This title details the many unique adaptions that make the beaver such a successful builder of both dams and lodges.  The book specifically addresses the physical, social and behavioral characteristics of the beaver and how those characteristics allow the beaver to construct impressive structures.  Short sentences and graphically appealing set-up makes it a good choice for young readers. Text is supported by color photos, a map and a diagram of a lodge.  Includes a table of contents, true/false quiz, and glossary but no index.

For most children, the wildebeest is one of the less recognized African safari animals. In this title from Abdo’s Animal Migration series, the wildebeest’s migration is detailed through lens’ of the animal’s life cycle, season and location.  Cause and effect ties the movement to the change in grass which is directly tied to rainfall.  With simple words and short sentences, Wildebeest Migration details the interconnection of the wildebeest and its environment.

Contains table of contents, map, glossary, and index.  Abdokids online link includes a video (2:41 long), text, activities, and additional links.  Two of the three additional links are way above the reading level of the book.

Dav Pilkey’s third installment in the Dog Man series is a, “tale of oppression…a tale of redemption…a tale of rebirth…a take of hope…a tale of two kitties.”  The three story lines of Dog Man, Petey the Cat, and Mecha Flippy converge when good comes out on top.  Petey’s clone, a kitten joins the story, but refuses to take up his creator’s evil.  The story ends with Mecha Flippy in jail but turned to the side of good by the friendship of the kitten. Petey has escaped the Police Chief and is off to create more havoc.

Step by step direction on drawing the characters is at the end of the book.  Also included is a comic explaining the benefits of reading to a pet.

Sure to be a hit, especially with reluctant readers.

Fall is here and Carlos and Carmen play in the colorful leaves Mamá and Papá are raking into a pile.  Papá makes a deal; Carlos and Carmen help rake the leaves and he will help them learn to ride a bike – with only 2 wheels. Carmen goes first.  She pedals and wobbles and falls into a big pile of leaves only to bounce back up with a wobble and a laugh.  Carlos’ wobbly effort end up with a crash in the leaf pile and the need for a band-aid.  With lots of practice, by the end of the day Carlos and Carmen can pedal fast and steer.  Then it is Papá’s turn to learn!!

Spanish words are interspersed and repeated in the text.  At the end of the book there is a Spanish-English glossary of all Spanish words.

The Carlos and Carmen series is an engaging latinx beginning reader series that incorporates cultural experiences in the everyday life of young children.

Carlos and Carmen go shopping with their grandmother for the perfect piñatas for their birthday party.  Finally in the 3rd store Carlos chooses a dinosaur piñata and Carmen chooses a elephant piñata.  When they get home, Dino and Ellie take part in many imagination filled adventures.  In bed at night, Carlos and Carmen lament the fact that their piñata friends will be smashed at their birthday party.  The next day their grandmother shows them how to cut out a square and use ribbons, scissors and tape to make door to let out the piñata prizes.  Now their piñatas will survive their party.  Hugs all around.

Spanish words are quite naturally interspersed in the text.  Spanish-English glossary in the back of the text.

This is a fun engaging story with young latinx characters celebrating their cultural heritage.  In the story the characters solve a problem of today by relying on family and the cultural expertise of their elders.

It was summer and Hank was bored and lonely. No one was using his pet-sitting business.  When the new kid in town stops by to use his services, Hank is thrilled.  Hank will be pet sitting for an escape artist sheep named Elmer.  That night the sheep does escape the garage, but not to get away, but to come find Hank.  After the sheep wakes Hank yet again, Hank finally settles down on the hay in the garage with the sheep.  Tommy arrives the next morning for his sheep and is impressed with Hank’s success.  Hank’s business has found him a new friend.

This beginning reader title adds a goofy twist to the kid friendly topic of pets.  Young readers can identify with Hank’s desire to earn money and his loneliness when his friends are away for the summer.

Black holes, by there very nature cannot be seen.  The only information about black holes is from observing how other objects in space behave around them.  This book details many of the devices that are used to collect information about black holes.  It also discusses the evolution of black hole theories over time.  The complexity of the concepts mentioned make this a book for a student with some prior knowledge of black holes and a basic understanding of cosmology.

The book contains a number of amazing illustrations and diagrams that imply they are showing a black hole.  These illustrations and diagrams, however, portray astronomers theories which don’t always agree with each other.  It is only in the last 2 chapters of the book that it clearly communicates that what is considered “knowledge” of black holes is in truth only theories and that aspects of these theories are continually being supported or disproved as more data is accumulated.

I feel the scope of this book is too great for its size. Ideas and concepts are mentioned in passing and not adequately explained.  Either focusing on current black hole theory, how black holes were discovered, or the tools and technologies used in the study of black holes would be more appropriate for this age level and allow for more clarity.  I also found the glossary entirely inadequate.  It includes the word “merge” yet not things like binary, gamma ray, or jet bursts.

A national park is more than just a name or a boundary contained place that we can witness now.  And Glacier National Park is more than “a wilderness landscape of forest, mountains, and lakes.” It stands witness to the impact of the forces of nature on the land as well as the footprint left by humans.  Glacier National Park, established in 1910 is one of the top ten most visited National parks in the nation with more than 2 million visitors in 2015.

In Glacier National Park from the Core Library National Park series, the reader experiences much more than a description of the park itself. This book incorporates multiple areas of study as it examines this beautiful wilderness landscape.  The science topics include: glaciers, continental divide, weather, geology, climate change, flora, fauna, and conservation. Personal perspectives include input and quotes from an award winning park ranger, a naturalist, a climate change expert, a historian, and multiple local Native Americans. The history of the region reflects multiple perspectives. Primary source documents are seamlessly integrated to support the content.  Suggestions for online exploration are embedded at the end of chapter 1 and 3 and include relevant leading questions.

With potential for NGSS STEM and C3 socials studies alignment this high quality title leads me to consider adding whole series to my library.

At the 2016 Olympics, Simone Manuel was the first African American woman to win a gold in an Olympic swimming event.  In fact, she won 4 medals in the 2016 Olympics.  The book covers her childhood, education, swimming career, and her future plans.  She started swimming at age 4 after watching her older brothers racing. She began swimming competitively at age 11.  Her family motto is, “D.Y.B” (do your best) reflects her positive and competitive attitude.

This is an inspirational story of a successful African American woman worthy of being a role model for kids. Colorful photographs, captions and fast facts support the text. Contains Table of Contents, Timeline, Glossary, and Index.

Using simple text and colorful pictures, this book provides young readers with the physical description of the German shepherd and information on their care, personality, and history as a breed. Glossary terms are in red.  Quick Stats section at end of the book visually and numerically compares the German shepherd weight as heavier than a suitcase and its height as twice a basketball.  Contains a Table of Contents, Glossary, and Index.

Booklinks directs the reader to Abdo site where the book is selected using a search box.  One of the three links is to an information rich site, though the reading level is significantly higher than the K-1 reading level of the book.  One link is broken and the third is to a site with significant commercial intent.  The reader is also encouraged to visit Abdo Zoom Animals database, but will have not access to the information, since it is a paid site.