected to ask them to leave.  The cats have no place to go so they decide to play a football game – the winners get to stay, the losers must go.  Although Karri’s team wins, Karri offers to help them find a new home.  They find a successful solution by getting food from humans and by giving friendship in return.  This amusing book is a sequel to “The Koala Who Bounced”.  Good message of teamwork vs fighting.

“A kiss means I love you, a wave means hello, a smile means I’m happy, a tug means let’s go!”  Beginning with these simple, rhyming lines, young children see large, vivid photographs of peers using body language to illustrate actions and emotions.  This colorful book would be easy to read one-on-one or with a group.  Photographs fill the whole page, the text fits nicely.  Words aren’t always necessary to convey a message!

Diane deGroat and Shelley Rotner work together as author-illustrators in this creative and humorous book about a baseball game for dogs.  Homer, a golden retriever, sneaks out one night to play a championship game with his team, the Doggers, against their rivals, the Hounds.  Well-chosen photographs and digitally drawn uniforms portray the game and emotions of both teams.  This book is full of visual humor and word puns.  Whitey is literally “walked” to first base, Lucky hits a “droolball” that splashes over his bat.  Players watch from their “dog-out”.  The end-pages show baseball cards of both teams showing positions and breeds.  Readers of all ages will enjoy looking at all the doggy details in this amusing baseball story.

Brian Selznick grew up drawing, painting, sculpting, and watching movies – just the thing for his imaginative mind!  Thinking he would work in film or the theater, illustrating and writing children’s books was not one of Brian Selznick’s plans.  This very readable biography tells of Selznick’s introduction to children’s books and illustrating for himself and others.  It contains colorful photographs as well as some of his drawings from his own stories.  Information presented is complete without being too wordy.  Books in this series are a good resource for reports as well as being an enjoyable way to read about people who create popular books.  Glossary, index and website are included.

This book is divided into two parts based on two Hannah Montana episodes on the Disney Channel.  The story for part one tells of Miley Cyrus trying to help her tom-boy girlfriend, Lilly, become more feminine.  Pat two is about Lilly spending all of her time with new boyfriend, Lucas.  Miley discovers Lucas has an extra girlfriend and can’t get Lilly to believe her.  Included are photos from both episodes.  Those who enjoy watching the T.V. series will probably also enjoy reading books in this series.

Sula and her mermaid friends have a chance to sing for Princess Rowena.  The princess is trying to get assistance to help others rebuild after a storm.  Sula learns of a missing singing shell that has the power to cause storms or calm waters.  When her friends become trapped by surging water, Sula decides to try to locate the missing shell.  The text is large and there are many black and white illustrations within the pages.  The story line in rather bland, but young readers who are mermaid fans will probably seek out these Sula books.

With a focus on food, one learns about the history, climate, religions, and cultures of Nigeria, a diverse country with many ethnic groups.  Many of the staple foods came from trading with other countries.  Because running water and electricity in rural areas is rare, food is often prepared in traditional ways.  There are recipes included but most of this informative book describes how food is prepared, which foods and spices are used together, and how it is eaten.  Full-color photographs show meals and typical activities.  This is a terrific resource for anyone wanting to know about Nigeria as well as the variety of foods prepared for meals.

Beginning with a short quiz to check prior knowledge, chapters start with describing each position, defining the terms, and telling how the game is played.  An illustrated map of the playing field shows how to set up and mark the area.  Soccer is a physical game and the benefits of the activity  as well as how, when, and what to eat is given.  Also included is a recipe for a snack and a craft.  Large, full-color photographs show girls at play.  Other books in the series are guides to basketball, softball, and volleyball.  Recommended books are written at a similar level.  Glossary, index, and facthound internet site are included, along with one from the publisher including projects, games, and more.

With a history as herding and guard dogs, this breed is now one of the ten most popular in the United States.  Devoted and friendly, they can also be protective so obedience training is necessary.  Attention is given to caring and feeding this large-size breed.  Enough information is given to help one decide if this dog is a good fit for one’s family.  Glossary, index, and ABDO website are included in this 24 page book.  Many full-color photographs show these intelligent dogs at rest and at play.

Once a person or family decides to get a dog, attention must be given to choosing the right kind for the home.  This book introduces characteristics, needs, and where to find the best match for the family.  Information for caring for, feeding, housebreaking, the importance of grooming and exercising, and how to prevent some problems are all mentioned in this comprehensive 48 paged book.  Additional fact boxes provide further information and hints to help one make good decisions when choosing a dog for a pet and becoming a responsible pet owner.  Full color photographs show a variety of breeds although name of each breed are not included.  This is a great over-view.  Recommended for anyone trying to decide if owning a dog would fit into one’s family.