The eight topics in the table of contents: Recycling, Collection, Glass, Metal, Plastic, Paper, At the Store, and Make Paper are accompanied by a well photographed landfill, garbage truck, recycle bins, recycling center with stacks of crushed cubes of squashed cans, a store shelf full of food products packaged in containers made from recycled paper, plastic, and glass .

This book shows the steps in the process of changing the collected glass, cans, plastic, and paper into new items to complete the recycle cycle.

Includes a do-able craft activity for making paper from used paper and a food blender.

Eight little couplets for young learners to recite and enjoy about dividing used packaging for curbside pickup, donating goods to second hand stores, and using old odds and ends to make toys and crafts.

Cheery vibrantly colorful pictures of young children placing plastic bottles, cans, and paper into recycling containers create the idea that children can take an active part in this grown up activity.

Includes a Creative Tot Time craft project for making a ‘Recycled Snake’ stuffed toy.

End papers include printed flowers on unbleached brown paper.

This amazing science experiment book focuses on topics related to biology.  The chapters include:  The Study of Life, Cells Alive!, Microbiology Reveals an Invisible World, Plants Make Life Possible, Plant Life Cycles, Adaptations are a Matter of Life and Death, Animal Life Cycles, and Protect Living Things.  Each chapter has background information followed by a number of experiments and activities related to the topic.  The illustrations on each page compliment and do not make the layout too busy or distracting.  The list of supplies and the instructions for each activity are clearly written and straight forward.  A thorough index and glossary can be found at the back of the book.  This book is a wonderful addition to our library collection and should be well used for students participating in the science fair.

This book focuses on sports related facts, events and trends that are not typically highlighted.  For example, how uniforms and sports-related fashion have evolved over the years, how ancient sporting events relate to modern ones, the effects of technological developments and how sports equipment has changed.  The pages are really packed with text boxes, colorful backgrounds, graphics and photographs, I fear to the distraction of some readers.  This is a fun book to pick up again and again, even just for a short time to read one section.  The text is clearly written and thematically organized.

This is a novel set in Saint Bartholemew’s Catholic church.  The main characters are mice who scurry around foraging for food and trying to avoid detection by Father Murphy and his congregation in fear of “The Great X” (exterminator).  A few careless mice draw attention to their presence and the exterminator is scheduled.  Hildegarde, the Mouse Mistress and leader of the mouse colony, must come up with a plan to save her charges.  The antagonist is Lucretia who is vying to oust Hildegarde and become the next Mouse Mistress.  In a twist, Lucretia is the only mouse who ends up in danger as a result of the exterminator’s visit and it’s up to Hildegarde to save her.  This book about friendship and forgiveness has enough excitement and humorous situations to keep the reader engaged.  The lovely and detailed illustrations are plentiful and enhance the story.  Accelerated Reader classifies this book as targeted for lower elementary readers, but the ATOS level is 4.5.  I do wish that author hadn’t put in a reference to “X-rated DVDs” on page 57 when the mice were looking in a phone book for “exterminator”.  That seemed unnecessary for a lower elementary audience.  Fortunately, it should go over their heads undetected.

The mountain climbing photographs in this book are especially breathtaking and enhance the text well.  The author has done a nice job of presenting the adventurous, exciting and dangerous nature of this sport as well as practical considerations.  The reader is provided with a nice overall view of the demands and realities of climbing a mountain.

This majestic picture book tells the story of the American Bald Eagle as it faced extinction and was brought back to stronger numbers by the care of wildlife experts and concerned citizens.  This book focuses on one concerned boy, who helped a ranger to pair up an eagle egg with a pair of bald eagles whose eggs were weak and broken due to DDT exposure.  The eagles adopted the egg and with time, the eagle population great larger.  In the end, that boy was a father, telling the story to his own son.  The illustrations are realistic and beautifully painted in watercolor.

This sturdy non-fiction picture book is a wonderful introduction to puppies and kittens.  The pages are thick to hold up well to the many little hands that will surely be turning them for years to come.  A good introduction to these common pets, topics include early development, care, training, safety, and playing.  The text is clearly written and large and is nicely balanced with plenty of adorable color photographs with a large variety of cat and dog breeds represented.  This will be a wonderful addition to our easy non-fiction section of the library.

I LOVED this fairytale about a princess who did not want to be a princess.  She threw down her crown and ventured out to the world to be a pirate, a knight and a minstrel.  This strong female character followed her dreams and succeeded in all she pursued.  She thought for herself and acted with purpose, strength and courage.   This story really speaks to those who break out of the mold or those who wish they would or could.  The illustrations are gorgeous watercolors with an exotic style.  I am planning to read this book aloud to my elementary students.

In this Tintinesque graphic novel, the reader is introduce to the story Julius Chancer, a historian’s assistant. The assistant is caught up in an intrigue involving a silent movie actress, a cheating businessman, and the search for a rare orchid. This high-flying adventure travels all around the world as new twists to the tale are added.
This book is recommended for Grades 5 and up because of its easy mystery style which will engage the reader in an adventure beyond their expectations. It will keep the reader guessing the entire length of the tale with its fun and simple, but historically accurate art style. The Rainbow Orchid is a tale that does not disappoint.

— Mara Briggs