Escape from Future World has a very limited audience, typically boys in first or second grade.  Superman is a familiar action figure and if this is what it takes to get them reading, then so be it. The brief summary on the reverse title page pretty much sums up the whole story:  Superman and Cyborg are sent into the future by evil villain Brainiac and they figure out how to escape and destroy him.  Simple drawings, simple text, simple story, not much excitement.

The Story of Spider-Man, a level 2 reading book, is quite the step up from a level 1 reading book, many more multi-syllabic words.  The story is told in basic simple sentences, but the story itself is much more complex and actually tells how Peter Parker became Spider-Man as well as solving a crime.  The illustrations are also more complex to go along with the story.  Those who love Spider-Man will love this book.

Very seldom do I recommend a book based on a Marvel Super Hero character, but This is Spider-Man is a great beginning to read book and hooks young readers, especially boys, into reading.  Macri uses repetitive words and most are single syllable; the illustrations are clean and clear and depict the text.  Young children familiar with Spiderman and beginning to read will eat it up.

A whisper is heard, and so a star comments about the whisper, as well as the moon, the sun, clouds, the sea, and the earth, each determining a characteristic the whisper will have. This caused all the animals to search for the wonderful whisper and inquire who might have all the amazing attributes. As it turns out, the wonderful whisper is the reader. This sweet story has many examples of similes. The illustrations are beautifully painted.

Ever since Birdbrain scored the lowest score on the Quiz Wiz TV show, he is out for revenge. He created the Zombie Zapper that turns smart chickens into zombies so, at last, Birdbrain could be the smartest chicken around. Soon zombies are found around every corner. No worries, Gordon Blue, also known as Kung Pow Chicken, and his little brother Egg Drop will save the day with the help of their friend, Annie who is know as Beak Girl. This book has a fun play of words and colorful, silly illustrations!

A young Japanese-American girl named Mitsi is sent off to a containment camp located at the Puyallup Fairgounds in Washington State during World War II. While at the camp, she keeps in contact with her dog, Dash, who she could not take to the camp with her. She hopes to be reunited with Dash at some point in time. During her stay at the camp, her family is slowly splitting apart due to other relationship. The contact with her dog keeps Mitsi’s hope of reuniting her broken family alive.
This is an emotional novel that keeps the reader turning the pages to learn how Mitsi deals with the problems of the camp. The characters are well-developed where the reader is able to make a connection with them. This book is highly recommended to those who enjoy World War II historical fiction books.

— Kellyn S.

When Pearl searches her closet for warm clothes, she tumbles into the Underwater Kingdom.  She finds it strangely quiet.  She discovers all the princesses gathered around an injured princess, washed in on a tidal wave, from their enemies in the Reef Kingdom.  Pearl tells them they must care for her and give her plenty of rest.  Although her wounds begin to heal, Princess Velvet’s eyes remain closed.  Pearl reads her stories and brings various corals to decorate the room.  One day Pearl asks her to open her eyes so she can return home.  Slowly Velvet looks at Pearl.  She had been worried because a look from a Coral Princess can turn enemies into stone.  Pearl assures her they are friends, not enemies.  She escorts Velvet home and they are greeted by the Coral Princesses – with open eyes.  As a thank you, they give Pearl a lovely coral pearl as a token of friendship.  The artwork in this simple story will appeal to all princesses.  There is a “pearl” embedded in the front cover.  At the end of the book, the reader is invited to touch the pearl and whisper their own pearl of wisdom by which to live.

Pearl is invited to the Underwater Kingdom to celebrate her birthday.  The sea princesses give her a beautiful pearl necklace.  Everyone is impressed, especially Princess Amethyst.  On their way to the party, Pearl accidently drops the necklace.  Unnoticed, Amethyst quickly picks it up and puts it in her own pocket.  At the Coral Castle, they play games and eat delicious snacks.  All at once, a magician appears stating he makes things appear and disappear.  In his hands he has Pearl’s necklace yet he returns it to Amethyst!  Ashamed, Amethyst rushes to return it to Pearl saying she just wanted something beautiful for herself.  Pearl tells her it looks pretty on her and that she can borrow it any time.  All she has to do is ask.  The artwork in this simple story will appeal to all princesses.  There is a “pearl” embedded in the front cover.  At the end of the book, the reader is invited to touch the pearl and whisper their own pearl of wisdom by which to live.

Eleven year old Anna’s former teacher and her husband have been approved to adopt a child from China.  As an Asian, Anna gets to accompany them to help with translation and the baby.  She is excited because she hopes to see the orphanage from where her little sister was adopted and to immerse herself in Chinese culture.  At home, Anna is one of two Asian students.  In China, she does not stand out at all.  To help raise money for the orphanage, Anna and friend Andee, make fortune cookies.  Andee surprises Anna with a gift of paper fortune cookies to open each day of the trip.  Anna has a journal to record her observations and ideas for her oral history project.  This book has unexpected depth dealing with adoption, being a minority, adjusting to middle school, and families.  A pronunciation guide for Chinese word and phrases is at the beginning of the book.  Words are listed in order of appearance.  A recipe for fortune cookies is in the back.  Black and white illustrations are a perfect match for the story.  This is a sequel to The Year of the Book and The Year of the Baby.  Coming soon is The Year of the Sisters.  They chronicle Anna’s life beginning as a 4th grader, although they are enjoyable even if read out of order.

Alice, the dragon, introduces dragons to the dragon-illiterate.  From the beginning, she says dragons are not real.  She then goes on to say they are famous, have treasure, come from eggs, are smart, almost indestructible, live all over the world, and like to eat humans.  Full page color illustrations are delightful.  None are scary.  Not all look or act the same as different cultures hold varied beliefs.  Alice is charming even as she ends the book with a plan to eat the reader!