Kids can learn about farms, their residents and their ‘food chain’. Dr. Temple Grandin, an important farm animal advocate is highlighted and one of the six projects showcases one of her important contributions (Cow Hug Machine) to animal welfare.
Materials lists and clear directions with photos make this a fun and educational book for children wishing to know more about farms. A great addition to your library!

Significant, but overlooked, pilots of World War II are showcased in this important book by Shannon Baker Moore. We learn about women who were ahead of their times, wanting to do more than society was ready for them to do. American women fought battles here on our soil to gain acceptance for their passion for flying and their relevance to the war effort. In addition to American pilots, the author describes Soviet and British females who took to the sky. Their work was hard and they fought prejudice along the way, but these strong women wanted nothing more than to be in the air with the ground below them, doing their part for their countries. A chapter on female pioneers before the war years gives the reader a starting point for the women that followed.
Historical photos, a timeline and additional resources enrich the material presented in the book. My only complaint is the that the sidebars and text boxes scattered throughout are in a pale color and the white text tends to blend in too much. They also make the pages rather drab, since most of the photos are black and white. A more colorful choice might have enlivened the appearance of the pages. A recommended choice.

Ragdoll Cats is part of Cats: Set 2 by Abdo for the K-2 crowd. The book gives a description of the cat and its personality, as well as their grooming needs. Text is accompanied by large photos that are well-done and clear. The book has a table of contents, glossary, index and code that can be used to access videos, games and fun (printables and links to feline organizations).
My only complaint is that the two pictures that include humans are only young girls. Boys like cats, too! Pet books tend to be big sellers in the library and this one, even though it is specific to a particular breed, should be popular.

Dr. Seuss is a slim, easy-to-read biography that imparts the necessary facts about a great author/illustrator in just 24 pages. While a few of the pictures are very loosely related to the text (ex. a picture of what must be the current Springfield, Illinois, the associated text says he was born there in 1904. I doubt the high rises were built at that time), the text and most of the pictures give the reader a pretty good idea of the special man that he was.
There is a nice “Quick Stats” page as well as a “Key Dates” page, which bullets his life clearly. Non-fiction features are present: Table of contents, glossary, index.
Buy if you need to update your Seuss biography.

This is a book to share between kids and adults. There is a note to adult helpers at the beginning, discussing the possible need for adult help while encouraging the child to do as much as possible independently. The book has a nice introduction to woodworking techniques and tools. Then, it describes five projects with varying degrees of difficulty (noted). Each project has a materials list, concise instructions and photos to illustrate the steps.
Typical non-fiction elements are present: Table of contents, glossary, index and websites for further consideration.
This is part of a series introducing the industrial arts to elementary students and should be a big hit in your library. It’s all about the hands-on experiences! This will be a great addition.

What a gem! This book will fly off the shelf when students find it!
Written in an accessible language, each fact encompasses a two page spread, with pictures, human/dinosaur size comparison and sidebar “Dino File” with diet, height, weight and pronunciation guide. A dinosaur timeline and activity round out this wonderful book. Included also are non-fiction features like table of contents, glossary (for bolded words within the text), and index.
Buy this book as well as others in the series and you will have a collection of books that you will never see – they will be constantly checked out! Highly recommended.

This is a great book for budding origami enthusiasts. It starts off with materials needed, tips and tricks, and some basic folds and bases, which it refers back to when the reader moves into the projects. The individual projects appear to be organized from easy to more difficult as the book progresses. There is a table of contents and glossary.
It is part of series that should provide hours of creative entertainment for the younger set.

June and her dog Sammy are best friends, which is helped by their ability to communicate with each other! June lives with her mom, dad and teenage sister. June would really like a best friend that is human, though, and she is excited when a new girl moves in across the street. Unfortunately, the mean girl at school, April, gets to Mae first, which makes it difficult for June.
June’s grandma sends her a Wonder Wheel with instructions to spin it each day and follow the directions. Those directions lead to some interesting moments with her classmates and help to encourage a friendship between June and Mae.
This book is appropriate for newly minted chapter book readers. The ending leads one to believe there might be more.

Sadie is one unlucky girl. And in a town like Fortune Falls, luck means everything. This town is loaded with superstition and magic. If you step on a crack, your mother really does break her back. And, don’t even think of breaking a mirror – you will probably die! Sadie must turn her unlucky life around soon or she will be sent away with the other “Unluckies” in order to protect the other folks in town. Unfortunately, luck is hard to find, even with the help of her friend, Cooper. But, through a series of events that include a black cat and some people that care about her very much, Sadie turns around her luck in the nick of time.
there are dark elements to the story, including Sadie’s guilt over her dad’s death and her mom’s worry about their future, which looks pretty bleak. But, the ending makes up for it.
A fine read for those students that enjoy a bit of magic and a strong female main character.

Inge Maria arrives on a boat to the island of Bornholm in Sweden to live with her grandmother in 1911. Her mother has died and brave Inge has left everything she knew (color, laughter, music, art, the city and her mother) to come to a seemingly stern grandma on a rather gray, cold island inhabited by people who live by a rather austere code of conduct and just don’t seem to have fun.
Inge tries to fit in, but mischief follows her wherever she goes, beginning with her arrival, when a goat chews off one of her braids. There are incidents at school (a terrible place, where girls cannot play the fun games at recess with the boys and music is not allowed) and with friends, but slowly Inge begins to realize that her grandma is also grieving the loss of Inge’s mother (her daughter) and they begin to share a bond of mutual loss.
Change occurs and Inge and her grandma grow closer and Inge’s penchant for mischief brings the island’s residents some new fun, laughter and love. A classmate, who is also experiencing some difficulties in life, becomes a part of Inge’s life and new family.
This is a gentle story set in a time long ago, but the pacing of the story makes the reader want to know what will happen next to Inge in her new life with grandma. This is a wonderful book that is reminiscent of Ann of Green Gables.