Author Archives: Candy Ranney

About Candy Ranney

Candy is an elementary school librarian in Shelton, WA at the school where she was a student (so many years ago!). Her library is unique in that she brings her background and love of biology to her students in many ways. Not only does she have an awesome selection of science books; she also has a beaver, bobcat and mink sitting on her shelves and a variety of jarred specimens for her students to study. When she's not in the library, she is taking care of her baby trees on her tree farm and hanging out with her family and many pets. * 2025 WA Library Association School Librarian of the Year

Biking

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by Lisa Owings

Blastoff! Readers Level 2: Let’s Get Outdoors is a ten book series that is written in a format that is appropriate for young readers that are ready for a bit more complexity in sentence structure. Typical nonfiction features include: table of contents, index, glossary, labeled diagrams and illustration, headings and bold typed words. Each book has high interest photos and details an outdoor activity/sport. Gear lists and safety equipment/protocol are addressed. A diverse array of people are shown participating in each activity. Readers will see themselves out there having fun with theses book. Add this series to your library for those newer readers that are ready for something more.

Biking is a great introduction to an activity that can a slower- paced or fast and adrenaline rushing. People are shown biking along trails, the roads and doing tricks or racing. I like that there is a photo of an adaptive bike rider, showing that it is an accessible outdoor activity. Safety and gear needs are noted and the reader learns that most bike friendly city in the world is Copenhagen – a fun fact to round out a nice introduction to this outdoor sport.

Kayaking

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by Lisa Owings

Blastoff! Readers Level 2: Let’s Get Outdoors is a ten book series that is written in a format that is appropriate for young readers that are ready for a bit more complexity in sentence structure. Typical nonfiction features include: table of contents, index, glossary, labeled diagrams and illustration, headings and bold typed words. Each book has high interest photos and details an outdoor activity/sport. Gear lists and safety equipment/protocol are addressed. A diverse array of people are shown participating in each activity. Readers will see themselves out there having fun with theses book. Add this series to your library for those newer readers that are ready for something more.

Kayaking describes the fun and adventure of the outdoor sport, whether it’s a gentle paddle in a lake or the more exhilerating whitewater version. Gear and safety needs are noted. People of all sorts are out paddling together and smiling as they do so, which shows the reader that this is something worth trying out. Vibrant photographs and accessible text make this a great choice for newer readers.

Hiking

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by Lisa Owings

Blastoff! Readers Level 2: Let’s Get Outdoors is a ten book series that is written in a format that is appropriate for young readers that are ready for a bit more complexity in sentence structure. Typical nonfiction features include: table of contents, index, glossary, labeled diagrams and illustration, headings and bold typed words. Each book has high interest photos and details an outdoor activity/sport. Gear lists and safety equipment/protocol are addressed. A diverse array of people are shown participating in each activity. Readers will see themselves out there having fun with theses book. Add this series to your library for those newer readers that are ready for something more.

Hiking shows all the different kinds of hikes that people can do – from mountaineering, to orienteers to backpackers to your basic “walk in the woods”. Safety equipment and gear needs are described and readers discover that the Appalachian Trail is the longest walking only trail in the world! There’s lots to learn in this book for early readers, who just might decide to give a hike a try.

Canoeing

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by Lisa Owings

Blastoff! Readers Level 2: Let’s Get Outdoors is a ten book series that is written in a format that is appropriate for young readers that are ready for a bit more complexity in sentence structure. Typical nonfiction features include: table of contents, index, glossary, labeled diagrams and illustration, headings and bold typed words. Each book has high interest photos and details an outdoor activity/sport. Gear lists and safety equipment/protocol are addressed. A diverse array of people are shown participating in each activity. Readers will see themselves out there having fun with theses book. Add this series to your library for those newer readers that are ready for something more.

Canoeing is all about getting out on the water and enjoying the outdoors. Diverse canoeists show readers that anyone can be part of the fun and the safety measures are valuable additions to this fun sport. Unfamiliar words are bolded and explained in the glossary and readers can learn more from other resources mentioned in the back of the book. There’s a lot to learn in 24 pages! Recommended.

Acura NSX

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by Kaitlyn Duling

Epic: Cool Cars series literally says it all in the series’ name. These are books about fast, luxurious and fun cars that are, well, COOL! High interest topics paired with a load of brilliant photos and accessible text make this 28 book set a must-have in your library. Nonfiction elements include: Table of Contents, glossary, index, bolded words and labeled illustrations. Each book has the important facts about a car like its engine type, history, size, speed and future plans of the manufacturers. This photo-heavy, high-low series will be popular among your patrons!

Acura NSX describes a Honda manufactured hybrid car that can be on the racetrack or the road. This luxury model is fast, quiet and full of fun. Future Acura tech will recognize the faces of the driver and passengers. It will be a smart car! Readers will enjoy the photos and facts about this super fast, super quiet car.

Ford GT

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by Kaitlyn Duling

Epic: Cool Cars series literally says it all in the series’ name. These are books about fast, luxurious and fun cars that are, well, COOL! High interest topics paired with a load of brilliant photos and accessible text make this 28 book set a must-have in your library. Nonfiction elements include: Table of Contents, glossary, index, bolded words and labeled illustrations. Each book has the important facts about a car like its engine type, history, size, speed and future plans of the manufacturers. This photo-heavy, high-low series will be popular among your patrons!

Ford has a long history in car manufacturing starting in 2004. The Ford GT has been its fastest car to date. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in three seconds and its top speed is 216 mph. While Ford stopped making this model in 2022, die-hard fans hope for more in the future. Ford GT is a book that won’t be on your shelves for long! It packs some great information and pictures into 24 pages.

Keonigsegg Regera

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by Kaitlyn Duling

Epic: Cool Cars series literally says it all in the series’ name. These are books about fast, luxurious and fun cars that are, well, COOL! High interest topics paired with a load of brilliant photos and accessible text make this 28 book set a must-have in your library. Nonfiction elements include: Table of Contents, glossary, index, bolded words and labeled illustrations. Each book has the important facts about a car like its engine type, history, size, speed and future plans of the manufacturers. This photo-heavy, high-low series will be popular among your patrons!

Koenigsegg Regera is about a rather short-lived model from the Swedish carmaker, Koenigsegg. This hybrid model was introduced in 2015 and is no longer made. It is a luxurious vehicle with race car attributes and each one was custom-made for its owner, with a starting price of $1.9 million. Readers can dream about what is next from the maker of this fabulous car.

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4

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by Kaitlyn Duling

Epic: Cool Cars series literally says it all in the series’ name. These are books about fast, luxurious and fun cars that are, well, COOL! High interest topics paired with a load of brilliant photos and accessible text make this 28 book set a must-have in your library. Nonfiction elements include: Table of Contents, glossary, index, bolded words and labeled illustrations. Each book has the important facts about a car like its engine type, history, size, speed and future plans of the manufacturers. This photo-heavy, high-low series will be popular among your patrons!

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 is all about one of the newer models from Porsche that has the feel of a race car and the technology to keep it moving forward – fast! Caymans were first introduced by Porsche in 2016 and have improved over the years with an all-electric version set for production in 2030. Extra facts interspersed in white boxes throughout add to the reading experience. This German car is sleek and fun and readers will learn a lot.

Throw a Halloween Party

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Written by Elizabeth Neuenfeldt

Express!: Party Time! is a six-book series that introduces holidays and their history. Then, gives directions for some simple decorations, foods and activities. Everything has step-by-step directions with illustrations and a list of extra materials over those noted at the beginning of the books. Each project is introduced with some information connecting it to the history of the holiday. There are Table of Contents, Index, Glossary and “To Learn More” section with extra resources. Particularly helpful are the “Top Tips” scattered throughout each book. Color illustrations are engaging and the text is accessible.

Throw a Halloween Party is chock full of ideas and information about the holiday. We learn the ancient beginnings of Halloween and traditions surrounding it. Projects include foods and decorations using materials that are readily available. Those projects that require the use of tools that might be dangerous to kids have safety tips included. This is a fun, easy-to-read book that will enhance your holiday collection. And, really…who doesn’t love a party?

Throw a Lunar New Year Party

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Written by Christina Leaf

Express!: Party Time! is a six-book series that introduces holidays and their history. Then, gives directions for some simple decorations, foods and activities. Everything has step-by-step directions with illustrations and a list of extra materials over those noted at the beginning of the books. Each project is introduced with some information connecting it to the history of the holiday. There are Table of Contents, Index, Glossary and “To Learn More” section with extra resources. Particularly helpful are the “Top Tips” scattered throughout each book. Color illustrations are engaging and the text is accessible.

Throw a Lunar New Year Party gives information and directions for projects related to that holiday. Projects include decorations, foods and activities along with additional information about their history or cultural relevance. Most projects can be done independently except for the dumplings and stir fry noodles, which should have adult supervision. Photos are attractive and directions are clearly written with accompanying illustrations. This attractive book will be a great addition to your collection.