With a history as herding and guard dogs, this breed is now one of the ten most popular in the United States.  Devoted and friendly, they can also be protective so obedience training is necessary.  Attention is given to caring and feeding this large-size breed.  Enough information is given to help one decide if this dog is a good fit for one’s family.  Glossary, index, and ABDO website are included in this 24 page book.  Many full-color photographs show these intelligent dogs at rest and at play.

Once a person or family decides to get a dog, attention must be given to choosing the right kind for the home.  This book introduces characteristics, needs, and where to find the best match for the family.  Information for caring for, feeding, housebreaking, the importance of grooming and exercising, and how to prevent some problems are all mentioned in this comprehensive 48 paged book.  Additional fact boxes provide further information and hints to help one make good decisions when choosing a dog for a pet and becoming a responsible pet owner.  Full color photographs show a variety of breeds although name of each breed are not included.  This is a great over-view.  Recommended for anyone trying to decide if owning a dog would fit into one’s family.

This easy-to-read book tells young readers what they need to know when choosing a cat for a pet.  Responsibilities include caring for the cat every day.  Caring means feeding, cleaning the litter box, and training.  Various breeds are not discussed, but information is given for buying supplies, getting regular checkups, and being a committed cat owner.  Text is simple and full-color photographs are large.  Recommended books are written at a higher reading level.  Glossary and index are included.  Internet sites are also written at a higher reading level than this book, but contain good information about cats and kittens.  Other books in the series are I Want a Dog, I want A Goldfish, and I Want a Hamster.

This book is an elementary look at the life of a penguin.  There are funny words that young children would enjoy having written in a story book style from the perspective of a baby penguin.

The authors note at the end of the book covers more of the interesting details about the penguin.

It was an ok book.

This is a cute valentine joke book.  Along with the cute jokes are little tidbits and information about Valentin’s day.  Fun to read the jokes, riddles, and limericks.  Fun to find out more about Valentine’s Day.

A quick mini-bio of the Hulk appears on the back cover for those who are not familiar with the Hulk.

 Bold purple text begin each new twist in the story line.

As usual, Bruce Banner wants to be left alone.

As usual, General Ross wants to capture the Hulk – AKA-  Bruce Banner.

As usual, S.H.I.E.L.D. wants the Hulk.

As usual, Bruce Banner is struck, then transforms into The Hulk, and the battle is on.

Now the predicable scenario is over, the real story begins with Hulk being captured . There is a double agent at S.H.I.E.L.D. working for the evil HYDRA. The S.H.I.E.L.D. agent is outwitted by the double agent ”  ‘but as far as S.H.I.E.L.D.  is concerned, I just took down a traitorous double agent.’ Then she held up the vial of Hulk’s DNA. ‘Hail HYDRA…’ “

A cheery bright orange cover with a happy hatching chick greets the young reader of this seasonal book.

The story begins with Spring arriving outside, at home, and at school, “but who exactly is the Easter Bunny?” Then, we see the Easter Bunny collect eggs, paint the eggs, and hide the eggs for the children to find. Finally, we see him “hop back to his little house in the woods and into his snug, cozy bed for a long, long sleep.”

Chubby smiling children and  Easter Bunny are illustrated in large  visible child-like strokes of colorful tempera paint.

Noah Webster is best known for writing the first American dictionary but is also very active in helping to unify the country.  After the Revolutionary War was over, he thought having consistent spelling and understanding of words was one way to strengthen America.  While teaching, he began writing the “blue-backed speller” for his students and the country.  He continued to write more books for school children and a DIC-TION-AR-Y [noun: a book listing words in ABC order, telling what they mean and how to spell them] of “American” words.  The watercolor and ink illustrations are humorous and portray Webster as an ambitious man who loved words and his country.  This fun and informative book would make a great addition to school and classroom libraries.

Choosing the best small animal as a pet for your family is an important decision.  This book introduces seven small mammals, how to feed and care for them, individual traits, and if they can be trained.  Each animal has a page or two describing the cage, food, and supplies to keep your animal happy and healthy.  Enough information is given about each animal for one to decide if a particular pet would be a good fit with one’s family.  There are large, colorful photographs of each animal.  Text is easy to read, each photo has a cation, and there are many Fast Facts sprinkled among the pages.  Glossary, index, internet sites, and other books to read are included.  Great resource!

Beginning with the Paleozoic Era, 542 million years ago, one can trace the history of prehistoric life on our planet up to recent discoveries.  Many facts include information about where fossils were found, diet, and size of animals living on the planet long before humans.  Scientists are able to determine many features, however sometimes a best guess is presented and is indicated with a question mark.  Recorded dinosaur discoveries in the United States and around the world began in the 1800s and continue up to the present day.  The layout is easy to read and the illustrations are created digitally.  Two of the three facthound internet sites were active at the time of this report.  Glossary, index, and books to read are included at the back.  This is a great resource to help put years when particular dinosaurs lived in perspective.