An easy to read introduction to Halloween and how it is celebrated in the United States.  A single mention of the holiday’s origin provides the only information not common knowledge among most school age kids making this a title better used for fluency than information.

Each page contains a large color photo that reinforces the text.  Interspersed through the book are occasional circles with thought provoking questions that will lead to discussion.

Contains an table of contents.  Back matter includes pictures of Pumpkin Carving, Picture Glossary of Halloween-specific terms, Index and Read More sections.

The series is also available as interactive e-books

A little boy believes dinosaurs still exist and provides evidence to support his argument.  “Dinosaurs ruled the earth for millions and millions of year… they could survive one fiery blast.”  The boy claims that dinosaurs have been hiding among us for years.  Thinking of all the things they’re missing out on, he invites them to show themselves, assuring them that they would be safe.  Then again, he thinks maybe dinosaurs would “feel uncomfortable with the way things are right now.”  Images show excessive technology, traffic, junk food and pollution.  The boy decides maybe we need to do some work before the dinosaurs will comfortable reveling themselves.  He assures them that their secret will remain safe with him.

A fun read aloud for dinosaur lovers.  The pictures of dinosaurs in disguise are sure to get a laugh.

A big rig is a big truck.  It carries good across the country.  With large font and short simplistic sentences, Big Rigs on the Go describes the parts of a big rig, what big rigs are used for, and driver information.  Each pair of pages has a full color photograph that supports the text.  A sure hit for early readers.

Contains Table of Contents.  Back papers include a diagram of Parts of a Big Rig, Picture Glossary, Index, and Read More section.

Machines That Go series is also available as Interactive e-books.

Construction workers have many different jobs.  They work together to build things.  Using large easy to read font and simple sentences, this title explains the different jobs in construction.  Each page contains a large color photo that reinforces the text.  Interspersed through the book are occasional circles with thought provoking questions that will lead to discussion.

Contains an index.  Back matter includes pictures of Construction Worker Tools, Picture Glossary of construction terms, Index and Read More sections.

The series is also available as interactive e-books.

You can pick it/You can kick it/You can throw away the core/You can toss it/You can sauce it/You can roll it on the floor. A fun, rhyming text describing the many things you can do with an apple.  The pictures with simple cartoonish characters demonstrate the essence of the text.  Repetitive sentence structure and rhythm with clear illustrations make this a good title for emerging readers.

Also available in the is series, What’s a Banana?

Yellow isn’t just a color, it is a time of year.  Never mentioning to a specific season, this is a lovely celebration of autumn.  All the senses are called into play with the crows announcing its coming, the scent of air, “like mud and dry grass with a sprinkle of sugar,” and the wind that blows the yellow sideways. The charming illustrations reinforce the joy and motion of the season and paired with rich descriptive language makes this a great read aloud.

I Dissent is a stellar biography of a highly accomplished woman as well as a concise introductory explanation of the role of the supreme court.

Ruth Bader was born in an era when a woman’s role revolved around the home and women were discouraged from pursuing careers. Through her actions she showed her disagreement and dissent to the limitation put on people because of their gender, religion, or race.  Yet even when she strongly disagreed with others, for example fellow Supreme Court Judge Antonin Scalia, she showed that it need not stand in the way of friendship and respect.

The theme of dissent is a constant thread in the book.  Throughout the book, complicated concepts are explained in clear but simplistic text bringing the intricacies of our complex judicial system to level for early elementary students. Illustrations are lively and colorful and Ruth’s expressions reinforce her opinions and strength of her character.

Back matter includes photographs, a more thorough biography, notes on court cases referenced in the book, extensive bibliography and quotation sources.

Glow has page after page of stunning photographs of bioluminescence.  On a black backdrop, the large white text starts by introducing and defining the concept of bioluminescence.  While found on land and in the air, more than anywhere else, bioluminescence is found in the water.  The book continues with a simple explanation of the chemicals animals produce that creates the glow of bioluminescence.  Animals glow to hunt, to hide, to call for help, and lose an enemy, and so on.  The simple text is supplemented on each page with a more indepth scientific explanation of the animal pictured and the concept being highlighted.

End papers include an explanation of how the photographs were taken as well as a diagram of each creature featured in the book, highlighting where on the creature the bioluminescence occurs.  Scientific name, size, and location included.  Also contains a bibliography.

The combination of the large text with simple concepts and vocabulary and the small text with the indepth scientific explanations make this a wonderful choice for a mixed-age partner read.

Written in the form of undated journal entries, Max Crumbly is sure to be a hit with fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries.

After being home-schooled by his grandmother since kindergarten, Max starts his first public school experience as an eighth graders at South Ridge Middle School.  Finding a niche and fitting in was particularly difficult because Doug “Thug” Thurston goes out his way to make Max’s life miserable after Max threw up on his shoe in gym class.  Only the second week and Max has been stuffed in his locker for the second time.  Max then journals in the cramped locker until his crush hears him and unlocks the door.

After school with a three day weekend approaching Max is crammed in the locker once again with no one is likely to notice him missing until the next week.  Max finally busts out the back of his locker into a dank unused boiler room.  Thinking to escape through the ventilation system he overhears 3 burglars planning to empty the new computer lab.

Max’s misadventures are not resolved in this first book.  Maybe he’ll escape the school and outsmart burglars in book 2

Ashley Bryan uses a primary source document as the foundation of his moving picture book about the lives and dreams of slaves.  The document, the Appraisement of the Estate that occurred after the death of Cado Fairchilds.  Written in first person free verse, the book starts with Mary Fairchilds describing the estate and her plans to sell it after the death of her husband.  Her poem is followed by Bryan’s portrait of the 11 estate slaves superimposed on an image of the original appraisal document.  Each slave’s story includes a portrait, a poem about his or her life as a slave, and a poem and illustration of his or her dreams.  Bryan’s poetry highlights the cultural roots and humanity of the individuals listed in the otherwise unemotional primary source document.  The book ends with a transcription of the appraisal document leaving the reader with the powerful knowledge that the slaves would be sold, but not knowing what was to happen to them.

Anchored by a primary source document, this is a powerful book humanizing the slave experience.