The unique quality of Barn Owls Nocturnal Hunters is the quality of the photography.  Owls have been captured in mid-flight, with their wings spread wide.  You can see the details in the nest of newly hatched pink owlets. The information is pretty much standard, however,  also included is information about owl pellets, the remnants of their meals which contain the fur, feathers and bones.  But the saying, a picture is worth a thousand words, is certainly true here.

Shaffer does an excellent job in describing the life cycle, habitats, behaviors, and threats of the different types of bearded dragons.  I actually learned a new word from the book, brumation, which is the precursor to hibernation when appetite decreases and body temp falls.  The photos are spectacular and show the textures of the dragons’ skin and nails.  This book would make an excellent resource for any research project and should be included in a library’s collection.

While spending a day at the beach with his family, a little boy builds the perfect sandcastle, and a dragon moves in.  The dragon is actually a pretty good companion and they have a great day together.  However, when the food disappears and he blames the dragon, his parents have had enough and the little boy kicks his dragon out until he learns some better manners.  The next day it starts all over….. This story is beautifully illustrated as well as beautifully told and would make an excellent first purchase for a library.

The grim realities of WWI are softened a bit by focusing on the true story of the relationship between Bunny, a magnificent, reddish-brown horse with long ears, and two brothers, Thomas and “Bud” Dundas.  All three were among those sent to Europe as part of the Canadian Field Artillery.  Bud rode Bunny as they helped deliver messages quickly, carry wounded soldiers to safety, pull ambulances and carts with supplies and food, and haul cannons and big guns to the battlefield.  They endured poisonous gas attacks, drenching rain, and exploding bombs and grenades.  Bunny showed courage and loyalty under challenging conditions.  When Bud was killed in battle, Tom rode Bunny until the end of the war.  Tom returned to Toronto, but by the time he raised enough money to ship Bunny back, Bunny had been sold and could not be found.  Red poppies fill the fields on the Western Front and are now a symbol commemorating soldiers who died.  The artwork is large and uncomplicated.  It is a good match with the accurate but brief descriptions of a dangerous time in history.

The Boston Tea Party was one of the turning points for unifying the Colonists’ stand for independence from King George and England.  Events leading up to the dumping of the tea are clearly and simply explained.  At the end of the brief chapter, two opposing actions are presented for discussion.  What the colonists chose to do is related on the next page.  What an engaging way to encourage thinking about the choices the colonists had to make at the time.  Includes captioned photographs, illustrations, fact boxes, a time line, glossary, and index.  A list of related additional books are written at a slightly higher reading level but aimed at intermediate readers.  Two internet sources provide excellent supplementary facts to help round out this period in history.  Could also be used to address Common Core standards.

Beginning with where to find Asia and its varied landscapes, the endangered animals are showcased.  Photos of animals from the various habitats accompany text that explains what the animal needs to survive and the reasons it is endangered.  Human interference is what has caused much of the problem.  That being said, several reserves are being created to help protect animals and a focus is switching to one that is more ecological and sensitive to the environment.  Included are: an extensive glossary, index, titles of two additional books on endangered animals written at a similar level, and an internet site provided by the publisher, which is more about all animals rather than endangered ones.

A collection of sly and witty poems that poke fun at the proper way to eat soup, burp, answer the phone, disagree with adults, go to sleep, kiss, send thank-you’s, etc.  My first question about this book is…Who is the intended audience?  Supposedly for 9-12 year olds, the picture book format may put off that older crowd.  However, the reader must understand sarcasm, to get the jokes.  Younger audiences (4-8 year olds) may be confused by the more sophisticated humor, at a time when they are just beginning to figure out proper etiquette.  Also the length of the poems better match an older readership.   The young ones, however, are sure to be drawn in by the whimsical and well-done illustrations.     All in all, it is a silly romp by the zany author called Miss Information.

In this third book of the trilogy, the fairy-tale adventure continues.  The cast of characters include: a castle librarian, a blacksmith, a king, a queen, a princess, a dragon, an elephant, a wizard, devious villains, use of p-mail (carrier pigeons), as well as an engaging vocabulary.  Phoebe, the castle librarian, and Sebastian, a young blacksmith with a tremendous vocabulary, are the adult children of the kingdom’s most infamous, now exiled, villains.  Phoebe’s father is the banished chief torturer to the evil ex-queen Olympia.  Sebastian’s father, also exiled, was the chief poisoner.  When Phoebe and Sebastian suspect the baby Princess Poppy is about to be kidnapped, they do not think people will believe them because of who their fathers are.  Phoebe and Sebastian pair up to find her, eventually meeting up with Princess Poppy’s parents, King Christian and Queen Marigold.  The trail becomes more and more complicated, involving characters from previous books as well as many interesting twists.  This tale is fast-paced, and humorous, including puns and word-plays, and a budding romance between Phoebe and Sebastian.  This is a fun conclusion to the adventures of Marigold.

We all are inspired by Movers and Shakers.  Here is a true story of Rosealeta Laurel, a feisty director of the oldest public library in Texas.  It’s October 2000 when, financially, people were not willing to pay for public improvements in their library.  However Rosealeta saw an important need to raise money to improve the children’s section of the public library.  She decided to do something dramatic.  She pitched a tent on the roof of the library for one week, until the town raisied enough money to make the necessary improvements.  She weathered an extreme storm, where townfolk feared for her life…but she stuck to her convition until she had $39,000 to make a kid-friendly, resourceful place for children  at the Eugene Clark Library.  Whimsical illustrations add a fun touch to this powerful story of community activism.

Just in time for Earth Day!  Here are many different ways we use energy and resources plus fun, kid-friendly ways to care for the earth.  Included are the effects of composting, worms, green gardens, fast/packaged foods vs. growing fresh foods, the 3 R’s in your garden, using trees, using rainwater and pesticides/herbicides.  Children hear the term…”Being Green” or “Going Green” but this book really explains what that means.  The Back Matter does not include an Index, but does include a Glossary from the bolded words in the text.